A few days ago I decided, I would see all of the “Mission Impossible” flicks.
The list of directors is impressive, and I must respect them, since it seems they are trying to make actually fun, good movies and not just some start power disposable blockbuster.
Evidently I started with the first one.
In 1996 “Mission Impossible”, based on the Tv series, was playing in theatres around the world… (I actually remember seeing it back then, very vividly)
It was directed by Brian de Palma (the most influential director in Tarantino’s life) and Tom Cruise at the top of his game was the lead. (This was actually the first movie he produced)
I hadn’t seen it since it came out two decades ago, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I mean, I am a total De Palma fan… but you know… sometimes people do movies to pay the bills.
I must say it was quite a pleasant surprise. It’s pretty good and it deserves it’s place in De Palma’s filmography.
It’s very well done, it keeps you focus and it has some class.
Given it was Tom’s first production so he wanted to make sure the film was a huge hit. As a result the movie has some minor issues and maybe freedom and creativity was sometimes put on a leash.
One example is the ending. The director and the writer he brought where working on a ending, however Cruise had also brought his writer.
At some point Brian, points out that this is “Mission impossible”, you can’t have someone just pull out a mask at the end. Tom’s writer then proceeded to give some suggestions like “the helicopter must come into the tunnel and explode” as if the tremendous amount of extra hours, work and money, needed to make it happen, was something not to consider.
After some time Brian, just said… ok, let’s do the mask, let’s do the helicopter, let’s do it all.
A great move from Brian was how the adaption was conceived. The series centred around the team… but Cruise and the Studio wanted to make the Cruise show.
SPOILERS!!!!! So he came up with the idea to kill the team at the beginning. END SPOILERS
In Short
The film is good if you want to have some spy, thriller entertainment. It’s very well made and in comparison to other blockbusters I must say it’s even good. It has a great scene where they hack CIA headquarters. Pretty good.
And it was the film that started the franchise.
So if you haven’t seen the first movie of the Mission’s give it a try.
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