Hello F(r)iends,
Mission Impossible III (MI3) is a good film. It’s strength are, surprisingly, not the stunts and action sequences (though those are thoroughly enjoyable and impressive. No, the strengths of MI3 are in the script, the acting, and the directing.
Unlike MI2, this film was not a shoot-em up, blow-em up, action flick. In fact, much depth is added to the characters and MI3 plays more like a Bourne Identity type than a Bond film. In a sense, it is a mix between the first film in the series and the second with a lot more of emotional intensity thrown in and the combination works wonders. The problem with the film is that it is not great. It is ultimately a forgettable film with a few chills and thrills. Is that worth $12 a ticket? Sure, but maybe you should catch the matinee.
-Thirst
I thought J.J. Abrams did a great job and as perhaps you are pointing out, he has a history of giving people clues without actually flatly stating what it is… I would even go as far as to argue that no one knew what exactly they were looking for and that was part of the reason Ethan was compelled to secure it and not go back to his fiancée. Sorry, Disgruntled Human, no specifics when it comes to J.J. Abrams.