Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning marks the end of a legendary Hollywood series. I grew up watching Ethan Hunt and his thrilling moves. It was an emotional moment for me and my friends. Tom Cruise is definitely my favorite actor. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie and co-directed by Brad Bird, the movie released this week and we made sure to watch it in the theatres. Whether it is the iconic theme music, or action-packed stunts, everything about this franchise is worth watching. How this final movie turned out to be was a big excitement!
The Plot:
The story continues where we left. Ethan Hunt(Tom Cruise) faces his most daunting mission yet: stopping an artificial intelligence known as The Entity from triggering a nuclear war. As the entire worlds fate hangs in balance, the stakes are high and the risks even higher. The task is very expansive and Ethan has to complete it in two parts. One, retrieving the AIs source code from a sunken submarine and two, securing a poison pill device, which is in the hands of Gabriel(Esai Morales), his adversary. Ethan’s team is Luther, Benji, and Grace who help him, each with their own set of skills. The story is somewhat complex, but it all jells toward the end of the film.
Performances:
Tom Cruise is, as ever, the soul and centerpiece of Mission: Impossible. Even after decades playing the character, he shows tireless energy and dedication, doing stunts that left all of us gaping. Whether it is running on rooftops or diving into freezing waters, he spares no effort. Hayley Atwell is excellent as Grace. She is smart and witty. Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg provide a familiar face and comic relief with their banters. My favorite character was Esai Morales as Gabriel, bringing a quiet menace, worthy of being Ethans enemy. Their dialogues and chemistry are superb.
Standout Elements:
The movie has plenty of standout elements. It surely delivers on the action front. Watching high-octane scenes on an IMAX screen will be an unforgettable experience. Tom Cruises energy is spectacular to watch. As there are a lot of supporting characters, the emotional resonance is strong, and being the final chapter in the series, I enjoyed it even more. The visuals are amazing with stunning locations and dynamic camera work. Fraser Taggarts cinematography captures fast and intense moments with great passion. The theatre was packed and the energy resonated through the entire crowd!
Should You Watch It?
If you have been watching Final Destination since their movies, you cannot miss this one. The performances and action are great. The plot, however, could be too complicated. There are subplots that do not add up and take attention away from the central objective. Esai Morales does a good job portraying Gabriel, but the character is not charismatic. I wanted it to be better in writing. Also, at three hours long, the makers could have saved a lot of time by just focusing on ending the movie on a high. Still, it is one of the best action movies of the year and a completely different experience altogether. Especially if you watch it on IMAX. The visuals are stunning and an emotional ending is the perfect farewell for a great franchise!