Mission: Impossible: 25th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Review

THE MOVIE — 3¾/5

Plot Synopsis: Secret Agent Ethan Hunt (TOM CRUISE) is framed for the deaths of his espionage team. Fleeing from government assassins, breaking into the CIA’s most impenetrable vault, clinging to the roof of a speeding bullet train, Hunt races like a burning fuse to stay one step ahead of his pursuers… and draw one step closer to discovering the shocking truth.

Quick Hit Review: It’s amazing to think, but it’s been over 20 years since the first Mission: Impossible came to the big screen and it was an amazing theatrical experience and subsequent viewings, it has held up fairly well, save for some of the technology used, of course. Besides that, however, Tom Cruise really encapsulates the role quite well and is able to overcome some of the clunky dialogue and the obvious old visual effects. Still, on my latest viewing, I still had a great time.

The supporting cast also performed well. Jon Voight’s Jim Phelps surely angered people at the time given his, spoiler alert, twist as the film’s main villain, a crusty old man bitter at his years of service. This is not your father’s Jim Phelps, that’s for sure. But even as a fan of the show, I didn’t mind the turn. The rest of the ensemble was nicely cast. Jean Reno, in a smaller role, was a badass and Ving Rhames was great and thankfully is back in a larger role for the fifth and sixth movies after a cameo appearance in the fourth movie. And finally Emmanuelle Béart made for a sympathetic femme fatale.

It would seem for the first of what would become a long-running franchise Brian De Palma was a great choice to helm. While some of De Palma’s style is still present (close-ups during intense scenes, side-by-side in-focus shots, etc), he doesn’t go overboard and I also appreciate the old school opening title sequence.

SPECIAL FEATURES – 2½/5

This release comes with a semi-glossy slip cover and inside is a redemption code for the Digital HD copy as well as an IMF car emblem.

Mission: Remarkable – 40 Years of Creating the Impossible (11:26) – This featurette covers the history of Mission: Impossible taking it from the television series to the big screen. It features interviews with Tom Cruise, producer Paula Wagner, director Brian De Palma and various others.

Mission: Explosive Exploits (5:09) is a behind-the-scenes featurette covering the stunt work much of which done by Tom Cruise himself as well as showing the set-up of the action sequences (including the aquarium).

Mission: Spies Among Us (8:40) – This featurette takes a look at the real life games of spies including an interview those who have worked within the intelligence agency.

Mission: Catching the Train (2:39) show how the end sequence was accomplished via behind-the-scenes footage and a look at the visual effects.

Mission: International Spy Museum (6:31) is a cool featurette where you can see the various spy tools that have been used in the past.

Mission: Agent Dossiers – Here you can look at the profiles for Ethan Hunt, Jim Phelps, Sarah Davies, Claire Phelps, Jack Harmon, Hannah Williams and Luther Stickell and get their backgrounds/history.

Excellence in Film (9:15) is a tribute footage shown at the 2005 British Academy of Film and Television Arts where Tom Cruise was honored with the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film.

Generation: Cruise (3:36) is footage shown from the 2005 MTC Movie Awards where Cruise was also honored.

 Finally there’s a photo gallery and a variety of TV Spots and Theatrical Trailers.

VIDEO – 4¾/5

AUDIO – 5/5

OVERALL – 3½/5

Mission: Impossible may be dated in terms of the technology used and some of the dialogue was clunky in order to set up some of the story, but I still was entertained by this first outing of what would become a long-running franchise with Cruise the perfect actor to steer it.