MI3 and Number 95

Yesterday I went to the movies to see Mission Impossible 3. Before starting, I've got to say I've never been the biggest Tom Cruise fan. That's not to say I don't like him or feel he's talentless, I just never thought he was a great actor. As a result, much of the recent hoopla about what Tom Cruise says, thinks or does really hasn't affected me. I find the gossip about him entertaining, but that's about it. In terms of movies, Tom Cruise has appeared in many good movies but the only movies that have really grabbed me are the Mission Impossible movies.

I also enjoyed the TV show and generally like spy movies, so the Mission Impossible movies fit in with my tastes. The first (and best) one was directed by Brian Depalma. Depalma pulled almost every trick out of his I'm-so-ripping-off-Hitchcock bag that the movie gets by on pure style. In opposition to many of this films critics, I enjoyed the winding plot and was able to follow it during the movie. However, the producers listened to the critics and heavily watered down MI2. MI2 was directed by John Woo who pulled every trick out of his I'm-so ripping-off-Old John Woo bag that the movie seems tired from the start. It doesn't help that the plot is also a rip off of the old Hitchcock film Notorious. Still, the dumbed down plot and slo mo gunplay made this film hugely successful.

Which brings us to the current film, Mission Impossible 3. This time, JJ Abrams (of Alias fame) takes control of the film and infuses it with Alias' mix of high tech espionage and personal relationships. Unlike his predecessors, Abrams directs effectively in the style of televison with minimal flourish and economical use of framing and shot length.

The first hour to hour and a half are the best in any Mission Impossible movie. It begins with a cliffhanger where Tom Cruise is told he has an explosive device placed in his head and he must answer a bizarre question to keep his wife from being shot in the head. The opening is a classic cliffhanger and the film actually improves from there. Cruise accepts a mission to attempt a rescue of a captured spy whom Cruise trained. Cruise gets an actual team to work with, a move that makes the film pay homage to the original Mission Impossible. In this part of the film, much of the high tech hardware gets displayed and the heavily timed strategies build tension throughout.

Unfortunately, once the movie catches up with the cliffhanger flashback opening, it quickly goes downhill. The generic action movie final battle and coda are dull and implausible even at B movie standards. The supporting cast give fine performances all the way around, but it is clearly Tom Cruises' show. Given the weak box office performance, it is unlikely that there will be an MI4. If you stop watching the movie two thirds of the way through, I will rate it a 10. But, with the ending included its an 8 out of 10.

Speaking of sequels, my favorite CD at number 95 is:

Journey - Arrival (2001)

In the late 1990's, Journey attempted to reform with lead singer Steve Perry to take one more shot at greatness. Sadly, after recording and releasing the CD vocalist Perry suffered an injury that sidelined him for years. In the meantime, the rest of Journey (sans drummer Steve Smith) decided to continue without Perry. Instead, lookalike and soundalike vocalist Steve Augeri was recruited. Augeri could mimic the Perry vocal style and somewhat resembled him at a distance. Enough fans stuck by Journey without Steve Perry to encourage the recording of an album, Arrival.

Arrival is the first Journey album to not feature Steve Perry since 1976. For the most part, the approach of the band is similar to their approach with Perry. The CD is chock full of ballads (All The Way, Loved By You, With Your Love and Lifetime Of Dreams) and includes a few rockers (To Be Alive Again, I Got A Reason and Higher Place). The ballads follow a similar pace to the band's earlier hits (Open Arms, Faithfully) as do the rockers, but Perry's R&B influence is sorely missing. Without Perry, the album stiffens as everyone performs the music with energy but without much soul.

So, why is this album 95 if it doesn't seem that good? It's because I'm such a fan that even hand me down Journey is better than most other bands. The anthemic "To Be Alive Again", the dark rock of "Higher Place" and the bluesy "Livin' To Do" all stand out as first rate songs. While I will always miss Perry, the truth is the last few albums with him weren't all that great. It sounded like Steve Perry solo albums with members of Journey as guests. On Arrival, it is truly a band album as all members get to contribute. If you like Journey, I do recommend this album though I cannot to nonfans.