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:

Virginia | Security Guard | Parachute | Flare Gun | Treason

Awards:

6 wins & 12 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 28	8:05 AM	TMC
Mon. July 28	8:00 PM	TMC
Tue. July 29	5:00 AM	TMC

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 III (Germany)

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

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

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

Cantonese | German | English | Italian | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Kenneth Branagh was cast as the villain, but because of shooting-delays he had to drop out to begin work on As You Like It (2006).

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Ethan is attempting to defibrillate Lindsey in the helicopter to destroy the implant, the defibrillator takes 30 seconds to charge. This time is way too long. Most defibrillators will charge to 200 joules in about 8-9 seconds and to 360 joules in about 13 seconds.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Colbert Report: Frank Rich (#2.61)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Come into My Life

Lived Up To The Hype: Very Entertaining

I heard nothing but good things about this movie, so I rented it the first day it was available recently.....and I wasn't disappointed. Oh, it does have a bit too much action and a few politically-correct annoyances but neither are much and overall the movie is a lot of fun to watch.

The action scenes are not only interesting; they're spectacular at times. Overall, the photography is slick. It's a good visual movie. Not only the cinematography, but the director did a nice job with many of these shots. The version doesn't have all the gimmicks the first Misssion Impossible film, but it certainly has the best action scenes. The only bad movie of the three MIs was the second one. This one makes up for that.

All the characters are interesting. Philip Seymour Hoffman, as usual, is excellent as the main villain "Owen Damien." Michelle Monaghan makes for an attractive fiancée of Cruise in this movie, but her role is not a major one. Cruise's "team" is fun to watch: a PC group consisting of a white guy, black guy and Asian woman.

The action is improbable as Cruise's "Ethan Hunt" would have to be Superman to perform the stunts and acrobatics he does here. (I would never claim this movie is credible, or even "intelligent" - just escapist fun.)

Just put your brains on hold, and go along for the wild ride. The name of the game is entertainment, and this movie provides it in spades, hence the good rating.