Mission Impossible (UK)
Expect the impossible
Certificate: PG
Running Time: 105 mins
Retail Price: £19.99
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie
Synopsis:
Tom Cruise ignites the screen in this runaway smash hit.
Cruise stars as Ethan Hunt, a secret agent 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.
YOUR mission should you decide to accept it: hang on for the "wildest ride of the year!" - (Stephen Holden, The New York Times).
Special Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer
Video Tracks:
Widescreen Anamorphic 2.35:1
Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Subtitle Tracks:
Swedish
English
CC: English
Danish
Norwegian
Directed By:
Brian De Palma
Written By:
Robert Towne
David Koepp
Steven Zaillian
David Koepp
Starring:
Vanessa Redgrave
Kristin Scott Thomas
Ving Rhames
Jean Reno
Henry Czerny
Emmanuelle Béart
Jon Voight
Tom Cruise
Soundtrack By:
Lalo Schifrin
Danny Elfman
Director of Photography:
Stephen H. Burum
Editor:
Paul Hirsch
Costume Designer:
Penny Rose
Production Designer:
Norman Reynolds
Producer:
Paula Wagner
Tom Cruise
Executive Producer:
Paul Hitchcock
Distributor:
Paramount Pictures
Your Opinions and Comments
By Nicola Willet
Excellent Film
Tom Cruise is suprisingly likeable and believable as a top secret agent. The script throws up plenty of suprises and it`s nice to see an action film located in Europe.
OK, it`s a bit similar to James Bond but it is well executed and different enough. The story moves very quickly and is highly entertaining. Some people claim that it is overly complex but ignore them and enjoy this gem.
The DVD unfortunately is awful. There are no real features to speak of. The transfer is good and it`s worth buying for the film alone. Ignore MI2 and concentrate on this film. Let`s hope MI3 returns to this style.
The DVD is disappointing for a recent blockbuster movie - I guess it was one of the first DVDs released which is why it is now in the Budget category.
As you can see from even the screenshots on this site, the video is soft, shows lack of detail, it is too dark and the colour accuracy is poor. It just does not have the snap and sparkle you would expect from a quality DVD release. The audio is fairly good on the other hand, although a higher bitrate DD track and/or a dts track would have been preferable, naturally.
The extras are not significant.
Video: Seeing as this is a movie only disc, the movie is really given space to breath. Overall image is sharp and while the print contains some nicks and stretches this is a pleasing transfer. There are also scenes of dirt and jaggies, sadly. De Palma showcases his supreme talent once again.
Audio: The real showcase of this track is the finale on the train. Wind hurtles in the speakers and the explosion packs some serious wallop. However subtlety is also a strong point. Once Cruise goes into the vault in chapter 8, the track goes silent. In the cinema you could hear a point drop (and this is an EXTREME rarity in summer blockbusters) and this heightens the tension of the scene highly.
Extras: Ha! Paramount doesn't even know what they are. A trailer and that's all you get. I remember a making-of shown on TV in '96 for this so it isn't like there's no available.
Overall: Released just before M:I-2's theatrical run, either to boost tickets or cash-in. The presentation is good for a 1996 release but sadly the lack of extras indicate a particularly rushed release. As an update of the VHS this is fine, as a standard of DVD it isn't.