Mission: Impossible III (2006)

Director:

J.J. Abrams

Writers (WGA):

Alex Kurtzman (written by) &
Roberto Orci (written by) ...

Release Date:

5 May 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Thriller

Plot:

Ethan Hunt comes face to face with a dangerous and sadistic arms dealer while trying to keep his identity secret in order to protect his girlfriend.

Plot Keywords:

Rescue | Mission | Vatican | Arms Dealer | Sadistic

Awards:

6 wins & 12 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Dec. 5	12:30 AM	TNT
Sat. Dec. 5	3:00 PM	TNT

Cast

Tom Cruise	...	Ethan Hunt
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Owen Davian
Ving Rhames	...	Luther
Billy Crudup	...	Musgrave
Michelle Monaghan	...	Julia
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	Declan
Keri Russell	...	Lindsey Farris
Maggie Q	...	Zhen
Simon Pegg	...	Benji
Eddie Marsan	...	Brownway
Laurence Fishburne	...	Theodore Brassel
Bahar Soomekh	...	Davian's Translator
Jeff Chase	...	Davian's Bodyguard
Michael Berry Jr.	...	Julia's Kidnapper
Carla Gallo	...	Beth

Also Known As:

M:i:III (International: English title) (promotional abbreviation) (UK) (promotional abbreviation) (USA) (promotional abbreviation)
Heyday (USA) (fake working title)
Mission: Impossible 3 (Australia)
Mission: Impossible III (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of frenetic violence and menace, disturbing images and some sensuality.

Runtime:

126 min | Philippines:124 min (cut) | Australia:119 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English | Cantonese | German | Italian | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:12A | Netherlands:12 | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-15 | Singapore:PG | Germany:12 | Australia:M | New Zealand:M | Denmark:11 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Sweden:15 | Norway:15 | Hong Kong:IIB | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Argentina:13 | Brazil:12 | Malaysia:U | Portugal:M/12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42616) | Hungary:16 | Philippines:PG-13 | Canada:14A | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The postcard that Agent Farris sent Ethan Hunt from Berlin is addressed to H. Kelvin. Harry Kelvin was J.J. Abrams’ grandfather.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: At the end of the fight between Owen and Ethan, Ethan rolls over so that Owen is on top, allowing him to be struck by the speeding truck. However, when we next see the road in which they were lying, it is a narrow side street completely blocked by stationary cars.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Owen Davian: [to Ethan] We put an explosive charge in your head. Does that sound familiar?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hot Fuzz Special (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Mission: Impossible Theme

M:i:III? Why not just use the frickin' title?

The 'Mission: Impossible' movie franchise continues its tradition of bearing little resemblance to the TV series but, unlike John Woo's instalment, this one is a cracking film on its own terms. Nods to the show are welcome when they come along, though (musical cues, the astonishing shot where Cruise puts on a disguise and the ensuing mini-'Mission'). Small screen genius J.J. Abrams and two of his 'Alias' writers have crafted an intense, smart actioner that takes a ton of potentially stock genre sequences and makes them fresh again, the plot jacknifing in unexpected directions any number of times with characters interacting in unexpected ways. The Cruiser again displays an astonishing amount of charisma and star power, while Philip Seymour Hoffman makes for the coldest, most hateable villain since Clarence Boddicker.