Summer Binge Watch — Mission Impossible


With the fifth "Mission Impossible" film opening Friday, now seems like a perfect time to review what's come before it. Here's my look at the previous four in order of how good they are.

1. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)
About: Most series start to run out of gas the longer they go, but that's seemingly backward for "Mission Impossible." Each installment in the franchise — with the exception of the misguided second film — has been an improvement. "Ghost Protocol," the fourth installment in the franchise, is the best so far. Director Brad Bird crafted a classic film and the story, acting, and all the things you'd expect from a "Mission Impossible" movie really worked here. It ended up being one of the best films of the year it was released.
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence
Verdict: Four stars out of four

2. Mission Impossible: III (2006)
About: This third installment of the "Mission Impossible" series was directed by J.J. Abrams. It was his first crack at directing a feature film after years spent building a TV empire. He did a good job with the action, and I liked the story here. The relationship between Tom Cruise and Michelle Monaghan's characters added a fun new element. And this installment featured a cool opening sequence with Keri Russell, showing some of her range as an action hero and spy. This was one of the films of summer the year it was released, which is no small feat.
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of frenetic violence and menace, disturbing images and some sensuality.
Verdict: Three stars out of four

1. Mission Impossible (1996)
About: This is the film that started it all. Brian De Palma, the director here, gave this film an interesting pace and visual style. Jon Voigt made a perfect foil opposite Cruise's Ethan Hunt, and this really launched into the big screen world of "Mission Impossible." Some quibbled that it wasn't like the show, exactly, but it created a world all its own. It's also memorable for killing most of the team — including the famous face of Emilio Estevez — early in the film. That set the film on a path, and it delivered. This helped set the blue print for a franchise entering its 20th year and about to release its fifth film.
Rating: PG-13 for some intense action violence
Verdict: Three stars out of four

4. Mission Impossible: II (2000)
About: Oh, what could have been. Despite the presence of Anthony Hopkins, this is by far the worst of the "Mission Impossible" films. In fact, it's probably best skipped. The film isn't very good, which is why most of the talk about it regarded Cruise's weirdly flowing mane of hair and riding a motorcycle. This installment was directed by John Woo, a noted action film director. He tried to make this too much like a straight up action film, which doesn't work with the "Mission Impossible" motive. Much like Cruise's hair choice in the film, this was a straight up disaster.
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violent action and some sensuality.
Verdict: One star out of four

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