Since today is MI-3 20th anniversary (May 5th 2026), I want to talk about things about this movie, specifically the audio commentary that can be found on DVD and Blu-Ray releases. The picture above is my MI-3 DVD. It's an Indonesian release that use f-board cover instead of standard case. It's pretty cool, think like a hardcover book.
Anyway, I bought this DVD because I really like this packaging style and I started to collect physical media. TBH, this is the first time I watch a whole movie with audio commentary feature. I found the commentary is exciting and engaging, sometimes funny moments between J.J and Tom.
After rewatching the whole movie, here's couple points that I'd like to share here. Several facts can already be found in IMDB Trivia and J.J. Abrams TED Talk.
- A subtitle for the audio commentary track is available. I found this is helpful for me to follow the commentary.
- Ethan's home was based on J.J. Abrams' house.
- J.J. loves to cast his friend, Greg Grunberg, whom he had known since childhood.
- The Kodak disposable camera as a briefing device was added because J.J. wanted to use everyday tool as a briefing device.
- Ethan >!was supposed to have a dream sequence with Lindsay on it, where they both trained together.!< It was indicated after the briefing ended and then we hear "Am I ready?" voice before Ethan wakes up.
- The Berlin rescue mission was shot majorly in Fontana, California. Several shots were really taken in Germany, though.
- J.J. and Tom keep mentioning "ILM" when they point CGI shots.
- Lindsay's death was supposed to be more gruesome but had to be toned down to keep the PG-13 rating.
- J.J. said that >!Musgrave!< was supposed to be appear on Lindsay's funeral. The crew shot that part, but decided use the alternate shot because It would give away the twist.
- The part where Ethan retrieves Lindsay's postcard, it shows "Kelvin" name. That's a tribute to J. J's grandfather.
- J.J. and Tom like Simon Pegg from Shaun of The Dead and a show called Spaced.
- During the parts where Ethan and Julia are married in Hospital, the panda ring was based on J.J.'s childhood story.
- Majority of Vatican sequences were shot in Caserta, Italy.
- J.J. said that during the filming of Lamborghini's explosion, he holds his two kids, which are Henry and Gracie. You can see this on The Making of The Mission featurette.
- The parts where Ethan is throwed due to explosion was real. Tom said the pad that is installed on the car's door is pretty thin.
- The scene where Ethan escapes from IMF and starts mimicking Brassel's voice was done through sound editing trick.
- The Shanghai car chase was shot in Downtown Los Angeles.
- The parts where Ethan and his team split up before he waits for Davian's men was really shot in Shanghai. Tom mentioned that the production team had to make a permission to Chinese Government in order to make the building lights on 2 AM.
- The parts where Davian's man (Eddie Marsan) shoots an explosive charge through Ethan's nose, it was Tom's hand.
- A lot interior building during this sequence were shot in set in Paramount lot.
- The exterior parts where Ethan runs and talks to Benji on the phone were shot in Xitang.
- They keep talking even when the end credits are already rolling. Most of them praising the crew and even the logos on the end.
- And unfortunately, not even once they say about The Rabbit's foot. They don't bring up that thing to the conversation.
That's what I got from the commentary track, maybe I could have forgotten several facts, but still, this is pretty much that I remember after watching the movie last week.