So can this Mission Impossible be as good as Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol? That movie rocked, but then again it's really hard to strike lightning in the same place twice. Let’s just hope this one doesn’t suck. Come on it is the fifth installment of the Mission Impossible series; how could number 5 be that good anyway.
Background:
Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation re-teams Tom Cruise with JJ Abrams who co-produces the film with Cruise. The two have worked on Mission Impossible 3 where JJ directed as well as Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol where JJ produced. The film also re-teams Cruise with his Jack Reacher’s Edge of Tomorrow director. This is the fourth collaboration between actor / producer Tom Cruise and director / writer Christopher McQuarrie who originally work together on Valkyrie. McQuarrie also wrote the screenplay for Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation.
The Details:
In the wake of recent events, IMF is disbanded under director Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin). So Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) has left to take down and prove on his own the existence of a rogue nation of highly skilled operatives called the Syndicate, which is bent on creating world upheaval and establishing a new world order. The usual cast of characters return along with Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), William Brandt (Jeremy Renner) and Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) as they seek to take down the Syndicate. However, this mission proves to be their most impossible to date, leading Ethan to enlist the help of Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), a disavowed British agent who's true intentions are unknown.
First Impressions:
Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation isn’t as funny as Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol, but wow the stunts in this film are sick. They're way better than any previous impossible mission. Warning, you’ve got to get to this film early because the major, true-to-life stunt of the film—Cruise dangling from the wing of an Airbus A400 as it takes off— happens within the first 5 minutes…even before the opening credits. This stunt is not only exhilarating, but is a cinematic marvel: visually stunning and authentic. Then wow, once the credits hit, this movie takes you on a wild roller coaster where pacing is just perfection. I highly recommend this film in IMAX, so you can take in the full feeling of the phenomenal effects.
Love and Hate:
What I love about this film, which is obviously its big draw, are the stunts including two big action scenes. The first includes the often shown stunt of the film, where Cruise dangles from a plane as it takes off in real life. Looking back, Cruise says that during the filming of the scene he had second thoughts as to whether this was actually a good idea, but he couldn't change his mind mid-flight. The second action sequence of the film is an exhilarating thrill ride through the streets of Morocco with Cruise driving a BMW. This scene, shot like a video game, leaves you feeling like you're strapped in with Cruise on the mission. With this action sequence as one of the best car chase scenes ever, it certainly rivals Furious Seven for intensity and cinematic excellence.
What I also loved about this film was the pacing; it feels like a thrill ride but doesn't overwhelm. Overall it’s a very well made film, highly entertaining and highly engaging, and it doesn’t it feel like it runs long, even though it is more than two hours.
My main complaint, apart from the film lacking a little bit of humor, is the spy vs spy plot, incorporating backstabbing reminiscent of The Departed, which gets murky at times. However, this feeling does not last long as the filmmakers work hard to clarify who is a villain and who is a hero while avoiding the pitfalls of cliché spy films.
The Best or The Worst:
Certainly the best part of this film is a toss-up between the two great action sequences pitting the plane ride vs the car chase. Take your pick, either one makes for an over-the-top exciting watch which leaves you feeling like more than just a spectator.
The Verdict:
This film certainly gets a solid A! (almost an A+) If it wasn't for a little bit of murkiness with the plot certainly an A+. Tom Cruise and JJ Abrams should be proud as this is a guaranteed thrill ride for the ages and soon-to-be blockbuster. For the record, it has to be near the top of the list as a beautiful, well made, entertaining and engaging, big budget blockbuster. Hell yeah for summer!
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