Customer Reviews

The Best of Mission Impossible, Volume 6 [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mission: Impossible is the TV series that broke the mold and proved that an exciting show that doesn't insult the intelligence of the audience can still be very popular. During the 1960's when MI first appeared, most action-adventure series contained a large helping of car chases, fist fights and shoot-outs. Although, in the first season's episodes, we still see some elements of these things, by the second season they had pretty much disappeared and the emphasis became on out-thinking the enemy. It even got to the point that if someone had to be "liquidated", the IMF maneuvered the bad guys into doing it themselves (another major motivation for reducing the amount of violence in the show was the climate of disorder in the United States during this period including the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr, widespread opposition to the War in Vietnam plus the rioting in the major urban areas of the US caused by the racial unrest of the time). Another factor in the success of the series is the music which has become legendary that was written or inspired by Lalo Shifrin. Many scenes consisted of Barney connecting up wires or tinkering with some mechanical device and yet, the musical background kept up the tension and prevented the scene from becoming boring. The two-part episode on this tape was written by Paul Playdon who wrote some of the best stories for the series. There are plenty of clever gadgets and escape-proof prisons plus the presence of a hired assassin from a third country whom the IMF is not in control of to keep any MI fan occupied for two hours. The only reason I gave the story only 4 stars instead of 5 was because of the use of masks (someone even wears two masks at one time!) which I find rather implausible, but it is great entertainment in any event. I hope that more episodes will become available for purchase in the future!

A scientist is held captive. He is to perfect the missile. Only the scientist knows what to do. If he is not to do it. His wife will be executed. Also in sub-plot. A assassin is hired to kill the scientist so he can not finish his work. The IMF team has a gaget that might work. Wil they rescue the scientist in time. END

This two-part episode is tense, but there are some scenes that go on much too long. The premise is that a government unfriendly to the United States has jailed a rocket scientist and his wife. Threats against the wife are being used to force the scientist to work on a rocket to the exclusion of all other things. The rocket is a medium range missile that has the potential to be extremely destabilizing.
A second government that is unfriendly to both the United States and the power holding the scientist has sent an expert assassin to kill the scientist and he is working in an impenetrable bunker 100 meters in the ground. The mission given the IM team is to thwart the assassin and rescue both the scientist and his wife.
Watching every MI episode requires you to suspend some disbelief regarding the opponent's ability to counter the acts of the IM force, but this one goes beyond the norm. Willy acts as a painter/repairman outside the main headquarters of the security agency of the foreign power and no one pays the slightest attention to him. Barney spends an enormous amount of time working to create an elaborate mock attack against a car driven by Mr. Phelps on the route from the headquarters to the bunker. Yet, no one challenges or comes near him while he is working. Furthermore, after the mock attack is over, the chief security officer declares that the assailants are gone and does not order the deployment of a large detachment of soldiers or helicopters to hunt them down. After all, the scientist and his project are of greatest importance to the nation holding him; his work would completely alter the balance of power.
The IM team uses a remote control hovercraft that is navigated through the airshafts to reach the scientist and the action of Barney controlling the device just takes too long. Finally, when the scientist is rescued and the IM team is taking the scientist up the elevator to the surface, the fuel for the missile has been rigged to explode. This scene also drags out much too long, the shots of the tense faces; gauges on the fuel mix and the elevator indicator make several rounds, reaching the point where the tension diminishes.
The point where tense scenes are dragged out too long is one where it is difficult to be precise. In this case that line is significantly crossed and there is too much reliance on the opponents not being effective to make the story believable.

This video is THE GREATEST M:I video ever! I may have said that Volume 5 is the best, but this one just BLOWS it away! I especially like the part when Barney flies the hover-jet into the vent to give the doctor a secret message. If anyone tells you that this video shouldn't get a 5 star rating, DEFINITLY ignore them! Buy this video!

i think the bunker is a excellent episode which has a lot going for it.It is a Playdon adventure, personally my favorite writer Bain and Landau are excellent,the only thing that got me was the masks.having two on at the same time is a bit implausible.Otherwise a great episode a must-see for all mission fans!