‘Mission: Impossible’ Download and Reviews

November 12, 2009 by Paul Wall  
Filed under Action, Adventure, Thriller

“Mission: Impossible” Movie Details

Mission: Impossible tagline: Expect the Impossible
Mission Impossible - DVD Cover

Mission: Impossible DVD Cover

Actors:
  • Nathan Osgood
  • Kristin Scott Thomas Sarah Davies
    Tom Cruise Ethan Hunt
    Jon Voight Jim Phelps
    Emmanuelle BГ©art Claire Phelps
    Henry Czerny Eugene Kittridge
    Jean Reno Franz Krieger
    Ving Rhames Luther Stickell
    Vanessa Redgrave Max
    Dale Dye Frank Barnes
    Marcel Iures Alexander Golitsyn
    Ion Caramitru Zozimov
    Ingeborga Dapkunaite Hannah Williams
    Valentina Yakunina Drunken Female IMF Agent
    Marek Vasut Drunken Male IMF Agent
    Kittridge Technician
    Directors: Brian De Palma IMDB Rating: 6.8/10 out of 81,321 votes

    “Mission: Impossible” Movie Review

    “Mission Impossible” Plot Summary

    An American agent, under false suspicion of disloyalty, must discover and expose the real spy without the help of his organization.

    The best of the three

    An engaging piece of Cold War histrionics set in fine motion by DePalma and his stellar entourage of fine actors. To me, it stands far ahead of the two sequels, primarily because it is more subtle and cerebral and less visceral than the others. The cast itself is not laden with merely young hot-shot actors inserted into screenplays for box office appeal. Rather, it is almost too politically correct in its casting as all the demographics seem to be represented here: young, old, Black, White, male, female, American, European etc. Yet each of the principals and the supporting cast fits into his/her respective role quite well, with little wasted motion. It’s as if they each have their own ‘raison d’etre’ as it pertains to the overall story line

    The sophisticated spy-vs.-spy plot line is not only enhanced by the thespian talent, but also the inventive camera work that allows us to revisit ‘flashbacks’ of prior scenes that are taken from perspectives other than the original. To wit, the Jon Voight bridge scene gets a few once-overs, if you will. Also, the European locales are well shot with no gratuitous indulgence, which helps to embellish the story line. Lest I forget, a sweet job by Danny Elfman adapting Lalo Schiffrin’s ‘MI’ theme to the soundtrack, especially during the ending credits where he shifts the theme’s normal 5/4 tempo to a funkier, bluesier 4/4 time signature!Tom Cruise takes a nice turnabout from some of his earlier more ‘cutesy’ roles. His role here demands of him technical expertise as well as strength of character in order for him to merely stay alive. J. Voight and V. Redgrave are in fine form in their complex and beguiling portrayals

    In summary, this episode of the ‘MI’ series characterizes what I consider to be a triumph of substance over form, of subtlety over the obvious. Maybe this attitude is a ‘no-no’ for modern audiences, but it remains one philosophy that I will always endorse.

    Mission Impossible - Movie Still 1 Mission: Impossible Movie Still 2 Mission Impossible Movie Image 3 Mission: Impossible Screen Image
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    ‘Seven Years in Tibet’ Download and Reviews

    October 21, 2009 by Paul Wall  
    Filed under Adventure, Biography, Drama

    “Seven Years in Tibet” Movie Details

    Seven Years in Tibet tagline: At the end of the world his real journey began.
    Seven Years in Tibet - DVD Cover

    Seven Years in Tibet DVD Cover

    Actors:
  • Ama Ashe Dongtse
  • Brad Pitt Heinrich Harrer
    David Thewlis Peter Aufschnaiter
    B. D. Wong Ngawang Jigme
    Mako Kungo Tsarong
    Danny Denzongpa Regent
    Victor Wong Chinese ‘Amban’
    Ingeborga Dapkunaite Ingrid Harrer
    Jamyang Jamtsho Wangchuk Dalai Lama, 14 Years Old
    Lhakpa Tsamchoe Pema Lhaki
    Jetsun Pema Great Mother
    Tashi
    Directors: Jean-Jacques Annaud IMDB Rating: 6.7/10 out of 27,019 votes

    “Seven Years in Tibet” Movie Review

    “Seven Years in Tibet” Plot Summary

    True story of Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountain climber who became friends with the Dalai Lama at the time of China’s takeover of Tibet.

    One Of The Most Unique Adventures Of The Twentieth Century

    Tibet has certainly fascinated people all over the world. The hidden land in the most forbidding place on the planet not at either pole. In its day Lost Horrizon made quite a bit of money for its author James Hilton. But the real story of Heinrich Harrer is better than anything a fictional author could have thought up

    Brad Pitt is Harrer in Seven Years In Tibet and this has become my favorite film of his. Heinrich Harrer, a world famous mountain climber and Austrian national hero goes on an expedition in 1939 to conquer an unclimbed peak in the Himalayas. While he’s doing his mountain climbing Germany of which Austria is now part of marches into Poland and World War II begins. Harrer and his party are interred as enemy aliens

    In 1942 Harrer escaped and he and a friend played by David Thewlis make their way into Tibet. The rest of the film is the seven years he spent there, centered around the unique friendship he formed with the child ruler of Tibet, the Dalai Lama. This in fact is the same Dalai Lama who today is possibly the world’s greatest and non-aligned apostle of the gospel of peace

    Brad Pitt is never better in the film than he is with the three child actors who play the Dalai Lama at various stages of his life. The physical hardship that he and Thewlis endure just getting into Tibet is adventure enough. But the spiritual journey he undergoes in his time there makes this one of the most unique adventure stories of the last century

    One thing I liked about Seven Years in Tibet is that no effort was made to cover up Harrer’s Nazi background. In an alternate universe one can speculate on what might have happened to him had he actually had to serve in the army in World War II. His internment saved him from possibly being involved any number of atrocities. God, fate, some kind of higher power saved him for something wonderful. The cinematography is breathtaking, this film had an incredible number of locations. Note that it was shot in British Columbia, in Argentina with the Andes serving as the Himalayas, Austria and even some establishing footage was shot in Tibet itself on the sly

    Tibet’s status is unique unto the world. It has been part of China since the Ming dynasty. It’s referred to properly as the autonomous region of Tibet. China has given it autonomy in varying degrees over the past several centuries, it’s never been truly independent. The Communist regime back in the days of Mao Tse-tung brutally asserted it’s sovereignty a few times, most notably in late fifties when the Dalai Lama was forced to flee Tibet and live in Northern India where he resides to this day. That is when he’s not traveling the world as it’s foremost advocate of non-violence

    It is sad that this film did not get more box office than it did. Brad Pitt, David Thewlis, director Jean Jacques Arnaud are all persona non grata in the People’s Republic of China for making this film. Quite a market indeed to be shut out of for a stand for humanity

    It’s to be hoped that one day the Tibetans will be free. Until then they have their unique brand of Buddhism to sustain them and this wonderful film to tell their story.

    Seven Years in Tibet - Movie Still 1 Seven Years in Tibet Movie Still 2 Seven Years in Tibet Movie Image 3 Seven Years in Tibet Screen Image
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