I think it took me two seeing to realize how yucky this movie was; there was so much that was wrong. I think the first thing that we notice is that this is not about the Impossible Mission Force, but Tom Cruise. So, aside form the name, the music, and the jargon, this has nothing to do with the classic show.

This was a let-down. Leonard Nemoy in "I Am Spock" mentioned that he loved the teamwork aspect of the series. I agree: there was something about Mr. Phelps and the IMF all piling into the getaway van and the classic Mission: Impossible recessional theme that let you know that there was a job well done because each member did his part. Like the guy said, "The greatest temporal and spiritual blessings which always come from faithfulness and concerted effort, never attended individual exertion or enterprise."

Another problem was the physics. The cycle-jousting forgets that when two objects traveling at 50 mph a piece collide, the cumulative force felt by them is not 50, but 100 mph. Talk about being jelly! And the gun in the sand: how does kicking it forward make it go one and half meters vertically into the air?

This film has plot, in the sense of having action, or a series of events. But did I mention the plot holes? How did Cruise happen to have a Richard Roxburgh mask so handy? I guess it was next to the handy duct tape. And how did they change clothes so quickly?

Yes, there is conflict: Cruise versus the Aussie, and Cruise versus the supermodel supertheif. The theme is not so obvious. There are messages about courage, duty, and self sacrifice. These are helpful, but seem to be mere distracting tinsel.

Being John Woo, this film is essentially about style. This is good for artists who have plot, theme, and characterization, and would like to perfect their craft. As a standalone attribute, however, this film leaves something to be desired. Anyone who has been on a date knows that looks only go so far. And the same applies to movies.

*

The transfer is perfect, and they get one more star for including the Ben Stiller spoof, "Mission: Improbable."