 Well, here we are, almost thirty years after the debut of the first 'Mission: Impossible,' and everything has led to this point. And to be perfectly frank, if you go into this blind or haven't refreshed yourself on your 'Mission: Impossible' viewings, you may very well get lost entirely here. While it's a fun film for fans, it references so much that it can get confusing. With that, I'll offer a major spoiler alert for any movie in the series from the past, specifically 'Dead Reckoning,' although other films are also referenced.
The mission in the previous film was to retrieve two parts of a cruciform key that would allow control over a reckless AI known as "The Entity," which aimed to infiltrate world powers and gain control over nuclear systems worldwide. The mission is successful, but the Entity continues to wreak havoc and even gain a cult following. Ordered to bring the key to the proper authorities by US President Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett), Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) refuses, believing power over the Entity is too much for anyone to possess. Ethan plans to use the key to destroy the Entity, which will ultimately mean shutting down everything it has infiltrated worldwide, essentially eliminating the internet as a whole and reverting to a pre-internet era. This scenario would cause a global catastrophe. If he doesn't, however, the Entity plans to use its access to nuclear powers to destroy the Earth and gain control over the remnants of humanity. To make matters worse, the Entity's former "servant," Gabriel (Esai Morales), who knows the Entity quite well, seeks to gain control of it for himself with a lust for power. It's confusingly noted here that Ethan has a personal grudge against Gabriel, as some time before he joined the IMF, Ethan lost someone near and dear to him named Marie (Mariela Garriga) at Gabriel's hands. She's also brought up in a flashback in 'Dead Reckoning,' which I failed to mention in my last review, but really, her presence seems only to be there to form this personal grudge and give Ethan something more to fight Gabriel for. Perhaps I'm missing something, but she seems forced to illustrate Ethan's feelings for those he works with further. As per usual, Ethan is helped with the assistance of our old favourites, Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) and Luthor Stickell (Ving Rhames), but is now also joined by some characters from the last film like Grace (Hayley Atwell), a skilled thief, Gabriel's former lieutenant, Paris (Pom Klementieff) and Theo Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis), subordinate to Intelligence agent Jasper Briggs (Shea Whigham), who was a bit more of a presence in the last film but does manage to give us a pretty cool reveal as to just who he is when it comes to this film franchise. We do get another guest star here or two that refers back to previous films, and they don't just come in human form, either. One person enters the picture with their wife, and it's something I don't want to spoil here, as it ultimately proves fairly interesting. However, without giving too much away here, we finally figure out what the 'Rabbit's Foot' is from 'M: I-3,' which was my only complaint about that chapter: keeping it a mystery. Either way, it demonstrates how a full rewatch of the series can aid in piecing things together for this finale. Although I enjoyed this, I didn't get as much out of it as I have with previous 'Mission: Impossible' titles. A lot of that has to do with the need to see so much more beforehand to help one understand what's what. However, it's not a movie that lacks what we're looking for in a 'Mission: Impossible' title: good characters, solid action, and a whole lot of Tom Cruise running at full speed, doing incredible stunt work that keeps one wondering how much fuel he has left in the tank. It's as good a time as most of these movies are, even if it does run just a little longer at nearly 3 hours. But hey, it's a finale. 4/5
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 I recall thinking of two particular things upon the film's release. The first was being genuinely surprised that this series still had any gas after a good five years. The second was thinking that Tom Cruise was in his 60s at this point and wondering how much more he had left in him. I have mixed feelings for Mr. Cruise for the same reasons many do, but he does have my utmost respect for his desire to deliver edge-of-your-seat action by putting his life on the line with his incredible stunt work.
No matter how you feel about Tom Cruise, that is one thing that he has carried through this series from the beginning - his willingness to do his own stunt work, which usually ends up in some incredible action sequence that the audience can watch in awe, thinking "he did this!," granted with a lot of stuff to help that we don't see, but just because he hangs from a plane taking off in 'Rogue Nation' while being strapped in for safety in reality, he still did it, and we all thought something along the lines of "this guys out of his damn mind!" It turns out, however, that Cruise just doesn't let his age stop him, and he seems to embody the notion that "you're only as old as you feel." Indeed, 'Dead Reckoning' has its fair share of solid stunt work, for which this series has become well known, and the series certainly hasn't applied the brakes in any way. It's pretty impressive that this series has endured for almost twenty years. However, it demonstrates that the filmmakers know what they're doing and what audiences expect in a good action movie. With that, let's get to the story. The film's namesake comes from a new, advanced AI dubbed "The Entity," whose navigation system uses "dead reckoning." A next-gen Russian sub called The Sevastopol employs this technology. The AI manages to trick them into firing a torpedo, which the AI then turns back on the sub, sinking it and killing all on board. We learn through a meeting of U.S. Intelligence Community leaders, including CIA Director Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny) and the Director of National Intelligence Denlinger (Cary Elwes), that the AI has gone rogue and achieved sentience. As a result, primary defence, intelligence and financial networks worldwide have begun to be infiltrated. World powers soon seek to obtain both halves of a "cruciform key" to control The Entity and protect their national security. This eventually leads IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) to accept his mission for this movie: intercept both halves of the "cruciform key" and neutralize its threats to potentially control global systems. In case you're wondering, all of our favourites return for more, including Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), and Isla Faust (Rebecca Ferguson). Ethan also has to deal with an expert thief named Grace (Hayley Atwell), who provides the film with a sort of true neutral character - almost a new Ilsa, in that she keeps you guessing as to just how much you want to trust her. Otherwise, as far as 'Mission: Impossible' goes, whatever you might expect from it, you'll probably end up getting, ranging from must-haves like that catchy theme music to cliches we have learned to love like Tom Cruise running at full speed. The only thing that stands out is the idea that things take a slight turn toward sci-fi in this chapter, particularly concerning the concept of AI becoming self-aware. I've gone on and on about the respect I've for Cruise's stunt work, which is still just as impressive as ever. But as far as story, characters, and several other essential things go, it's a chapter I think the general populous admires a bit more than I do. Despite being able to give the film credit for being yet another solid addition to the series, it still makes me wonder how many more the series has in store - and that's knowing full well 'Final Reckoning' is supposed to be the last one. If there's one thing I've learned from Hollywood over my years of being a bit of a movie geek, it's "never assume it's over." 4/5  I'm going to put my cards on the table and say that when viewing these films theatrically, their respective release dates have been spread so far apart that some things can start to get confusing. It's much easier to piece together when you watch them back-to-back-to-back, and even then, parts of it can be iffy. That's not a criticism but rather a confession that I find these a little hard to follow from time to time, and without mentioning names, I have discovered I'm not alone in this. Anyway, I'll do my best with this review.
The film opens with a harsh reminder, connected to 'Ghost Protocol,' that Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) once staged the death of his wife, Julia Meade (Michelle Monaghan), which occurred in 'M: I-3,' to help her get out of the espionage game, and lead an otherwise everyday life. At the same time, he continues to put his life in danger for the sake of the world, but their feelings about their situation are mutual. The tone is then set for the rest of the movie, as it comes across as affecting Ethan on a more personal level than usual. Two years following the capture of Solomon Lane (Sean Harris), who headed a rogue network of terrorists called "The Syndicate" (as seen in the previous film), a group has formed from their ashes known as "The Apostles," who have been hired by the faceless "John Lark" to find three plutonium cores for use in a nuclear strike in hopes of tearing down the current world order. Ethan and his team, consisting of Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) and Luthor Stickell (Ving Rhames), are sent to intercept the plutonium in a fake business deal. Things go awry, and Hunt chooses the lives of his team over the plutonium, which is seen as a bit of a "screw-up." Reassigned to retrieve the plutonium cores before The Apostles can use them in their plans, Ethan is sent with an agent named August Walker (Henry Cavill) by CIA Director Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett), who is tasked with keeping Ethan on track and ensuring he doesn't falter again. Watching the pair interact is often entertaining, and Ethan often exposes his fallible side, fighting alongside Walker, which is a breath of fresh air. We don't want to see Ethan fail, but it's interesting to think that, up until this chapter of the series, it hasn't happened that often. Here, the film does a good job of exposing how "human" Ethan Hunt still is. With that said, it should also be pointed out that, as mentioned earlier, 'Fallout' does a better job of delving into Ethan's personal life a bit more to show us he's not just some robotic spider monkey who can pull off impressive feats, defying death every step of the way. This is generally illustrated by the care he shows for his recent on-and-off IMF partner, Isla Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), and, again, his memory of Julia, which is mainly demonstrated through a combination of Hunt's actions and a heartwarming conversation Luthor has with Ilsa. Returning to the main points of the film, however, I'll reiterate that it's possible for the viewer to become a bit confused at times. Of all the 'Mission: Impossible' films in the franchise, this one stands out for seemingly having the most twists and turns throughout the story. It does a good job of keeping the audience guessing as to the loyalty of more than one character - and one of those characters is still Ilsa Faust, whom we had a hard time figuring out in the last film. It can get confusing. But it still has everything we look for in a 'Mission: Impossible' movie. The action is on point, as usual, once again topped off by a real stunt or two that range from skydiving to a helicopter chase, which Cruise still considers one of his "hairiest" stunts. Without a doubt, it's one of the best in the series, combining solid storytelling and character development with high-octane action and edge-of-your-seat stunt work while also connecting nicely to the series' past films. 'Ghost Protocol' may be my personal favourite, but it goes without saying that 'Fallout' is among the highest-rated in the series, and with good reason. 5/5  While I may consider 'Ghost Protocol my favourite of the 'Mission: Impossible' series, it was 'Rogue Nation that arguably gave the series its permanent footing under writer/director Christopher McQuarrie, who would be the series' mainstay writer/director from here on in. He is also credited for scripting the latest 'Mummy' movie, also starring Tom Cruise, but don't let that deter you because the rest of the 'Mission: Impossible' movies are pretty sweet, along with 'Top Gun: Maverick.'
Cruise and McQuarrie found an enduring friendship, which has worked out for the most part. Both of them share a passion for their craft and a desire to deliver a high-quality product. As a result, we get some of the most incredible practical effects and stunt work, which are cranked to eleven here. Case in point: the opening sequence of Ethan Hunt (Cruise) attempting to intercept a cargo plane by hanging onto the door as the plane lifts off. Yes, he was harnessed in for safety, but he still managed to do it. I remember this stunt fondly as the one that led people to say, "This guy is out of his mind!" Anyway, on board the plane is a shipment of nerve gas, which the Syndicate is moving, a secret organization of rogue field operatives he's been keeping an eye on. After his mission, during a briefing, the Syndicate reveal themselves and gas Hunt, who later wakes up, prepped for torture in an attempt to spill some IMF secrets, but manages to escape with the help of British MI6 operative Isla Faust (Rebecca Ferguson). Eventually, Hunt makes contact with William Brandt (Jeremy Renner), now part of the IMF, but discovers some bad news regarding their organization. In the aftermath of what happened in 'Ghost Protocol' involving Russia's Kremlin and perpetual finger-pointing at the IMF for being held responsible, CIA Director Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin) has convinced a Senate committee to eliminate the IMF, and bring their best over to the CIA; two most notable for the audience being Brandt, reassigned to the CIA's intelligence division, and Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), reassigned from technical field agent to behind a desk in the CIA's cyber operations division. Similarly to 'Ghost Protocol,' it eventually works out to be Hunt and a handful of people he trusts, including Brandt, Benji and the much-welcome return of Luthor (Ving Rhames), working under the radar to put a stop to the Syndicate, whose sole desire is to dismantle the IMF so they can operate more freely as a band of rogue agents, and pose a massive potential threat to global security by starting a New World Order. A big, lingering question remains throughout the film, however: what side is this Isla Faust character on? The film does a good job of keeping you guessing. While I may not put this chapter on the same level as 'Ghost Protocol,' that's just a "me" thing. This is every bit as good, and the rest of the series is very entertaining, with no real "bumps" that I might equate to 'M: I-2'. The story is similar but on a grander scale, and the stunt work is precise. Not only did Cruise hold on for dear life on the side of a plane, but the guy successfully held his breath for six minutes (after much training) for an underwater sequence. Six minutes is insane and admirable. I don't think I'd be able to make it to one minute. Let's not overlook Cruise's skills with a motorcycle, either. Truly, it's the stunt work that makes this series shine, utilizing so little CG for their needs because the filmmakers and Tom Cruise himself are out to make this look like real action—not just something thrown together with a computer. However, the series can also be praised for its overarching story and character development, executing it in such a way that the audience doesn't get confused but also isn't insulted by things looking too simplistic (again, maybe except 'M: I-2'). By the end of 'Rogue Nation,' fans are already ready to see what craziness the next chapter will have in store. 4/5  Up to this point, my relationship with the 'Mission: Impossible' series was almost nonexistent. I saw the first film, didn't like the second, and skipped the third. What got me interested in seeing the fourth film was a combination of factors, including word-of-mouth, high praise for another death-defying stunt performed by Tom Cruise, and the cherry on top: a brand-new IMAX screen had recently been installed in my local theatre. I figured it would make for a good "first-time" experience.
I also wanted to see how Brad Bird would fare directing a live-action thrill ride, as opposed to his excellent storytelling techniques in his mostly animated resume. To my surprise, I ended up loving it and may still consider it my favourite of the series. At the time, I remember being mind-blown. Keep in mind that I was still reeling from how disappointed 'M: I-2' had made me, and regrettably, I never bothered with 'M: I-3,' so for me, this was a couple of hours of solid entertainment. Everything about this one feels "right." As the film opens, assassin Sabine Moreau (Léa Seydoux) kills IMF agent Trevor Hanaway (Josh Holloway), who had just retrieved some Russian nuclear launch codes, which Sabine takes to sell to someone by the name of "Cobalt." This action prompts IMF to spring agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) from a Moscow prison, with the help of agent Jane Carter (Paula Patton) and now field agent Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg). The reasons for Hunt's imprisonment, by the way, are slowly unveiled as the film continues, and it's all an interesting, off-screen back-story that connects to 'M: I-3.' As IMF orders the team to infiltrate the Kremlin to get further information on "Cobalt," the Kremlin gets bombed, their cover gets blown, and they get blamed for the incident, which the Russians take as an undeclared act of war. Soon, Hunt meets with the IMF Secretary (Tom Wilkinson) and analyst William Brandt (Jeremy Renner), who explain that the President has initiated the "Ghost Protocol," which completely disavows the IMF. But in secret, the Secretary hints to Hunt that he should continue pursuing "Cobalt," believed to be the real terrorist, in hopes of not only clearing the IMF's name but also keeping positive relations with Russia. With this, all that remains of the IMF are Hunt, Carter, Dunn and Brandt, who stumbles into his role here but ends up being one of the more fascinating characters in the film. Between this unlikely team of four, they now must do whatever it takes to find "Cobalt" and intercept those nuclear launch codes he's hoping to use to start a Russian/American war in hopes of ushering in a new era of peace by eliminating so many of the world's populous. Or, if you like, what could be called the "Thanos" method. This chapter became my personal favourite of the series for several reasons, including the personal IMAX experience, the recurring thrills of Cruise's stunts (this time involving a climb on the Burj Khalifa in Dubai), and a sense of humour that was not as prevalent in the previous three films. I also really love the gadgets they use here, which include a few cool things, but the coolest has to be the high-tech grip gloves Ethan uses to climb. The idea that they can fail adds significant tension to an already tense scene, and further kudos goes out to Cruise and his impressive stunt performance on that tower. The crazy thing about this series, however, is that it gets hard to establish a favourite after this one because while the first three seem to be about the series finding its footing, they are pretty damn solid from here on in. Some are better than others, but none are really "bad" in any way. As for this chapter in particular, it will always have that personal note of the experience I had with it, and stylistically, it always felt a little more "up my alley," so it trumps the others. This movie was such an excellent balance of everything I think of when I think of 'Mission: Impossible.' 5/5  While the first 'Mission: Impossible' movie was entertaining, the second one ended up disappointing me. So, I never went to see 'M: I-3,' and therefore missed out on what could have been a pretty awesome big-screen experience. Out of these first three films, when I think of bringing 'Mission: Impossible' to modern audiences with a contemporary feel, this is one chapter in the series that stands out. Somehow, it just feels like everything is done "right" in this movie, and it provides me with the things I came to see.
This chapter is another good example of a movie that cherry-picks the best parts of its predecessors and brings them to the forefront, combining the spycraft of the first film with the heavy action of the second, topping it off with a great villain, new mainstays getting introduced, keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout its entirety, and of course, some of those ever-famous Tom Cruise stunts. Without a doubt, this one is easily one of my favourites in the series and a film I highly regret not seeing on the big screen. After a considerable amount of time, IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) has finally decided to retire from the field of high-stakes espionage and attempt to lead a somewhat everyday life with his fiancée, Julia Meade (Michelle Monaghan), who is unaware of Hunt's current job of training recruits. One such recruit, Lindsey Ferris (Keri Russell), investigates an arms dealer named Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who manages to capture her; thus, Hunt gets called into action due to his special interest in the situation. Once again, the team is made up of the IMF for Hunt, including skilled pilot Declan Gormley (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), expert marksman Zhen Lei (Maggie Q), and, by now, our favourite secondary character, Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames). Without spoiling too much, during the mission to save Lindsey, things go awry. However, soon Ethan, with the help of newcomer Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), obtains information on a weapon Davian seeks, known only as "The Rabbit's Foot." We do not know what this thing does or even what it is. Soon enough, Ethan plans his special mission to find Davian and interrogate him about the "Rabbit's Foot" and its location so it can be intercepted and turned in. However, Ethan doesn't count on just how ruthless and powerful Davian is, which is a big part of why I like this chapter so much - it gets dark, and it gets personal, and Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance makes you hate him, which is always a good thing in a villain. Anyway, soon, Ethan finds his personal life threatened, all in the name of some weapon that could potentially be anything. Aside from a great villain and the high-speed pacing of the action throughout the film, no 'Mission: Impossible' movie is complete without a stunt or two, and here, we get some incredible in-city stunts that include swinging from one building to another, sliding down a steep high-rise roof, and a rough parachute landing among other things. While there are, of course, elements of CGI in all of Cruise's stunt sequences, I still have to give him my utmost respect for what he can accomplish and the passion he brings to that work, which enables him to deliver a solid final product. In the tradition of a different director for each film, this one comes to us from the great JJ Abrams, who can take pride in this being his directorial film debut. Between the stunts, action, Hoffman's performance, and just staying engaged the entire time, I give this chapter full credit for entertainment value alone. While there is one thing I can't reveal that I find irksome, it's not enough to ruin the good time that the film provided. This chapter made for a pretty damn solid roller-coaster ride of an action flick. 4/5  It's best to start this one off by reiterating the fact that the first four 'Mission: Impossible' films were all directed by different filmmakers, each bringing their style, as this is the one chapter in the series that stands out like a sore thumb. 'M: I-2' comes to us from acclaimed action director John Woo, who, at the time, was best known for titles like 'Face/Off' and 'Broken Arrow.' There's something about him delivering that action directing to a property like 'Mission: Impossible' that doesn't feel quite right, though.
I can think of several people who enjoy this movie for what it is and see a sort of charm in it that reminds them of the late '90s/early '00s when movies like this were what fed money into the box office and a band like Limp Bizkit headed up the soundtrack with their song 'Take a Look Around.' I get where these people are coming from, and it has the potential to become a guilty pleasure in my eyes. However, I never considered it a good movie, and it ranks at the bottom of the list in terms of quality among the 'Mission: Impossible' movies. A pharmaceutical company known as Biocyte has compelled a bio-genetics scientist named Dr. Nekhorvich (Rade Serbedzija) to develop the Chimera virus, a biological weapon that will ultimately enable Biocyte to profit from their cure for the Chimera virus, Bellerophon. Nekhorvich, in an attempt to make contact with Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), using the cover name "Dimitri," is back-stabbed by a disguised IMF agent, Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott), who has gone rogue and manages to steal the Bellerophon, plotting to profit from the cure with further plans of unleashing the Chimera virus. Here is where Ethan Hunt comes in, contacted on a death-defying rock-climbing vacation by IMF director Swanbeck (Anthony Hopkins), who tasks him with recovering the Chimera virus and Bellerophon cure from the rogue agent before hell is unleashed. Ethan's also tasked with assembling a team, one of whom must be Nyah Nordoff-Hall (Thandiwe Newton), who takes an immediate liking to Ethan. It's almost jarring. Either way, she's a skilled thief and happens to be Ambrose's ex, and therefore, very familiar with him and his ways. The rest of Ethan's team consists of our old pal, computer hacker Luther Strickell (Ving Rhames) and newcomer, helicopter pilot Billy Baird (John Polson), and together, they work to navigate themselves through risky acting with Nyah trying to infiltrate Ambrose's good side, a lot of great action and fight sequences, and far, far too many masks (It's almost comical how many times you see a mask of another person's face get pulled off in this movie) to retrieve the virus, the cure, and potentially save humanity from what turns out to be a pretty gruesome virus when we see it at work. Readers may have noticed that I praised the film for its action sequences, and I stand by that assessment for the most part. You don't see Cruise fight entirely like he does in this one or any of the other films in the franchise. Here, it's a little more reminiscent of martial arts fighting, with Tom flipping around like a spider monkey rather than punching and shooting straight. But then there are scenes I have to laugh at because they look so ridiculous, such as the head-to-head motorcycle "joust" where Hunt and Ambrose break physics. With all of that said, this is still a film that showcases Tom's dedication to performing his own stunts and adding a little more realism to the action, and that bike stunt I laugh at is no exception; it's just done with wires and a track for the bikes to make it look "cooler." Still, though, there's something about it stylistically that rubs me the wrong way. It's almost like hiring Michael Bay to direct a James Bond film. It just doesn't work aesthetically. Add to that the corny "romance" between Ethan and Nyah and the use of those masks to weasel out of any corners the lot might have gone to, and I find it to be just a weak entry into the series. 2/5  To be perfectly blunt, The 'Mission: Impossible' series has never been at the top of my list of favourite franchises. Still, these films have earned my utmost respect for consistently pushing the envelope, particularly in terms of the incredible stunts performed by Tom Cruise. However, with that in mind, I don't do incredibly well with films about espionage - not because I find them boring or unengaging, but because the subject matter can become complicated and confusing. It's just a "me" thing, but my cards are on the table.
It's hard to believe, but this whole series began almost thirty years ago (at the time of writing this) and has been steadily progressing since then, with very successful results, I might add, probably primarily due to the desire to see Tom Cruise risk his life in whatever insane stunt(s) he's pulling off. Still, I'd add a blend of generous gaps between films, thus avoiding being overwhelmed, a generally likeable main cast of characters, and a new director for each movie until 'Rogue Nation,' which found its constant with director Christopher McQuarrie. The series all begins in '96 with director Brian De Palma at the helm of the first film, following the late 90s/early 00s trend of bringing back retro TV shows for a big-screen makeover. Such titles included names like 'Lost in Space,' 'Starsky & Hutch,' 'The Mod Squad,' 'The Avengers,' (NOT the 'Avengers we're familiar with nowadays) and quite a few more. The difference is that while most of those modern adaptations of classic TV fell through to relatively negative reviews, 'Mission: Impossible' had something to it. The first film begins when IMF (Impossible Mission Force) agent Jim Phelps (Jon Voight) and his team go on a mission to Prague to intercept the CIA's NOC (non-official cover) list, which holds the identities of the IMF's undercover agents in Europe. However, during the mission, a series of events seemingly leaves everyone on Phelps' team dead except for point man Ethan Hunt (Cruise), who soon meets with IMF director Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny) only to learn his team was snuffed out in search of an IMF mole, who now, Kittridge expects Hunt of being. Now a fugitive and on the run, Hunt, along with Phelps' wife, Claire (Emmanuelle Béart), who also survived the attack on the team, and a couple of recruits who once worked for IMF, a hacker named Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and a helicopter pilot named Franz Krieger (Jean Reno) work together to retrieve the NOC list, which got stolen in the attack, but could clear Hunt's name, and lead to who the real IMF mole is. It gets a little more convoluted than it needs to be, but I must admit that it's still a good time all these years later. No 'Mission: Impossible' film would be complete without a crazy stunt or two out of Mr. Cruise, and the first chapter of the series is no exception; with a flying leap through a shattering glass window being chased by water, the ever-famous "dangling-from-a-wire" scene, and, at least to some degree, the jump onto a moving, speeding train from an exploding helicopter (which was done using a combination of practical and CG effects) it's clear that he got his passion for stunt work early. At least earlier than I suspected. Even though some of the effects are dated, the first of the series is still a fun time for what it is and did a better job than most retro properties trying to get resurrected back then. It works well as a stand-alone but is open to a sequel in a way that doesn't detract from its dignity. Of the series, it's the most basic but still entertaining. It may even carry a bit of nostalgia with it, evoking memories of how famous the wire scene became over time or how awesome the theme still sounds. It's a good job, but thankfully, there are better films to come in the series. 3/5 |
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