​FILMS

mission: impossible - rogue nation

2015 review number 108:

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation: (Action/Thriller): 74 out of 100: The fifth instalment in the franchise doesn't disappoint its fans with its numerous high-octane action sequences and death defying stunts. Even if you are not particularly fond of Tom Cruise, you will be amazed by his determination to perform his own stunts which help elevate the action scenes to a richer and more fulfilling experience. The story itself is complex but it's the action that Mission: Impossible fans crave.

 

The Impossible Missions Force (IMF) led by Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) with initial support from Benji (Simon Pegg) and later from William Brandt (Jeremy Renner) and Luther (Ving Rhames), is up against the Syndicate under the leadership of a corrupt ex-British agent, Solomon Lane (Sean Harris). The Syndicate is a rogue organisation that plans to eradicate the IMF. The CIA's Hunley (Alec Baldwin) revokes the IMF's licence and absorbs them into the CIA which results in the IMF team defying orders and completing the mission on their own to eliminate the threat of the Syndicate. Along the way, Hunt encounters the deadly Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson) whose loyalties might lie with helping Hunt or betraying him.

 

The highlight of the film would be the numerous action sequences that are thrilling and suspenseful. These include a car and motorcycle chase, underwater scene and plane on the runway taking off. Snippets of these can be seen in the trailer to whet your appetite. It's fantastic to see action sequences that are not dominated by CGI. When the movie resorts to dialogue, it becomes a little excessive and confusing, which makes the viewer pine for the action to resume. 

 

Only Cruise and Rhames have featured in all five Mission Impossible movies. It is not essential to see the other four in the series because it's rather like a James Bond scenario where there's a new story for every movie and rarely is there a link between these movies. Cruise is still excelling as an action star at the age of 53. Pegg expands on his role from the previous installment and adds some comic relief. Harris is chilling and menacing as the villain while Ferguson is a newcomer to feature films and shows her capabilities in roughing it in the action scenes. Baldwin and Renner are both convincing as authoritarian figures. 

 

Because the story takes Hunt to many locations around the world, this gives the opportunity for Christopher McQuarrie, the writer and director, to present places like Vienna, London and Casablanca in all their visual splendour. No expense has been spared in the filming locations. Other impressive features include the editing especially during the action scenes and the music score by Joe Kraemer which incorporates the iconic signature theme.

 

Just like the James Bond franchise, it looks like the Mission Impossible series will continue to please action fans, considering the impressive action sequences shot in this installment. It only occasionally gets bogged down when there is dialogue which proves that Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation is more successful when it resorts to what it does best...entertaining viewers with exciting action scenes.

 

Starring Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Ving Rhames and Alec Baldwin

Parental advice: Violence

Additional scene during or after credits: No

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOW_azQbOjw (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Thursday 30th July, 2015)

 

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