Episode #802: Mission: Impossible III (with Ben Worcester)
Added 2025-05-27 04:00:06 +0000 UTC“He’s at the height of his Lost powers here” - Ben on J.J. Abrams
On this week’s episode, we welcome Ben Worcester onto the Summer Blockbuster Extravaganza to chat about the super-fun action sequel, Mission: Impossible III! How great is this engagement party scene with Ethan working the room? Has there been a better M:I villain than the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman’s portrayal of Owen Davian? Is this the M:I flick with the most Ving? How lucky is Ethan to have Aaron Paul for a brother-in-law? PLUS: Does Ethan Hunt have the same bartending skills as Brian Flanagan?
Mission: Impossible III stars Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Billy Crudup, Michelle Monaghan, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Keri Russell, Maggie Q, Simon Pegg, Eddie Marsan, Laurence Fishburne, and Philip Seymour Hoffman as Owen Davian; directed by J.J. Abrams.
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Don’t miss our next Worldwide Digital Event, happening Friday, June 20th at 9pm/eastern where we’ll be LIVE talking about a total superhero all-timer, Superman II! Join us that night to revel in all the fun with Zod & Friends, everyone at the Daily Planet, and the two legendary performances from Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman! Replay available for 14 days after broadcast!
Original cover art by Felipe Sobreiro.
Comments
The Cruise vs PSH fight ending reminded me of the ending of a Gene Hackman film (cant remember the name). He's fighting a villain ontop of a moving train, the villain is on top of him and they're exchanging barbs and it ends with Hackman saying "you're also taller" and pushing him up and the guy gets hereditaried by a beam.
Matthew Lloyd
2025-06-07 10:29:52 +0000 UTCOne of the producers of M:I 3 owns a very well established ice cream shop (Leopold’s) in Savannah, GA. In the movie, there is a truck with the ice cream shop logo and if you go to the shop, you can see/take pics of multiple props INCLUDING the “Rabbit’s Foot.” https://leopoldsicecream.com/hollywood-stratton/
Michael Mora
2025-05-30 17:14:17 +0000 UTCBetter name for the Ving Rhames Hat Database: Mr. Scalp.
Jamie
2025-05-29 14:34:22 +0000 UTCSo what I'm hearing is that Eric very narrowing escaped death via Chinese bus...does this mean a certain mack daddy is coming for him?? 👀
Rose Esposito
2025-05-29 03:47:39 +0000 UTCPSH is "the extreme!" baddy of this movie! MI:3 is a blast because he does not let up once in his performance, excellent movie & quality EP Boys
Watch_N_Rewatch
2025-05-28 20:04:52 +0000 UTCJesse gets converted by Tom Cruise: "Scientology bitch!"
Watch_N_Rewatch
2025-05-28 20:00:31 +0000 UTCYeah but no opening credits scenes???
Jan
2025-05-28 19:18:38 +0000 UTCThe fact that it then turns into an Alex Jones impression for the rest of the episode is so wrong...and yet so right 😂
Rose Esposito
2025-05-28 15:08:28 +0000 UTCI laughed unreasonably hard at Andrew's oh yeah sexy "hospital showers" intonation.
Jason
2025-05-28 10:29:31 +0000 UTCSeeing this in theaters I had the perfect real world synergy moment. After Ethan gets the nose bomb and starts running the screening started to glitch. I initially thought it was an artistic decision, but then the screen went black and I thought they took it too far. An employee came in, apologized, and then they resumed the screening without issue
I.C. Weiner
2025-05-28 04:31:11 +0000 UTCJ.J. Abram's Super 8 MM: A bunch of kids hear a rumor about finding porn in the woods and what they find is way worse than they were expecting....
CharlesGrodin'sToupee
2025-05-28 01:39:49 +0000 UTCSo glad Chris made that connection to Campbell Scott's traffic nerd character in Singles, I thought I was the only one
Jack
2025-05-27 21:11:48 +0000 UTCBen got a Non-Blart episode!!!!?!?!?!? Hallelujah!!!!
Brandon
2025-05-27 20:03:35 +0000 UTCI may disagree with some opinions expressed on the show, but I will agree with Andrew that you're taking your own life in your hands when you run. Worst activity on the planet.
Smaug
2025-05-27 19:29:18 +0000 UTCThat movie has way too many cuts to the older movies. I don't understand why we're spending the first 10 minutes on a MI montage. I liked it enough, but that slow start is kinda rough
Smaug
2025-05-27 19:12:16 +0000 UTCUnfortunately, this one didn't do it for me. I found most of it very dull and lacking in scope and for me, not enough Hoffman on screen. Was fun to see Cruise pretending to be Italian, though.
Z
2025-05-27 18:50:16 +0000 UTCBrain Flex pills made me drive off road I was laughing so hard. Bravo, Eric
Matthew Kennedy
2025-05-27 17:26:00 +0000 UTCAndrew should be 'Tall Glass' for all his 'Tall glasses of water'
Nicholas Knecht
2025-05-27 17:14:58 +0000 UTCI loved this movie since the theater. JJ Abrams is a frenemy for sure. Russell's death is legit one of the scariest scenes and still stays with me
Tala Hobballah
2025-05-27 16:35:53 +0000 UTCJesse sees the mask-making process: Yeah science!
Eren Keskin
2025-05-27 16:35:35 +0000 UTCRemember, folks. When your friend interrogates an internationally wanted terrorist, just yell out his name multiple times and make sure the terrorist can hear it. Do this right after they ask if your friend has any loved ones, and then they keep boasting about how they will hurt them. Just do it. What's the worst that can happen?
Eren Keskin
2025-05-27 16:11:22 +0000 UTCOh, they must've. At least for me. I've fallen hard for this series since then, all entries, so I can't imagine my thoughts haven't changed at least. - Andrew
We Hate Movies
2025-05-27 16:06:54 +0000 UTCThe fact they tell what the Rabbit’s Foot is in Final Reckoning is insane
Noura Sarayel
2025-05-27 14:42:31 +0000 UTCThis felt like a breath of fresh air after Final Reckoning (which I liked OK). Just a simple, fun story with a great villain that isn't a computer program Aaron Paul looks like he's about 15 here
JK
2025-05-27 14:11:09 +0000 UTCHey Jupin, The Nutella biscuits come in a 4 bag pack at Costco... welcome to Costco I love you.
DMAC
2025-05-27 13:57:41 +0000 UTCI also have 8MM on the brain lol
Jaime Lee Ezell
2025-05-27 12:50:14 +0000 UTCSorry, I listened a little more to the episode and this is acknowledged. I'll sit down.
Tim O'
2025-05-27 12:11:08 +0000 UTCAndrew says this one has the franchise's first major bathroom scene. Unfortunately, I must disagree; William Donloe has a titanic battle with his own bowels in the CIA bathroom in the first one.
Tim O'
2025-05-27 11:48:29 +0000 UTCThat is absolute insanity to me. Ghost Protocol and Rogue Nation are good, but I can't tell them apart if I ever reference them and they're good sleeping pills. They're easily in the bottom three with M:I2
Adam Ray
2025-05-27 11:41:33 +0000 UTCNoted PSH fan Andrew doing what I believe to be his first impression of him on the podcast and absolutely crushing it within the first 15 minutes of the episode LFGGGG
Jacob Curry
2025-05-27 07:15:27 +0000 UTCI'd just re-listened to the IM marathon episodes in the archive, be interesting to hear if any opinions have changed on this one
Kureigu
2025-05-27 06:38:33 +0000 UTCIt's cathartic to hear folks talking about how good this movie is. So often (especially recently with people making new Letterboxd ranking lists) I see people stick this one at or near the bottom of the franchise, but I've *always* championed it because it's what made me a fan of the series. PSH's intensity in that cold open hooked me in instantly.
Busiris
2025-05-27 06:14:15 +0000 UTCCall signs update: Andrew: M.I.A. Chris: Cabin pressure Steve: 5 second rule Eric: blond bad guy Ben: serious sauce
Jan
2025-05-27 05:46:10 +0000 UTCHoffman is a menace in this film lol they don't make them like him anymore
Alex Murica
2025-05-27 04:14:53 +0000 UTCThe beginning of this movie is one of the best cold opens to ever happen in a movie. Light that fuse We Hate Movies
Papa Taylor
2025-05-27 04:07:06 +0000 UTC
