New enemy, big explosions and plenty of action but little that will excite moviegoers this summer
The original Mission Impossible movie came out in 1996 and was a smash hit. These films were of course based on the TV series that aired in the 1960s and early 1970s. The film was full of action, suspense and a few surprises along the way. There was always some dangerous enemy and only the IMF could stop them and save the world. Two sequels were released in 2000 and 2006 but they didn’t do as well in theaters and fans were not that impressed by them. In 2011 Ghost Protocol came out and it was an amazing film. It helped the series go back to its roots and fans and non fans alike had something to like in the antics and the clever plot. Rogue Nation is by no means a bad film, but it is not astounding either. There are many familiar points here that the other films have had and for me personally this made for a film that I liked but I certainly was not in awe. If you are a fan of the series you will want to see Rogue Nation when it comes out Friday.
The IMF has fallen from grace in a number of ways in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation. Because of their dangerous methods and reckless ways of getting things done the CIA chief Alan Hunley ( Alec Baldwin) wants to disband this organization and bring in all of the operatives to send to other departments in the CIA. William Brandt ( Jeremy Renner) tells Alan this is a bad idea, but his objections are ignored.
The IMF shuts down all of its operations, and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) disappears completely after an incident one night. He is trying to find some mythical organization known as the syndicate who is supposedly an anti IMF that is out there causing all kinds of chaos and havoc in the world. Alan thinks that Ethan is just making this up from some kind of psychosis from being on the field too long and orders Ethan to be found and brought in for questioning. Ethan has to go on this mission alone so none of his friends are put in danger, and even they are not sure if he is on a wild goose chase or not.
But with some interesting things happening to Ethan early on in the film one thing is very obvious, something is going on and Ethan is getting close to just what that is. What if they syndicate is real? Why do they exist? Who is in charge of this rogue organization? And is there any way they can be stopped? If they can, just how can Ethan accomplish this impossible mission?
Simon Pegg and Tom Cruise play off of each other very well. Together they bring many comedic scenes and high tech moments that will intrigue those who enjoy cool gadgets. Benji is a silly character who has his absentminded moments but when things get tough he is always there to hep in whatever ways he can. It is nice to hear the Mission Impossible theme in this movie again and helps add the suspense and action in a few very high octane scenes. The sets are built very well especially one scene that takes place in an opera house. The sets atop the play sets make for a very fun scene to watch and has a lot going on. It was one of my favorite parts of the movie and explains a number of things once it is over.
But this film overall is nothing amazing. Even though the threat is high and the enemy is very dastardly there was little here that felt new. The same explosions and action shows up in movies like this all the time. Even in moments where I should have been on the edge of my seat I wasn’t because I knew what was going to happen. It was a shame really because this movie had the chance to be unbelievable but by the end it is too unrealistic with everything getting tied up too perfectly with a little bow by the finale. Fans should enjoy this new movie but others may want to miss this picture.
For all of these reasons it gets 6/10. The action is too familiar and the plot is rather obvious what is going to happen. There are a few surprises which keep it from being slow and tedious to watch but even then how things turn out will not shock and amaze anyone. It is a film action fans will get a kick out of, but other people won’t appreciate it and there will be little they enjoy. Kids shouldn’t see it because of the adult situations and some violent moments.
If you enjoyed the other Mission Impossible films, this is a movie you should check out. If you are a fan of Tom Cruise this is a film you will enjoy. If you like action movies, this is a picture you should see with your friends. It is not the worst movie out there but in a sea of films it will not stand above the rest. But who knows it may do well this summer but time will tell.
See the trailer below:
Jay, you’re getting better at this all the time. Keep honing your craft! You make me more proud of you every year that I watch your progress.
Jer