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  Directed by
  Starring
  Specs
  • Widescreen 2.35:1
  • 16:9 Enhanced
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • English: Dolby Digital Surround
  Subtitles
    English, German, Dutch
  Extras
  • 1 Theatrical trailer

Mission: Impossible

Paramount/Paramount . R4 . COLOR . 107 mins . M15+ . PAL

  Feature
Contract

Finally, one of the all time classic TV show remakes makes it to DVD. I really liked this movie, more so after repeated viewings. I'm not sure why quite a few people didnt like it, as it had everything I expected and more.

It features some of the best "spy" scenes ever. Absolute classics. The tension of each scene is demonstrated brilliantly. I'm referring to two scenes in particular, the "Mole Hunt" scene, where Tom Cruise and Henry Czerny sit discussing the night's events, and the other being the famous "Black Vault Noc List" robbery.

The main theme revolves around the "IMF" team, (Impossible Mission Force?), and follows their adventures in the world of international espionage and discrete infiltration. In this episode, the team encounters a few problems, and it's up to the hero, Cruise, to work out exactly what the real problem is. That's a very simplified view of things, as the movie is filled with double crosses, and lots of spy fun for the whole family.

Mission: Impossible has a good cast and is directed by a very talented man, Brian De Palma. Some of his other work includes; Carlito's Way, The Untouchables and Carrie. De Palma is brilliant at bringing across tension to the screen, so as a movie it's very enjoyable and stands up well to repeated viewings.

  Video
Contract

Overall, it's a very good PAL 16x9 enhanced presentation. Shadow detail was very good. Night scenes were good, in many early scenes there is a lot of fog, and details in the fog were always transferred well.

There were a few times where the video was not perfectly sharp, but that was probably the camera/film, not the disc. Metallic objects (like taps in toilets) looked absolutely amazing, reference quality. Colours were all good, no major faults, no noticable artifacting or edge enhancement at all.

  Audio
Contract

I own the NTSC Laserdisc of this movie that features DD and PCM soundtracks. Comparing both, the Dolby Digital sountrack on this DVD seemed better. The "Mission" theme in Dolby Digital at the start was closer to the original and uncompressed PCM on the DVD than on the LD. This could be a result of my equipment, but it's still another nail in the Laserdisc coffin. The PCM was clearly still king when it came to the music, but Dolby Prologic did make the surround effects less noticeable.

DVD was clearly the best in the bass department, the explosion at "The Akfarium" was massive. Good effects in crowd (party) scenes, and also on top of the train, which was reminiscent of the brilliant IMAX movie Super Speedway, when it passed underneath bridges at over 200 kilometres per hour.

  Extras
Contract

A crappy trailer. The video quality of it is bad, very second rate. For an RRP of around $40 I was expecting a little more for a classic such as this.

  Overall  
Contract

For spy movie fans, it's worthwhile. For Cruise fans, it's worthwhile. For DVD fans, it's a good example of high quality audio and video, nothing more. I enjoyed this movie much more then its sequel, which is more about action (not such a bad thing) and less about the spy genre. As a spy movie the original remains as one of the best of all time.

This review won't self-destruct in 5 seconds...


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      And I quote...
    "Your mission, should you chose to accept it, is to watch and be enthralled by one of the all time classic spy movies, presented on a fine DVD."
    - Mark Pakula
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Pioneer DV-535
    • DVD Rom:
          Creative Dxr2 2x
    • MPEG Card:
          Creative Encore DXR2
    • TV:
          Loewe Profil Plus 3272 68cm
    • Receiver:
          Denon AVR-2700
    • Amplifier:
          Rotel RB981
    • Speakers:
          VAF DC-X
    • Centre Speaker:
          VAF DC-6
    • Surrounds:
          VAF DC-2
    • Subwoofer:
          Jaycar 2x10inch custom
    • Audio Cables:
          Harmony Gold Coax
    • Video Cables:
          Harmony Gold
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