MI:3

[rick_spengler]

Elmwood 16 (Buffalo)
presenting
MISSION IMPO
9:40PM Sat 05/06/06
Adult $8.75
2

Movie: Having absolutely hated the travesty of MI 2 and it's gaudy Godzilla-esque motorcycle fight I never intended to walk into a movie in the franchise again. Then the trailer hit right along with the launch of the Xbox 360 and it's remarkable live service, and I was beyond wowed.

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The trailer was one of those rare ones that actually do not give away the entire plot of the movie. For that it was even more exciting for it setup a concept grounded by an amazing performance by Phillip Seymour Hoffman. We get some of his best dialogue in the movie followed by a number of exciting visual tidbits.

Then an even bigger coup for the franchise happened as JJ Abrams signed on to direct followed by the celebrated screenwriting team of Kurtzman and Orci. Their concept of making the concept about the logistics of having a relationship amidst one's involvement in the intelligence community gave an actual human element to the story as in comparison to the normal tech, explosion, stunt ideology. Now there is actually a reason to care about whether these people save the world. This even succeeded in making Tom Cruise appear human, which is no small task these days as he carries his Scientological soap box with him wherever he goes.

Combined with one of cinemas first looks at the newly renovated skyline of one of the world's largest cities, I immediately liked the film and, it was probably my favorite movie of that summer.

Experience: The movie experienced was emphasized by my favorite kind of theater. More of an exaggerated stadium style setup the room is essentially more of a box than a rectangle, the screen is almost on the top of it's wall with enough space above it not to be off-putting. I remember the theater being surprisingly small for such a big movie. Sometimes saving space is a good thing.

This was the last movie I had seen stateside with a dear friend that I had spent the majority of my time with for three years, just weeks before he decided he needed a life change. He felt couldn't bear to be apart from his new girlfriend any longer and promptly moved to Canada without a word to anyone, much to our surprise as you can imagine.