It began as an American television series in the sixties. It was based around a team of specialists who were to carry out the most ardent
spy missions that existed. Its most famous leader is Jim Phelps who ran the team for six series. Before that, the group was run by Dan Briggs
but had to drop out due to religious duties he had. They were neither C.I.A, N.S.A. or F.B.I., they were known as the Impossible Mission Force (I.M.F.)
that could run
operations inside America and out which other organisations cannot do. Their targets ranged from dictators through to criminal underworld
figures. The leaders could choose personnel whoever they felt was perfect for the operation. The team would receive their mission from a
tape recorder which would then explode so no one could trace it back to whoever the IMF were. Leonard Nimoy whilst not helping to save the
galaxy turned up as the Great Paris in a number of episodes. Unlike Bond, they employ a range of make-ups and masks to impersonate their targets.
There had been an attempt in the eighties to revive the series with Peter Graves still in the hot seat. It lasted two series before being cancelled. In the
nineties, the first movie attempt was made with Tom Cruise as agent Ethan Hunt. To its critics, it seemed to be nothing more than an attempt at
a Bond movie for Tom Cruise. He goes on the run from his superiors after being blamed for the deaths of fellow agents. He is helped by a
single female a la Bond. He does recruit more agents into the fold but ultimately does not suceed as much as it should. The next one, four years
later is better, still very much in the Bond vein. The third film is the best of the bunch with Ethan being helped by a near proper IMF team. It ]
does do as good as it should've at the cinema, mainly people citing Tom eratic behaviour as the reason for the failure. After Tom was sacked by
Paramount, it remains to be seen as to whether Tom will be re-employed by Paramount to make MI4. Rumoured had it that Brad Pitt was being
touted as a new agent for the IMF team.
Series 8 and 9 are the 1980's version of the series with a number of remade episodes.
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