Mission: Impossible (1996)

IMF Reviews

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To be perfectly blunt, The 'Mission: Impossible' series has never been at the top of my list of favourite franchises. Still, these films have earned my utmost respect for consistently pushing the envelope, particularly in terms of the incredible stunts performed by Tom Cruise. However, with that in mind, I don't do incredibly well with films about espionage - not because I find them boring or unengaging, but because the subject matter can become complicated and confusing. It's just a "me" thing, but my cards are on the table.

It's hard to believe, but this whole series began almost thirty years ago (at the time of writing this) and has been steadily progressing since then, with very successful results, I might add, probably primarily due to the desire to see Tom Cruise risk his life in whatever insane stunt(s) he's pulling off. Still, I'd add a blend of generous gaps between films, thus avoiding being overwhelmed, a generally likeable main cast of characters, and a new director for each movie until 'Rogue Nation,' which found its constant with director Christopher McQuarrie.

The series all begins in '96 with director Brian De Palma at the helm of the first film, following the late 90s/early 00s trend of bringing back retro TV shows for a big-screen makeover. Such titles included names like 'Lost in Space,' 'Starsky & Hutch,' 'The Mod Squad,' 'The Avengers,' (NOT the 'Avengers we're familiar with nowadays) and quite a few more. The difference is that while most of those modern adaptations of classic TV fell through to relatively negative reviews, 'Mission: Impossible' had something to it.

The first film begins when IMF (Impossible Mission Force) agent Jim Phelps (Jon Voight) and his team go on a mission to Prague to intercept the CIA's NOC (non-official cover) list, which holds the identities of the IMF's undercover agents in Europe. However, during the mission, a series of events seemingly leaves everyone on Phelps' team dead except for point man Ethan Hunt (Cruise), who soon meets with IMF director Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny) only to learn his team was snuffed out in search of an IMF mole, who now, Kittridge expects Hunt of being.

Now a fugitive and on the run, Hunt, along with Phelps' wife, Claire (Emmanuelle Béart), who also survived the attack on the team, and a couple of recruits who once worked for IMF, a hacker named Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and a helicopter pilot named Franz Krieger (Jean Reno) work together to retrieve the NOC list, which got stolen in the attack, but could clear Hunt's name, and lead to who the real IMF mole is. It gets a little more convoluted than it needs to be, but I must admit that it's still a good time all these years later.

No 'Mission: Impossible' film would be complete without a crazy stunt or two out of Mr. Cruise, and the first chapter of the series is no exception; with a flying leap through a shattering glass window being chased by water, the ever-famous "dangling-from-a-wire" scene, and, at least to some degree, the jump onto a moving, speeding train from an exploding helicopter (which was done using a combination of practical and CG effects) it's clear that he got his passion for stunt work early. At least earlier than I suspected.

Even though some of the effects are dated, the first of the series is still a fun time for what it is and did a better job than most retro properties trying to get resurrected back then. It works well as a stand-alone but is open to a sequel in a way that doesn't detract from its dignity. Of the series, it's the most basic but still entertaining. It may even carry a bit of nostalgia with it, evoking memories of how famous the wire scene became over time or how awesome the theme still sounds. It's a good job, but thankfully, there are better films to come in the series.

3/5

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