Barnes & Noble

Though not lacking in action -- indeed, this installment boasts some of the series’ most elaborate set pieces -- Mission: Impossible III emphasizes characterization more than its predecessors did, raising the film far above the level of the typical “popcorn movie.” As the story begins, Impossible Mission Force agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) has retired from field work and begun training younger operatives. When one of them, Lindsey Farris (Keri Russell), is captured while on assignment, Ethan is unable to rescue her but manages to snare brilliant, remorseless arms dealer Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman). This is just the prelude: Upon escaping from custody, the revenge-seeking Davian embarks on his biggest caper yet and kidnaps Ethan’s fiancée, Julia (Michelle Monaghan), knowing full well that Hunt will follow and, eventually, walk into his trap. In the skillful hands of Hoffman, for our money one of the best actors working in films today, the villain becomes far more believable -- and therefore more frightening -- than run-of-the-mill, two-dimensional, action-movie bad guys. The scenes in which he confronts Cruise’s character are unusually chilling, and the viewer has no trouble believing him supremely capable of making good on his blood-curdling threats. Having an actor of Hoffman’s caliber opposite him spurs Cruise to new flights of histrionic fancy, and his performance is markedly better than it was in the second installment. Director J. J. Abrams (Lost) gives his two stars plenty of elbow room, figuratively speaking, without losing sight of what this franchise needs to deliver: high-tech gadgetry, supercharged chase sequences, and physically demanding feats of derring-do. Ving Rhames is back as transportation specialist Luther Stickell, and series newcomers Jonathan Rhys-Meyer and Maggie Q make small but significant contributions as recent additions to the IMF team. Faster, smarter, and more emotionally engaging than most of today’s action thrillers, M:I III ups the ante considerably for future films in this popular genre. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

The third entry in Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible film series involves super Impossible Mission Forces (IMF) agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) being forced back into the field just when he was planning on marrying his girlfriend, Julia (Michelle Monaghan). The agency asks Hunt to save an operative (Keri Russell) he trained after weapons dealer Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman) kidnaps her. With the help of his field team -- played by Ving Rhames, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, and Maggie Q -- Hunt achieves his goal, but becomes involved in a web of double-crosses that leave him wondering if he can trust his superiors (Billy Crudup and Laurence Fishburne). Eventually Davian threatens Julia's life in order to get away with his evil plan. Simon Pegg appears as an IMF tech expert. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Product Details

• UPC: 097361184647
• Source: PARAMOUNT
• Presentation: Wide Screen
• Sound: Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound
• Editions: Special Edition, Subtitled
• Time: 2:05:00
• Sales Rank: 23,183

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Mission: Impossible - Ultimate Missions Collection