Wrath of The Entity!!!!! First Half of Mission Impossible Culmination Chapter Is High Stakes Thrill Ride!!!!!

Review By Brandon Porter

What matters more: The Mission or The People?

Story Description

The IMF finds itself in dire straits as a new super weapon prepares to be unleashed upon the world. In the wrong hands, it could be catastrophic to the world. This makes it a hot market item in the black market with all the world’s superpowers vying for control over something that came tip the scales of global dominance. For Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team, the securing of this weapon is of the utmost importance. With powerful enemies coming from all sides, Hunt and the others understand that this mission will require all the willpower and resolve they’ve got. For the mission to succeed, Hunt will have to be at his best to achieve success while accepting that he may lose the people around him.

Ilsa and Ethan On Alert In The Field

Film Review

The seventh installment in the action spy franchise, Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 is one half of a culmination event that is set to bring Ethan Hunt’s story full circle. With Tom Cruise back in the lead role with Christopher McQuarrie returning as director and returning favorites such as Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, and Venessa Kirby alongside newcomers Hayley Atwell and Pom Klementieff, the latest installment promises bigger thrills and bigger stakes. After going on the latest mission with Hunt and the rest of the IMF, Dead Reckoning Part 1 ups the ante in an installment that has plenty to offer despite not being the full story. The thing that impresses me the most about the Mission Impossible franchise as of late is its ability to find new ways to keep things fresh. For a film series that started in 1996, Tom Cruise and company have managed to take this world and its characters seriously in a way that creates compelling storytelling and engaging escapades. Dead Reckoning Part I is no different. While just one-half of this ultimate culmination, the film still finds a way to make itself feel whole while leaving us eager for what is to come. For starters, there is plenty of praise to go around in this cast. Tom Cruise's run as Ethan Hunt is nearing the 30-year mark but his dedication to the character is as strong as it has ever been. Cruise commands the role as he navigates the treacherous obstacles in his way. The stakes are higher than they have ever been and Cruise really plays on Ethan's paranoia of inevitability losing control. Whether physically or performance-wise, Cruise is the silver screen gift that keeps on giving and we should be thankful for him while he is still able to do the things he does. His supporting cast is solid as always with Rhames's Luther, Pegg's Benji, and Ferguson's Ilsa Faust all adding levity and personal goals for Ethan in his endeavors. The chemistry between all of them shines throughout as their time together really allows them to create a terrific tandem. While additional returning favorites like Venessa Kirby's Alanna are equally welcome. The new players add great value as well. Hayley Atwell is a delightful addition to the franchise as Grace. Her charm and screen presence shine through as she showcases her complexity and depth as the story progresses. Her chemistry with Cruise made for some of the film's most memorable moments. Esai Morales is just the latest in a line of increasingly evolving antagonists within the series. With such incredible standouts like the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman's Owen Davian and Sean Harris' Soloman Lane, Morales' portrayal of Gabriel continues that upward trend.

Well, That's One Way To Get Down A Mountain

Every bit of Gabriel's conquest is to hit Ethan where it hurts. While others have come close, Morales' Gabriel manages to succeed in some ways really showing how much of a formidable threat he is. I'm excited to see him return as he joins Soloman Lane as one of the rare returning villains in the series. Pom Klementieff gets strong praise as Paris. Despite knowing her as Mantis in the MCU for so many years, it was fun to see her in such a different role. One where she is so stoically imposing and unhinged. That said, her character arc truly makes her an unsung standout in the film. So great to see Klementieff show her versatility in a way that adds to the film as a whole. Of course, people come to the Mission Impossible films for the action or more specifically, Tom Cruise's latest death-defying stunt. While the action is impressive and not lacking in jaw-dropping theatrics, knowing that the stunts were taking place prior to seeing the film took some wind out of the sails for me a bit. The Rome car chase and the bike parachute sequence are definitely highlights to be sure. But a ton of the film's marketing was based around those 2 action set pieces. They aren't deal breakers for an entertaining film overall, but us seeing some of the more "anticipated" aspects of the movie took a little bit of the surprise element out of it. Luckily, there is plenty of narrative fiber that allows for the movie to still be engaging throughout its runtime. One can only hope Part 2 saves the big action set pieces for the theater and doesn't spoil it in the pre-release hype period. All in all, Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 is a great start to what is sure to be a wild ride to whatever the endgame of this story is. The stakes were high in this outing and the weight of the journey was felt throughout. For a series that started out the way it did, Ethan and the IMF still manage to deliver missions that keep us wanting to accept the invitation to join.

Rating and Final Thoughts