There is nothing I love more than multilayered storytelling references. Here I am not referring to plot details which have multiple layers of meaning, although that is great too. No, I am referring to the meta-textual references. There is a director whose filmography boasts a considerable amount of referential material. That man is none other that ~[Quentin Tarantino}()~ [J. J. Abrams]().

In his debut theatrical film *[Mission: Impossible 3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission:_Impossible_III)* he had an impossible mission, somehow continue where [John Woo]() left off. That is harder said than done, when the fact of the matter is — John Woo was just too much to take in, therefor it was disliked both by critics and filmgoers unfamiliar with Honk Kong cinema.

J. J. Abrams went about it by learning from the best, he looked at [Stanley Kubrick]()'s static filming and use a somewhat calmer shooting style, although that is debatable, given how the camera is moving is constantly, like some sort of [Kenneth Branagh]() film, except more shaky. Outdoing John Woo in action is difficult to do, so he picked on a similar proponent — [Jackie Chan](), here [Tom Cruise]() imitated sliding down a slanted glass roof, as was done in 1998 in *[Who am I?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Am_I%3F_(1998_film))*. To add comedic flavor, J. J. Abrams referenced the caged birds in an introductory shot of Shanghai, which is a clear homage to [John Woo]()'s *[Hard Boiled](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Boiled)*.

Although the provided list of references here is scarce, it is evident enough that the true masters of craft study from others. Finding a way for references to slide into the picture is not just there because the director was giggly, as much as saying thank you to all the people who've inspired him. When a director finally breaks into the big screen, especially with such a strongly established franchise, there comes pressure to outdo those who came before you. In a way, J. J. Abrams career has been both a love letter to all the franchises he grew up with, be it [Star Trek]() or [Star Wars]() and an expansion on the properties. 

*Fin.*