KOOL TV REVIEW: 'MISSION IMPOSSIBLE - THE '89 TV SEASON' DVD BOX SET

Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) and his bold team accept their next season of adventures in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE: THE '89 TV SEASON. Images: CBS PARAMOUNT/REVELATION FILMS.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- THE ’89 TV SEASON. DVD BOX SET (4 discs)

Starring Peter Graves

Released by CBS PARAMOUNT via REVELATION FILMS

Reviewed by Scott Weller

Silver haired mastermind Jim Phelps and his shoulder padded heroes of the eighties MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TV series re-imagining are back for their second and final season of adventures, courtesy of CBS PARAMOUNT and REVELATION FILMS, and once more pitting their wits and unique talents against the worlds nastiest post-Cold War super-baddies of money and power.

Sprightly lead star Peter Graves clearly enjoys returning to the title role for which he would become so synonymous, as well as showing a more paternal side to his nature as leader of his modern team (including Tony Hamilton as action beefcake Max, Thaao Penglis as master mimicker Nicholas, Phil Morris as tech wizard Grant and lovely Jane Badler as decoy Shannon), as well retaining his skills as a master manipulator.

No longer hampered behind the scenes into remaking a mass of classic original series episodes as they were in their first year, due to the crippling US writers strike of 1987/88, our globe-trotting gang come across on screen as a now much more comfortable ensemble, though suspension of disbelief is always a vital requirement when watching this show as well as nostalgia at seeing the teams use of then high tech wizardry- a time of cassette decks and floppy discs no less- now seemingly a little low brow with today’s continuing advances. But it’s all fun regardless.

Title sequence: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (S 2- 1989/90) - Tony Hamilton - YouTube

Jim Phelps is back in the infiltration game.

The series overall baddies are mostly Australian names and not quite so well known as previous season stars. Still, there are a few noteworthy non-Aussie exceptions playing strong antagonists, including Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Albert Salmi, Alex Cord, Lewis Fiander, and Michael Greene.

As much a central star as our heroes, the series now set Antipodean location successfully continues its weekly behind the scenes transformations into various countries, from Ireland to the Congo, with much greater success than the often tired backlot-ness of the shows earlier seventies incarnation. Shrewdly, the old series decreased in telling worldwide set stories, eventually saving costs with US based tales instead. Here, the eighties series has no such restrictions and enjoys its travel.

Max and Grant emerge into the underground base of The Golden Serpent.

In and out of the locations, Special Effects veteran Dale Duguid pushes his team to the limits in Season Two, sometimes with mixed success from the technology then available to them behind the scenes. Model and matte painting work are of very variable quality here compared to the digital age. Still, you have to admire Duguid’s pluck in conceiving the ambitious volcano script Cargo Cult, which sees the gang try to save a lost tribe of stone agers from being exploited for their gold by greedy entrepreneurs.

Among the scripting newbies joining the series is STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION writer/ producer-to-be Frank Abatemarco, also American supervising producer for the new run, whilst returning veterans to the Jeffrey M. Hayes produced series include writers Ted Roberts and experienced Aussie director Colin Budds, helping Jim Phelps light the fuse to adventure all over again…

The series may have ended with a shorter episode run count-16 compared to the previous 19- but it’s continued success proved to PARAMOUNT that Bruce Geller’s original winning format for the series still had continued potential, a fact that would be recognized a few years later with the first of Tom Cruise’s exhilarating theatrical adventures from 1995 onwards.

Picture and sound quality for the non-widescreen DVD release episodes is once again acceptable, considering that the two eighties seasons were converted from film to videotape. Amongst the sparse but welcome bonus features accompanying the four-disc set are several episodic trailers and a nice, specially shot at the time Happy Holidays message from the cast to US viewers.

Here’s KOOL TV’s look at some of the years most notable episodes…

The cast of the eighties MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE. Left to right: Phil Morris as Grant, Thaao Penghlis as Nicholas, Peter Graves as Jim Phelps, Jane Badler as Shannon and Tony Hamilton as Max.

The Golden Serpent (Season Two opening two-parter)

Much better than I remember seeing it on UK rental VHS tape in 1989, the opening two-parter of the new season is ambitious and enjoyable, with a bit more money noticeably spent on it by PARAMOUNT than with previous episodes. There's a bit of James Bond about it all, too-very You Only Live Twice and Thunderball, what with its underwater scenes, laser defended underground base, uniformed baddie soldiers and lethal henchmen (and woman) as the IMF team have to destroy the Asiatic based Golden Serpent drug empire/trafficking ring from the inside out. The mission proves a real family affair, too, for some team members, with the last re-appearance of original series veteran Greg Morris as Barney Collier, having infiltrated the baddies domain and re-united for more adventuring with his son in real-life and on the show, Phil Morris as Grant Collier.

The shows format has several slightly tweaked format changes, and the IMF have a few revised gadgets to work with as part of their non-killing arsenal. The story also makes worthy use of its Australia set locations, especially the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge for an exciting action sequence cliffhanger to part one, involving Tony Hamilton as Max.

The links to other spy-dom series continues with the return of British sixties THE AVENGERS series director Don Chaffey, who keeps the proceedings fun and lively to its explosive end.

Grant is reunited with dad Barney (Phil Morris) in The Golden Serpent.

Command Performance

It’s Circus, Circus as Jim and the team use the colourful environs of the Big Top to rescue a revolutionary priest and his priceless golden cross from the clutches of a corrupt military official. A lively yarn from series newcomer Robert Brennan, if a little similar to some earlier classic episodes of the past. A fun finale makes it all worthwhile, along with a solid foreign baddie from Grigor Taylor in the form of Savitch. Plus another sexy performance from Jane Badler. What more could you want?

War Games

Military maneuvers of the deadliest kind from writer Walter Brough, playing well to the modern series strengths, as our team use astrology, infiltration and technological sabotage to prevent an invasion by the warmongering Sardavian Republic against their peaceful neighbours.

Lovely Jane Badler returns for Series Two, and gets lots more to do.

Target Earth

Classic STAR TREK and seventies MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE writing stalwart Stephen Kandel makes his talented return. Terrorists threaten a European space shuttle mission and Shannon becomes the first IMF woman in space in order to stop a saboteur from using an of-its-time, real-life STAR WARS DEFENSE INITIATIVE-like weapon against the planet. It’s a barmy episode but it works overall and proves likeable. Amidst the NASA stock footage there’s some occasional good new model work from the show’s Aussie effects team.

The Fuehrer’s Children

Albert Salmi gives a strong performance as an American Neo Nazi leader on the worldwide rise, Richard Kester, who must be stopped at all costs; especially with regards to the “secret weapons” he has under his charge. Pity poor Grant when he has his first run in with the baddies, tied up and about to be used as practice fodder in a manhunt, whilst Jane Badler, having previously been an outer space version of a Nazi villainess in V, now plays a character who has to take on the real thing…

Frank Abatemarco crafts an interesting tale, again well directed by Don Chaffey, but it ultimately lacks a truly satisfying ending.

Nicholas often enjoys coming back from the dead during the two seasons.

Banshee

Ted Roberts excursion to Ireland is a bit of a mis-step in its stereotypical, sometimes romanticized, presentation of Ireland and its people, as well as the conflict between Catholic and Protestant beliefs, layered around the story of a gun merchant playing profit off both sides. But Banshee does have its memorable laugh out loud fun moments beyond the clichés. Especially the finale, involving the baddies being scared out of their wits by Badler’s playing of the title role: the spectral legend of Irish mythology, as well as Peter Graves as a ghostly charge of a deathly horse and carriage. Think THRILLER but badly done. Best enjoyed with a few beers, tongue held firmly in cheek and brain strictly in neutral…

For Art’s Sake

So as to smooth tensions between the US and the state of San Marco, the team, in particular Shannon, have to recover a stolen, priceless Latin American painting from a clever and resourceful art thief, wealthy Daniel Travers (AIRWOLF’s Alex Cord, who also played a villain in the seventies show). The team has a fine baddie to pit their wits against, with Badler getting some good material to work with as another art fence that soon falls foul of Travers. Phelps final trap against the murdering anti-philanthropist is ingenious.

The Assassin

In their efforts to stop the continued work and profits of an assassination bureau, Nicholas unwittingly becomes a mind-controlled assassin himself in this original series reminiscent episode that just about holds its story duration. It’s a good vehicle for Thaao Penghlis in a season where he doesn’t really have enough to do compared to year one.

Tony Hamilton returns as stalwart adventurer Max.

The Gunslinger

Ride ‘em cowboy! Jim and his posse go western as they get to work within a theme park in Nevada, so as to stop it's corrupt owner/political Ian McClintock (Michael Greene) from using his nearby mine to steal nuclear materials for terrorists. The cast enjoy the offbeat story setting from writer Ted Roberts and director Colin Budds, especially Graves, used to the genre from the fifties, whilst Jane Bader looks sexy and has some fun as a bar girl.

Church Bells in Bogota

Here comes the amnesiac bride! Not a classic episode by any means but a nice acting/singing showcase for Badler as Shannon, who, undercover as a night club singer on a mission to capture a major drug dealer, loses her memory after a plane crash and falls in love with the kingpin’s nephew. Can her teammates help her recover her memory and finish the mission?

The Sands of Seth

With five VIPs dead from strangulation, the IMF team uses the ambitions of an insane Egyptian professor, Doctor Salim (beaky-nosed Tim Elliott) against him, as he begins his hell-bent scheme to resurrect the cult of the destructive Pharaoh Seth in order to restore his country’s power base position in the Middle East.

It's THE MUMMY RETURNS meets INDIANA JONES in this lively genre- crossing tale from long-term series producer Jeffery Hayes, his only script for this final year. The villain is a strong one, the assembled cast has lots to do- master of disguise Nicholas even gets the fun opportunity to become a Mummy! - and it all ends with a big finish amidst memorable set designs from the series notable Production Designer Stewart Burnside. The Sands of Seth ultimately proves a fitting and successful end to the series.

KOOL TV overall series rating: enjoyable hokum getting a solid 3.5 out of 5

Get hold of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE COMPLETE ’89 SEASON here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mission-Impossible-The-Season-DVD/dp/B007IV5GPS/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1351766673&sr=8-15

KOOL TV REVIEW: 'MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE '88 TV SEASON

One team of crime-fighters you don't want to mess with! Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) and his force are back in the new MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TV series of the eighties. Images: CBS DVD/REVELATION FILMS.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE  - THE COMPLETE ’88 TV SEASON

Starring Peter Graves

Released on UK DVD by CBS DVD/REVELATION FILMS

Reviewed by Scott Weller

Prepare to feel genuinely sorry once again for all the warlords, overlords, henchmen, killers and blackmailers that get completely overpowered and defeated by the legendary master manipulator Jim Phelps and his Impossible Missions Force in the premiere UK release from CBS DVD/REVELATION FILMS of the first exciting and highly enjoyable 1988 season of the modern MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TV series, based on the original and iconic seven-year series created by Bruce Geller.

The classic motifs, IMF team member skills and series technology are all nicely upgraded, and, though Jim Phelps may have silver hair these days, original series veteran and main star, the late, much-missed Peter Graves, incredibly seems to facially de-age as the nineteen episodes of the new season go on, ably assisted by a fine American/Australian cast including Thaao Penglis as face changing Nicholas, Antony Hamilton as all-action hero Max, Phil Norris as techno-wizard Grant, and lovely ladies Terry Markwell and Jane Badler as diversions and all-round helpers Casey and Shannon, in a time when eighties technology hadn’t yet become the size of an iPod, and when big hair and shoulder pads on women were still considered fashionable!

Replacing the original series mostly studio and backlot bound adventures, the all-filmed look of the series on location has held up pretty well, with the Australian behind the scenes talent, headed by Jeffrey Hayes Productions, having done a good job overall in taking over the heavy production burden of the American created series and the various worldwide settings it has to recreate, of which new and old talent from the original series generally mix well.

Picture quality-wise, these episode releases are the best you’re going to get (the series originally made on film but converted to video), and some of them look surprisingly good up scaled compared to the way they were transmitted in late nineties repeats on the UK’s GRANADA PLUS channel and very poor late eighties VHS rental tapes.

So, sit back and enjoy, as Lalo Schifrin’s great, pulse pounding MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE theme once more brings in a new set of adventures for fans old and new to enjoy.

Light the flame!

Titles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsjCoNWlFig&feature=related

The new IMF team: Casey (Terry Markwell), Max (Antony Hamilton), Jim (Peter Graves),  Grant (Phil Norris) and Nicholas (Thaao Penglis).

Here’s a KOOL TV look at some of the most notable episodes of the first season…

KILLER (SEASON PREMIERE)

Brought out of retirement, a revenge fuelled Jim Phelps, keeping the exploding video disc industry in business for a few more years, assembles a new IMF team to seek out the men responsible for the murder of one of his ex-team mates: the killer known as Scorpio (STAR TREK’s John de Lancie) and the unknown conspirator who hired him to do the job.

A solid start reintroducing the series, the decision to re-imagine one of the original series most popular episodes is a good one, and its realisation, now set in London rather than the US, is reasonably good. Our Aussie compatriots also get the look of British Taxi Cabs right, too, and in a far better way than Hawaii ever did for the British Empire in LOST!

Like father, like son. Phil Morris is the series new techno-wizard, Grant.

HOLOGRAMS

The team has to lure a dictator (Gerard Kenney) off his island stronghold by lure of a supposed long lost son.

THE CONDEMNED

Framed for murder by a corrupt police boss, classic series veteran Barney Collier has to be rescued from a lethal Turkish prison and the real culprit uncovered.

It’s great to have the late Greg Morris back in this series re-working of another classic seventies episode, though his characters involvement in the scenario feels a little bit shoe-horned at times.

THE PAWN

The team have to smuggle a Russian scientist/chess master (Brian Marshall) and his daughter out of Czechoslovakia via an international chess tournament, and through the use of both a little bit of magic and a genuine moment of inspiration! By no means a classic episode, but it has some notable moments of inter-action for our IMF team.

THE HAUNTING

A double task for the team this week as they have to locate the body of a missing oil sheik’s princess daughter, murdered and buried at a closed down Hawaii amusement park, and reveal the culprit, whom they believe to be a wealthy socialite and Ted Bundy-ish serial killer of wealthy women, Champ Foster (Parker Stevenson). Directed by BABYLON 5 veteran Mike Vejar, Tony Hamilton gets to have some fun portraying a fellow serial killer taunting Foster.

THE LIONS

The IMF team must stop the assassination of the young heir to his rightful throne of a Himalayan-type principality, of which the would-be king must also solve a clever and dangerous ceremonial test designed to stop any pretenders. Dangers all manipulated by the late king’s regent, his power greedy brother (James Shigita), who has ultimate plans that could threaten East/West relations, in this fun tale which, despite some wonky special effects and back projection work here and there, uses the whole IMF team generally well.

THE GREEK

It’s time to wear garish eighties suits and costumes and become shady businessmen again, as the team infiltrate and destroy from the inside out an international drug smuggling cartel, whose members include SPIDER-MAN TV series star Nicholas Hammond.

V's Jane Badler is a most welcome new addition to the series as Shannon.

THE FORTUNE

One of the season highlights. A veteran guest star of the original series, the glamorous Barbara Luna, plays a nasty Imelda Marcus type figure, Madame Berezone, living as an exile in Florida with her almost gaga dictator husband (Michael Pate), whom the IMF must recover stolen money from and destroy their credibility as returning leaders to their South American country. This episode sees the first appearance of ex-V star Jane Badler as new IMF member Shannon Reed, who assists the team when Casey is captured in a memorable and quite shocking for its time pre-title sequence, which sees her death at the cruel hands of Madame Berezone. The idea of an IMF team member being killed never happened in the original series and this was a clever surprise from the eighties series production team that certainly gives the series a dramatic boost in it’s mid-season…

THE FIXER

The team has to destroy the credibility of a powerful journalist/broadcaster, Arthur Six (Richard Romanus), who possesses a blackmail database that must be retrieved at all costs.

From this mid-point on, the series has found its feet. The productions feel comfortably better, the lead stars feel more relaxed and the villains much better written and cast.

THE DEVILS

Satanic worship and blackmail by British Lord Holman (John Stanton) on his Druid estate have to be exposed by Jim and the team in this daft but enjoyable episode, which sees our beloved Jane B. becoming a gypsy fortune teller who looks like she's escaped from an eighties Fleetwood Mac concert, whilst Jim become Lucifer himself to trap their opponent.

Australian star Tony Hamilton as the heroic Max.

THE PLAGUE

A deadly age accelerant virus is stolen from a secret Paris laboratory, which the team must retrieve from the clutches of a beautiful but deadly weapons merchant, played by Roger Moore's 007 friendly adversary, OCTOPUSSY’s leggy Swedish lovely, Maud Adams.

It’s not one of the series greatest episodes but it’s fun: Tony Hamilton gets to do some 007 style antics early on, whilst Jane Badler gets to start her soon real-life singing career in the villains Parisian nightclub lair.

REPRISAL

Female members of Jim’s earlier IMF team are bring killed off by a lunatic serial killer, Russell Acker (David Cameron), who has close past ties with the crime-busting organization and Jim Phelps. Can Acker and his accomplice be stopped from reaching their next victim: the now retired Lisa Casey? An enjoyable episode from writer Walter Brough that works around the series regular format yet manages to include its popular series elements, too. There’s also some nice continuity to the past with the return of popular early seventies team lady Lynda Day George as Lisa.

SUBMARINE

Another classic seventies episode gets an eighties upgrade as the IMF must trap a bitter and corrupt naval boss (Mitchell Ryan) from selling high-tech underwater canisters boasting a computer virus capable of destroying the worlds sea based technology. To do this, Jim must create another one of the show’s classic world catastrophe scenarios to ensnare their prey. Nicely directed by Australian series veteran Colin Budds.

THE BAYOU

Jazz and voodoo make an effective combo for the IMF team, as they take on a white slavery ring in the deepest depths of the Louisiana everglades.

Frank Thring does a fine impersonation of Sidney Greenstreet, whilst ex-dancer Paula Kelly is a fine second-in-command, Pepper Le Veaux, whom the team skillfully uses to destroy the criminal enterprise. Plus we get Jane Badler playing a sultry snake dancing Voodoo high priestess. Things don’t get better than that!

A fine season finale, confidently handled by by British TV series veteran director Don Chaffey.

Get the new MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE here: Mission Impossible 88 [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Film & TV

Look out for Season Two of the eighties MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE on UK DVD in the not too distant future.

With thanks to REVELATION FILMS for their help and assistance in the writing of this feature.