Rating: 
Summary: Alot of bark. No bite.
Review: In the style of my favorite DVD site, IGN.com, I'm going to review this movie based on four areas: The movie, the video, the audio, and the extras.THE MOVIE Wow. Tom Cruise is at his energetic best. Ethan Hunt is a young and very skilled IMF operative. After all, his mentor is one of the best: Jim Phelps. A man named Golitsyn has gotten himself into a position to steal the CIA's NOC list, and has the intent of selling it on the black market. Phelps, along with Ethan Hunt and the other four members of his IMF team are given the mission to catch Golitsyn in the act of stealing the NOC list, apprehend him, thereby retrieving the stolen list. Everything goes wrong. All members of the team, except Ethan are killed, including Phelps. The operation was a molehunt. Hunt is supected of the killings, and accused of imbessling money from the CIA. This is just the surface. There are many many more major-players, all part of a huge and complex conspiracy. Brian De Palma did an amazing job. This film is visual feast, for half the story is told through camera movement. The film's plot is extremely complicated. I have watched the film several times, and everytime I do, I notice something new and a another little detail that makes more sense of the plot. This film is one that has to be watched closely. Many of the plot points and nuances are subtle and require you to pay close attention. An Action/suspense film that has brains. Who would have thought? THE VIDEO Stunning. A little dirty, but that is expected. After all, an original theatrical print was used for the transfer. Slight graniness, but you won't really notice unless finding flaws is the reason you are watching the movie. You also have the choice of watching the film in Pan-and-Scan or Widescreen. THE AUDIO Pretty good if you have the right equipment.I usually set the disc at Dolby 5.1 sound. That option is great if you have good speakers. For those of you that hve just your Televisions, keep the disc on 2 channel. You also have the option to watch it in French. THE EXTRA The heading should be THE EXTRAS. However, there is only one extra. All you get is the theatrical trailer. That isn't bad, but is definately not enough. Sorry, but scene selection, interactive menus, captions, and subtitles do not count as special features, especially to today's DVD's standards. (Have you seen the Fight Club DVD?) Not a bad package when you consider the quality of the sound and video, but special features are very important. Without them, you might as well go and and buy the VHS version, and save yourself a couple of bucks.
Rating: 
Summary: Ethan Hunt is right up there with James Bond!
Review: "Mission Impossible" is probably one of the best spy films I've seen in a long time! Different from James Bond 007 movies, "Mission Impossible" has a clever plot, lots of twists and turns, edge-of-your seat suspense, some parts where there is witty humor, and action which would satisfy any movie lover! Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is sent on a mission with other IMF agents Jim Phelps (John Voight), his wife Claire Phelps (Emmanuelle Beart), Sarah Davies (Kristin Scott Thomas), Jack Harmen (Emilio Estevez), and Hannah Williams (Ingeborga Dapkunaite). It's a fairly simple job in Prague, their mission is to keep surveillance on the top-secret NOC list. But everything goes wrong as the list in stolen and one by one, all of the agents are killed, leaving only Ethan alive. He then learns that the list that was stolen was actually fake, and that the whole thing was a set-up to capture a 'mole'. And since Ethan was the only one left alive, he is now the prime suspect for being the traitor. Now disavowed with a man-hunt going on for him, Ethan must find out who the real culprit is and to do that, he plans on stealing the real NOC list to bait him! With help from Claire who had not really been killed and two other disavowed agents Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and Franz Krieger (Jean Reno), they now have a 'mission impossible', to catch the traitor! This is certainly a 5 star movie since it has what I think all the ingredients that are needed in a good action movie: acting, plot, action, suspense, and a bit of humor. And "Mission Impossible" has it all! But probably the two ingredients which were the most well used was the superbly written plot and the action. The plot was pretty original, not the usual 'an evil man/group planning to take over the world' plot, but one where agents all over the world would be in danger if the NOC list isn't kept safe. Also there was plenty of mystery, surprises, and twists and turns, making the watcher actually having to think during the movie. You would actually have to watch "Mission Impossible" a few times to get the whole story. As for the action, probably the highlights of the film are most probably the beginning where the agents are keeping surveillance on the NOC list, the breaking into the CIA computer vault, and the helicopter/train scene. My personal favorite is the breaking into the safe in the CIA safe, it was a really exciting part! There was a sequel made after this movie, "Mission Impossible 2". Returning in the movie are of course Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt and Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell. Though it was very exciting and more action packed, the plot was very, very simple compared to the first movie and also it had a different director, John Woo, direct. All in all, an OK movie which I recommend to watch. And of course, all James Bond movies are must-sees.
Rating:
Summary: Good -- as long as you're not a fan of the TV show
Review: a good film when considered as a stand alone. some of the, errr,
let's call them 'changes' (or 'liberties'?) taken with the Gospel
According To TV cause problems with fans of the original show
(some of whom not unreasonably can't get over what was done with
Martin Landau's character) i would say that the casting of Kittridge ( Henry Czerny ) who
had recently cropped up in Clear And Present Danger, was a smart
move
Rating:
Summary: An almost-excellent action film...
Review: "Mission: Impossible" is a nearly perfect film. If it weren't so darn confusing at times, it would be an absolutely wonderful movie. However, it boggles itself down with too much dialogue and confusing plot twists. But it's no doubt a highly-enjoyable movie. Tom Cruise is Ethan Hunt, a secret agent who has been betrayed and now must prove his innocence. This is the most of the plot of which we know for sure. The other details are too complicated to really understand, but they don't matter. What matters is the constantly suspenseful moments including the beginning where Hunt and team are chasing after a bad guy to the heist Hunt makes in the CIA building to the incredible helicopter-chasing-the-train sequence that makes up the film's climax. There's much to enjoy in this movie and, if you watch it a few times, it even begins to make sense. I highly recommend it to any action fan who doesn't mind thinking every now and then. It's a superb action flick.
Rating:
Summary: ¿Green Light!¿ for this fine DVD edition
Review: Nitpickers be warned: as with many spy movies, the best of Bond included, realism is not Mission: Impossible's long suit. Some complain that the plot is confusing, but it's all there if you pay careful attention to the twists and double-crosses. If you just go with the story and have fun with it and not get bogged down thinking about what is and isn't realistic, MI is well done and well worth seeing. It holds up well in repeated viewings, making a video purchase worth considering rather than just a one-time rental. MI has a strong cast; yeah, okay, Tom Cruise does overact in a couple brief segments, on the first pay phone and in the restaurant, but is otherwise very good, as is the rest of the cast. Other highlights include direction by Brian DePalma that builds the tension and peaks effectively, and convincing special effects and stunts. MI doesn't have the visual pizazz and striking cinematography of the sequel, but I prefer it overall to MI2, hurt by John Woo's direction of fighting and chase scenes, too much over the top for me. (I can "go with" MI and enjoy it; I can't do that with the fights and chases that comprise the second half of MI2.) Specifically as to the DVD edition, MI got a very good video transfer. There's a 2.35:1 widescreen version; at this ratio, you'll probably want a large-screen or widescreen TV to prefer the widescreen to the included and well-framed pan-and-scan version (on 27" and under, the widescreen image is too small); the colors and detail in the video transfer are quite good. Soundtrack choices include a terrific English Dolby Digital 5.1 track that really rocks the house on a good sound system (there is no DTS track here), an English Dolby Surround track, and a French language track in Dolby Surround. English and Spanish subtitles can be superimposed. There's a trailer, but no special features. Four stars both for the film and for the DVD transfer, a reasonable value.
Rating:
Summary: Mission Impossible - **** Stars
Review: The mission: Turn a hit, hip '60s television show into a $100 million, mega-ton blockbuster hit. Make it big. Keep it tight. The team: Superstar Tom Cruise--pointman producer and midwestern-suave James Bond wannabe, Ethan Hunt. He's good with the ladies, easy on the peepers, able to leap from speeding trains to speeding helicopters in a single bound and still keep his hair looking good. Director Brian De Palma--prone to overkill and shameful imitation, but knows how to pace a movie and keep the pressure on his characters. He pulls out all the stops to create tension here that is too often artificial, albeit effective to an audience that doesn't think too hard. Beautiful and pouty Emmanuaelle Beart ("Nelly et Monsieur Arnaud") will be the requisite intriguing French girl, but don't give her anything to do, she's a girl after all.
Last of all, Henry Czerny ("Clear and Present Danger"), "Pulp Fiction's" Ving Rhames and Vanessa Redgrave ("Howards End") are the supremely talented back-up team who can produce magic out of thin air, wringing intriguing performances out of comic book characters.
The obstacles and pitfalls to watch: "Runaway Train's" Jon Voight, as Jim Phelps, is a great actor in the wrong role who's simply not up to the physical and star-studded requirements. Good set-pieces, particularly the CIA headquarters heist, are fabulously wrought and milked to great effect, but a sense of real danger is missing from the film. Thick with plot, but thin on story, this mission proves that $64 million dollars can buy you one heck of an elaborate television episode. Of course, despite some clever twists of comic book fun, the impact of the movie will self-destruct five seconds after you see it, but it sure makes a nice wisp of smoke when it goes.
Rating:
Summary: Very good cinematic adaptation of the TV series.
Review: Brian De Palma's excessive cinematic style actually suited the larger-than-life nature of the show quite well. Aside from his inexplicable addiction to the I-camera, one of the most distracting and overrated camera techniques around, his visualization of Mission: Impossible is cinematic, grand, and very exciting. Tom Cruise makes for a good action hero and Jon Voight a slyly effective supporting character -- unfortunately, as the script stands, it gives the excellent supporting cast very little to do -- the divine Emmanuelle Beart gets little more than an object-of-desire role; Kristin Scott-Thomas holds up well but doesn't get enough screen time to develop her character; and Emilio Estevez, Jean Reno and Ving Rhames are all relegated to nearly bit parts, each serving his purpose well but given little chance to excel beyond that. That said, still an effective action thriller, commendably low on the violence quotient, with a twisty plot that would take a while to absorb. Lapses in logic and inconsistencies in character are forgiveable when De Palma lets the jaw-dropping set pieces roar.
Rating:
Summary: de palma: cruise
Review: Brian De Palma's (Carrie; Scarface; The Untouchables) 1996 action film starring Tom Cruise and Jon Voight is a pretty good action film. Well, once you suspend all belief. But that is what this movie is about. Putting real life on hold and believing in the impossible, the fantastic. Cruise, an excellent dramatic actor, does a great job crossing over into an action star--even with the bad haircut. Lots of cool gadgets and interesting scenarios and that great Mission: Impossible theme. And it is great to see the intimidating Ving Rhames casted as a computer genius/geek. Inspired casting.
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.
Rating:
Summary: Few DVD extras, but great movie!
Review: Mission Impossible really makes you think - that's why I love it so much - there is more to it than just the surface...
I think some people found this movie a bit confusing...so don't be disturbed while watching it. Perhaps that's why the sequal is a bit more...simple?
Tom Cruise, as usual plays his part with ease. It's very impressive.
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