Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

“Mission: Impossible - Fallout” stars Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Michelle Monaghan, Alec Baldwin, Henry Cavill, and Angela Bassett.  Released on July 27, 2018, the film has Ethan Hunt and his crew on the run when their latest mission goes awry.

The film is directed by Christopher McQuarrie, who also directed “The Way of the Gun”, “Jack Reacher”, and “Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation”.  It is the sixth installment in the "Mission: Impossible" film series, which is based on the 1966 television series of the same name created by Bruce Geller.  Ever since its inception 22 years ago, “Mission: Impossible” has been generating plenty of spy fans around the world while also launching Tom Cruise into action stardom.  But it wasn’t until the release of “Ghost Protocol” in 2011 that started gaining some love from the critics with each new installment being better than the last.  This film, in particular, looks like it is going to blow the other installments out of the water.  At least, that’s what I’ve been hearing from early reviews.  This latest installment in the popular spy franchise once again reunites Tom Cruise with director Christopher McQuarrie, who turned “Rogue Nation” into a critical and commercial success three years ago.  Despite my lack of experience with the “Mission: Impossible” films, I was excited to see it regardless because as usual, I enjoy things that are action-packed.  Now that it’s here, does it live up to its impossible hype?

Set two years after the events of “Rogue Nation”, the film sees Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his team tracking down a new terrorist group known as The Apostles, who are planning to use plutonium to blow some stuff up.  Accompanied by a CIA agent (Cavill), Hunt will have to face some of his toughest choices in order to complete his latest impossible mission, including the one that involves former Syndicate leader Solomon Lane (Sean Harris).  The “Mission: Impossible” films are always known for delivering some highly insane stunts and their investing stories, and, unsurprisingly, “Fallout” is no exception.  I came into the movie expecting an intense experience from start to finish, and I came out satisfied.  The major aspect of the plot in “Mission: Impossible: Fallout”, to me, is choice because of how it affects everyone and everything around the main character, which is Ethan Hunt.  With McQuarrie back in the director’s chair, he made sure that that aspect is used as a tool to make every sequence more energetic than the last, and the result is a roller coaster ride filled with action and substance.  I would even say that it’s a bit better than “Ghost Protocol” in terms of the story.  Like its predecessors, the plot in “Fallout” can get a bit confusing for some people if they don’t pay full attention to what’s going on, but that hardly even matters if the film has a plot that’s worth caring for.  Tom Cruise was once again amazing as Ethan Hunt, both as an actor and a stunt performer.  He really shows off his effort in portraying the character as a normal being rather than an average superhero, especially when he’s facing something that’s not as easy as pie.  Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames both continue to provide some effective laughs without throwing the film’s tone out of balance.  The humor is one of the reasons why I got into this franchise to begin with, and I am glad that it’s still working like a charm.  Henry Cavill also did a great job with his performance as August Walker, an assassin who is sent by the CIA to keep a close eye on Ethan and his team.  Aside from the fact that the twist involving him was pretty predictable, Walker proved himself to be a really tough person for someone to deal with, and Cavill managed to fit the bill just fine.  Like I mentioned before, this is a really intense ride, with one action sequence being more exciting than the last.  If someone were to tell me which sequence is my favorite, I would just say “all of them”.  The stunts that were shown in this film were extremely well-choreographed and brilliantly shot.  I’m not kidding around when I said “brilliantly shot” because the cinematography in this film was marvelous.  This is quite possibly the most remarkably-looking installment in the franchise so far because of how focused and deep each action scene was filmed.  The musical score by Lorne Balfe also helped in making the experience much more thrilling than ever.

Overall, it’s no action classic, but “Mission: Impossible - Fallout” still succeeds in delivering another heart-pounding installment that never shies away from its substance.  Despite its tiny flaw, the film proves that Christopher McQuarrie might have a chance at becoming one of the best action directors in Hollywood.  Due to the presence of Tom Cruise, McQuarrie’s direction, its exciting action sequences, and its brilliant cinematography, this is another late summer action blockbuster that works.  Out of all of the "Mission: Impossible" films I've seen, I would say that this is my favorite so far.  Fans of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise and the spy genre will gladly choose to accept this latest mission.

A-