This week marks a Christmas miracle! The first part of our Mission Impossible Saga retrospective. While there is always a lot to say about this great series of films, we try to break down some of our favorite aspects of them. So, for the first episode we take a look at the first three films in the series. The first film started the series with a new character, Tom Cruises Ethan Hunt, who then becomes the central figure in these action films and the de facto leader of the IMF, or Impossible Mission Force way back in 1996. The first three films take Ethan Hunt from Prague, to London, Spain, Australia, America, Italy, and finally Shanghai, China to stop threats from Jon Voight as Jim Phelps, Dougray Scott as Sean Ambrose, and Philip Seymour Hoffman as Owen Davian. And, the guys dont forget about the TV series. Lalo Schifrins incredible contribution to the television show in 1966 still stands as a strong influence on each composer who takes up a film in the series. Some of Schifrins best themes are talked about here, as well as the influence on some of the suspense cues. While the first and third are excellent action films (and one of De Palmas best, most commercial efforts for the first), the second seems to be a casualty of its time, directed by the great John Woo. For anyone wondering which films score they should start with, or even if you have questions about how they were made, take a listen. This was a difficult mission, but we wanted to go out of the year with a bang! And what better way than with the biggest action star in the world, Tom Cruise. So, Merry Christmas with the first part of the saga, and come back in the new year for the second part! You have five seconds before this message self-destructs...