Today’s quick review: Mission: Impossible. Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is one of the IMF’s top agents. But when his team is betrayed and Ethan is set up to take the blame, Ethan must venture out on his own to catch the real culprit and avenge the death of his mentor, Jim Phelps (Jon Voight). The only way he can find the traitor is through a black market arms dealer named Max, and the only way to earn Max’s cooperation is to break into CIA headquarters and steal classified information that Max is willing to pay top dollar for. With the help of Franz Krieger (Jean Reno) and Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), Ethan sets out to complete an impossible mission, catch the traitor, and clear his name.
Mission: Impossible is a modern reboot of the classic TV series and the first in a successful series of spy action movies. Tom Cruise does a great job in his debut as Ethan Hunt, a capable spy who’s fearless and quick on his feet. The stunts are iconic and visually interesting, providing action-packed punctuation to the intrigue of the plot. The plot is put together well, with a strong premise, a steady drip of information, and several clever twists along the way.
Compared to later installments of the series, Mission: Impossible is closer to a typical spy movie. The incredible stunts and spy technology that the series is known for are present, but in a nascent form, and the focus is on the mystery as much as the action. The comedy and charm of the later series is present, but in smaller doses. The first installment takes itself more seriously than more recent Mission: Impossible films, trading off some humor in exchange for a tenser, more dramatic plot.
Watch Mission: Impossible when you’re in the mood for a well-constructed spy thriller with a good blend of action and duplicity. Skip it if you aren’t into action movies, prefer more low-key thrillers, or dislike Tom Cruise. Mission: Impossible is a modern spy classic that is well worth a watch if you haven’t seen it already and well worth a rewatch if you have.
7.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.0 for tight execution, memorable stunts, and being a strong start to an excellent franchise.