MICHAEL GIACCHINO

Yes, it indeed is.
I remember, when I first heard Giacchinos effort on "Lost Season 1". It didn't really do much for me back then, but after I've seen the seasons I got a complete nut about the score and sence then I love those melodies.
And "Season 4" really is a very interesting an well done comilation on those themes.

Not only did I like MI3 but also think it is the best of the three.

I preferred the first one personally. I really liked the style and thought the plot was perfectly complicated. The third one was very good mind you, it just felt like an extended episode of alias, minus the lovely Jennifer Garner .

But they are STILL Mission:Impossible films. If the third was sooooo different it shouldn't have had the number 3 beside the name.

-Erik-

PS - The "exercise in suspense" you speak of is what makes the first film the superior one. I'll take the CIA break-in from the first film over ANYTHING in the third.

-Erik-

That's a pretty valid point; no.2 was horrible, m:i:III wasn't perfect, but a huge improvement. I enjoyed it A LOT, truth to be told and despite the fact that it's essentially a very well-performed and fun but quickly forgettable ride. I absolutely adored the score which - imo, is the best of the whole series, at least when it comes to suiting my tastes. If a 4th is indeed on the works and Giacchino's in it, then i am definitely looking forward to it!

I won't bother going over old ground again by talking about the third film (the most awful I've ever seen in a cinema) - but I can't miss the opportunity to join your praise for the first. Head and shoulders above the two which came after it. Made by a REAL filmmaker.

Either you are very selective with the films you watch at in the cinema or you have really exaggerated!

Or both...

Actually, it's perhaps the former. It's not the worst film I've ever seen. But it's the worst one with a $100m+ budget, I think.

A little suprised there are so many M:I 2 haters here... I think it's a very good looking film with a sense of pace and visual style that I love... (I'm a big slowmo nut and how John Woo made it his trademark). How can you seriously hate the insanely over the top but oh so deliciously shot final 30 minutes?

But yeah the first Mission Impossible is maybe the one that stays most true to the concept. The break-in is legendary in its execution and building of suspense.

The second is great as an action film, not a M:I film, though it features some impossible feats and ludicrous stunts.

Same goes for the third, but for some reason it's the least enjoyable for me.

I loved Alias, but Mission Impossible isn't supposed to be Alias, which was precisely what the movie was like. All the same characters. Including Simon Pegg taking over the tech role and replacing whats his face.


The 1st one just captured the spy aspect really well. Plus, it wasn't dumbed down. It made you think.

I agree totally. Woo kicks ass! He's a great proponent of the "style is substance" school. Like the ALIEN saga, this franchise should also be open to different approaches depending on the directors' unique style.

Wow, I never thought that even this film has its defenders. Not wanting to steal James's thunder here, but for me Woo's M:I II is hands down the most atrocious film I've ever seen in cinemas (Admittedly, I didn't see any of the Pirates of the Caribbean ones in the theatre though). I honestly can't remember watching anything so bad paying for it... (Trying to remember... No, sorry.) The amount of Cruise close-ups alone was vomit-inducing; I just couldn't take them all.

I though the third film was quite innocent and entertaining, a decent action film which was only partly a mission: impossible - though I was happy it was back on track after the second. I'll have some J.J. Abrams + Giacchino over Tony Scott, Michael Bay, etc. + RC-composers any time of the day.
The first one on the other hand remains one of my all-time favorites; DePalma is just so great with this material. I've also seen it just at the right age where it still sticks with you (and where you were not as well 'versed' in plot twists as now), so this has admittedly added to the impact - but still, it's a wonderful DePalma film. Plus it's accompanied by my favourite Elfman score; what more can you want.

-Erik-

Now The Avengers was maybe the most unintentionally hilariously funny film I've ever seen. We were literally rolling on the floor crying tears of laughters, me and Thomas.