Rating: 
Summary: Confusing At Times, But Never A Dull Moment
Review: One in an endless series of cinematic translations of famous TV shows, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, based on the classic 1966-1973 series of the same name, is, however, one of the better ones, thanks to a fairly solid cast and the high-power direction of master filmmaker Brian DePalma (CARRIE; SCARFACE).
Tom Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt, a member of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF), an ultra-secret arm of the CIA that takes on the assignments that the CIA's regular staff wouldn't touch with a bargepole. Their newest assignment is to catch a traitor in the illegal act of downloading a secret CIA Noc-List from the U.S. embassy in Prague. But when things go horribly wrong there, and Cruise is (seemingly) the only one left alive, he learns that the operation was in fact a molehunt designed to catch a turncoat inside the IMF's midst. The result is a fast-paced, suspenseful rocket ride of a film with many brilliant set-pieces, all under DePalma's concise direction and with a fine script by David Koepp (JURASSIC PARK) and Robert Towne (CHINATOWN).
Though, like many espionage-oriented films, it can be confusing on occasion, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE scores thanks to the sheer skill of the way the story is laid out for us. Jon Voight essays the role of Jim Phelps that Peter Graves had on TV, but the rest of the roles are all new (nobody from the series even has a cameo role). However, despite the casting changes, some things remain the same, like the opening title sequence and Lalo Schifrin's tense and taut theme music, adapted by Danny Elfman (EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, "The Simpsons"). Cruise does a very good job under DePalma's supervision, as does Voight; and Henry Czerny, who had played the CIA heavy in CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER, basically reprises that role in the guise of CIA director Gene Kittridge with unctuous exactness. The scene of Cruise downloading the NOC list from the IMF mainframe computer at CIA headquarters while suspended from the ceiling is one of the most tension-filled sequences in cinematic history, thanks to DePalma's crafty decision to film it using only natural sounds; and the final sequence in the Chunnel is just as hair-raising.
With so many twists and turns, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, despite some flaws, is never dull for a single moment. It is a great "blockbuster" film--entertaining and well-crafted all at once, and vigorously recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Mission: Impossible (1996)
Review: Director: Brian De Palma
Cast: Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Beart, Emilio Estevez, Vanessa Redgrave, Harry Czerny, Ving Rhames, Jean Reno.
Running Time: 110 minutes.
Rated PG-13 for violence and some language.Based on the popular 1960's television series, this Brian De Palma ("Carrie", "Scarface") production possesses all of the qualities of a fun, top-of-the-line action flick--only to see it slightly crumble due to a storyline that is extremely tough to follow. Tom Cruise stars as the slick covert agent Ethan Hunt, who has been assigned with a crack team of American undercover agents to set up operations in Prague to catch a double agent (Jon Voight) in the act. There are many scenes that are very exciting, especially the chase scene on the train finale; however, De Palma does not expand on a script that assumes the audience knows all of the technological and spy jargon, leaving us loving the action but lost in the wind. Cruise is only fairly adequate as Hunt, not given the chance to expand his character. Excellent special effects, a riveting, catchy musical score, and some fine supporting roles from Voight, Emmanuelle Beart, and Ving Rhames. A good action movie, but nothing more. Luckily director John Woo stepped in as director the second film, creating a rough-and tough, out of this world sequel that surpasses the original.
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