The Mission: Impossible film series has spanned a total of six films. It is one of those rare action franchises which doesn’t have a cinematic universe attached to it at the moment, instead, the focus is on the characters and their high-stakes plots of stopping terrorism and other potential world-ending threats in one consecutive story. It is hard to imagine that we are on the seventh instalment of this series with Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, and it is even harder to believe that each new entry manages to improve upon the last. Ideally, the idea of sequels is to make a worthy successor to the original film, which a lot of franchises forget to do, but it appears the cast and crew behind these films know that as they continue to create impressive action sequences, heart-pounding set pieces and globetrotting adventures that help us to invest in this truly epic cinematic experience.
This. Is. Cinema. I have seen a lot of action films on the big screen but the Mission: Impossible series continues to wow me. The best part about these films is that there is little to no reliance on CGI, instead all the action and set-pieces are practical and done for real. The stakes in turn feel much higher and riskier. Usually the phrase “glued to your seat” acts as a hyperbole for an immersive cinematic experience, but here the phrase is completely accurate. One of my many favourite parts of this film, which is something that was done in the previous film as well, is when there is a car chase between the good guys and the bad guys in an exotic location except there is no score in the background, instead, we are treated to dialogue, sound effects, and the diegetic sound of the city. In turn, this made me feel completely uneasy as I had no idea what to expect and what was going to happen next, and that is basically how the film feels from start to finish. There is a score to the film, don’t worry about that, but there are moments where less is a lot more.
Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt and filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie returns behind the camera after helming the last two films as well and is continuing with the last instalment coming to cinemas next year. Both Cruise and McQuarrie have been in the filmmaking business for a while and they’ve together crafted a wholly unique experience with each film. Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames and Rebecca Ferguson are back as side-kicks and action heroes Benji, Luther and Ilsa. None of these characters are side-lined as they each have an important role to play in the film. Then there’s the terrorist Gabriel, played by Esai Morales, and another new ally Grace, played by Haley Atwell. Gabriel is the perfect match for Ethan and they both share a history together too. Grace also matches Ethan in terms of charisma and she uses her street-smart skills to get out of any situation. Both of these characters feel alive and fun as they run into Ethan Hunt and his other IMF agents in a battle against a sentient AI which has become self-aware. It is a very timely story and an intriguing one too that poses a lot of questions about the relevance of AI in this modern age.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One is a rollercoaster ride, and anyone who has seen the previous films knows what to expect with this one, but trust me there are a lot of surprises in store too! The action continues to improve and the quality of the film is next to none. With the emphasis on real locations, real sets and real action, the result ends in a truly visceral and immersive experience. On the big screen, this is one of those films that will grab you and will not let you go until the end credits roll. Tom Cruise has yet again proven that it is possible to reinvent the concept of what an action film can and should be.
★★★★★
5/5
Final Verdict:
Tom Cruise is one the biggest supporters of the cinematic experience and this latest Mission: Impossible film proves just that there is no better way to enjoy a film. The sound design, the score, the cinematography and the stunt work all excel and then some in a film that combines dramatic action, a tense plot and some crazy set pieces.
From falling trains to a foot chase in Venice and a bomb threat in an Airport, the action never disappoints and you’ll be glued to the screen from start to finish. Who knows how this saga will end next year but I am sure Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie will find an epic conclusion to one of cinema’s best action heroes.
Thanks for reading today’s blog!
Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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