The Search for the dreaded "Rabbit's Foot"

We wanted to see The Da Vinci Code but of course, the next three shows were sold out. We, was my oldest son, who lives in Seattle and I who were both in Hollywood to see my youngest son graduate from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and decided to take in a movie. Therefore, to make a long story short, with trepidation we settled for Mission Impossible III. I know, that’s all we need is another review on Mission Impossible III but look at it this way. I’m one of the proud, the few (I sound like a Marine commercial, don’t I?) who actually enjoyed the movie and rated it five stars. For what it’s worth, my son liked it too though I don’t know if he gave it five stars.

What’s not to like?

When I review a movie, I have one main criterion for rating it. Did I enjoy it or not? From beginning to end, I enjoyed MI3. It was intense, fast paced, had misdirection, took us to many places and the special effects were awesome. Tom Cruise does a superb job as Ethan Hunt, (I didn’t like him in War of the Worlds) and the supporting cast is extremely supportive with Philip Seymour Hoffman, (Capote) playing the vicious, devious arms dealer, Owen Davian, Michelle Monaghan ably plays Hunt’s love interest and brand new wife Julia and the inimitable Laurence Fishburne playing Hunt’s boss, Theodore Brassel. The directing by J.J. Abrams was excellent as was the screenplay by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.

The Plot

I should start out by telling you I was unimpressed with both previous Mission Impossibles but for me III was a charm. Ethan who had retired from active duty within the IMF and was now training personnel, is lured back when one of his students, agent Lindsey Farris, (Keri Russell) turns op missing. Ostensibly, in the hands of the evil Owen Davian, Hunt agrees to join the rescue mission in Germany. Ultimately, this mission is a failure as the rescued Farris dies from an explosive device that was implanted in her head. However the plot is established when they find out that Davian is planning to sell an unknown doomsday weapon with the incongruous name – Rabbit’s Foot – to an unknown nefarious organization for hundreds of millions of dollars.

The Story

The movie opens with both Ethan (Cruise) and Julia (Monaghan) tied up and the bad guy, Davian giving Cruise until the count of ten to tell him where the Rabbit’s Foot is or he is going to shoot her. Hunt doesn't have the answer Davian wants so he shoots her, but we don't actually see it. We just hear the shot. Then we go back in time to Ethan’s and Julia’s anniversary party, which is about the only calm part of the movie. After that we move forward with non stop action as Ethan Hunt’s boss convinces him to enter the fray, which takes him to Germany, The Vatican and Singapore, the last part in an effort to save the life of Julia, who has been kidnapped by Davian.

After the fiasco in Germany, Hunt finds out that Davian is going to be at a party in the Vatican. Hunt along with his crew of Luther (Ving Rhames), Musgrave (Billy Crudup), and Zhen (Maggie Q) manage to capture the elusive Davian. This is a short lived success though, as on the way back Davian is rescued in a remarkable bridge scene and immediately kidnaps Julia in revenge, requiring the Rabbit’s Foot in exchange.

The Cast
Tom Cruise .... Ethan Hunt
Philip Seymore Hoffman.... Owen Davian
Ving Rhames .... Luther Strickell
Billy Crudup .... Musgrave
Michelle Monaghan .... Julia
Jonathan Rhys Meyers .... Declan
Keri Russell .... Lindsey Farris
Maggie Q .... Zhen
Simon Pegg .... Benji
Eddie Marsan .... Brownway
Laurence Fishburne .... Theodore Brassel

Conclusion

OK, so there were a couple parts that didn’t quite add up but they tie in with a surprise near the ending, so I’m not about to share that with you. I also didn’t like the name Rabbit’s Foot for the secret weapon. I thought ‘Rubber Ducky’ would have been much more appropriate. However, I’m not going to let that spoil or deflect from what was otherwise a brilliant, exciting movie.

Like I said. I didn’t like the first Mission Impossibles but this one is a winner – 5 stars.