BACK COVER SYNOPSIS: Tom Cruise ignites the screen in this runaway smash hit that "holds you on the edge of your seat before blasting you out of it" (Howard Rosenberg, Los Angeles Times). 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 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).

FILM REVIEW: I was quite familiar with the general set up of Mission: Impossible the television show, having watched numerous episodes and enjoyed them thoroughly. When a feature film version was announced with Tom Cruise set to star, it seemed reasonable, although I couldn't help but wonder how it was going to be changed to suit Cruise. It was also a surprise to learn that Brian De Palma was directing; having made such classics as Scarface and The Untouchables, this seemed a strange shift in direction as the material didn't on the surface seem to fit with him. These concerns ultimately proved to be unwarranted as this film is one of the most thrilling spy films you're likely to see.

The TV show had a fairly predictable formula and it seemed obvious that Cruise wasn't going to play Phelps, the team leader on the mission. What you get in this film however is a surprise; they manage to turn the episodic formula from the TV show on its head, leaving you guessing for the rest of the film exactly how it's all going to turn out. Conveniently of course they're able to dispense with Phelps quite early in the film so as to give Cruise centre-stage. However, it's extremely well done and although the plot can be quite convoluted and possibly confusing to some, you want to figure it out and it may take more than one viewing to do it.

The big surprise comes early on in this film; the team (except for Cruise's character) are killed off in an ambush while on a mission, including Phelps. Cruise is left over and his boss assumes that since he's the only one left alive, he was responsible. Then, in a spectacular escape, Cruise goes off an adventure to find out who set him up and why. What makes this all work, especially if you're familiar with the TV show and the way it worked is that once Cruise starts his journey, you really don't have any idea where it's going to go, and this works in the film's favor as it's playing against what you expected. You know how the old episodes worked; once the film completely destroys that formula, you're left to enjoy something a lot more unique.

"Mission: Impossible" has some spectacular set pieces. Cruise's initial escape from his boss is effective as he throws a stick of chewing gum (which turns in to a bomb) against a huge aquarium tank, blowing it to pieces while he's running away just ahead of the gushing water. The break into the CIA vault is the best scene in the film; to avoid setting off the alarm he can't make a sound, can't touch anything (except the computer) and must ensure the temperature of the room remains constant. It's a thrilling scene because it's ultra-quiet and every quiet whisper you hear in the soundtrack keeps you on the edge of your seat, hoping they don't get caught. The finale on top of the bullet train is well conceived, but ultimately is a little over the top. However, the familiar theme music kicks in, pumping through the sound system, at a pivotal moment when Cruise finally gets to exact justice on the person who set him up.

Overall, this is a highly enjoyable, thrilling film that you may need to see more than once to fully appreciate the intricate plot.

TECHNICAL REVIEW: The film has been given a reasonable transfer. There's some film scratches and grain noticeably present in the picture at various points throughout the film but they're not too bad. The soundtrack is magnificent - ranging from the "ultra-quiet break in to the CIA vault" scene where you can hear every little detail to the pounding bullet train finale.

EXTRAS REVIEW: This DVD is a bare bones disc, only containing the theatrical trailer and subtitles. For this reason, get the new 2-disc edition which contains more featurettes and documentaries on the making of the film.

BOTTOM LINE: Worth having in the collection, but probably better to grab the 2-disc edition with the extra features that has since been released.