MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: ROGUE NATION (2015)

Featuring: Tom Cruise; Jeremy Renner; Alec Baldwin

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Good wine gets better with age. It seems as if the same can be said for this franchise because this movie in the series is the best one so far.

The Mission Impossible Force (MIF) is shut down by the CIA and the US government, or to put it in MIF terms: it is 'disavowed'. This basically means they may no longer operate. However, another sinister force, aptly called The Syndicate, is again threatening world peace. And it is up to Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his now disavowed team (with the help of a rogue British agent) to come to the rescue.

Although the recipe is the same, the flavor is refreshingly different. The story just makes more sense. In this film the characters are also a lot more human and therefor prone to make simple mistakes. And even though accomplishing the mission still seems impossible, the resolution is actually possible. So, this time around there are still lots of thrilling action but it is accompanied with a much less way-out-there story line. Good fun to watch.

I rate it at 3 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIsauUFIguE

 Jeremy Renner, Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames

 

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL (2011)

Featuring: Tom Cruise; Jeremy Renner; Simon Pegg

Director: Brad Bird

A lot can be said about Tom Cruise but one thing is certain: he is thorough. Usually when a particular movie is a box-office hit, the sequels will follow in quick succession. However, this is not the case with the Mission Impossible franchise. By Hollywood standards considerable time lapsed between each of the releases. This is due largely to his involvement in the development and production of each of the films. And it shows. The amount of effort that goes into preparation of every stunt or action sequence is commendable to say the least. So, regardless whether or not you are a fan of the series or even of Mr Cruise himself, you've got to admire the man's level of commitment and dedication to each of the projects.

After an explosion at the Kremlin, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team is blamed and branded as international terrorists. But they soon discover that all of this is nothing but a ploy to hide one mad man's desire to start world war three. And so, against all odds, the race is on for them to stop him.

Although the story is quite plausible, the plot is full of holes. But if you are not bothered by trivialities like that, there is enough spine-tingling action (and stunts) to satisfy any adrenalin junkie.

Again it is good enough to earn 3 out of 5 stars from yours truly.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDGYVFZxsXQ

 Tom Cruise hanging around in Dubai...

 

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE III (2006)

Featuring: Tom Cruise; Philip Seymor Hoffman; Ving Rhames

Director: JJ Abrams

From the initial Mission Impossible trilogy this one is the best.

In this episode Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) attempts to settle down to a more mundane life. He met a girl he loves, wants to get married and start a family. Obviously she does not know what he does for a living and he intends to keep it that way. But when a protege of his disappears while on the trail of a notorious weapons smuggler, his dreams of domestic bliss is irrevocably shattered.

My main gripe with the previous two films was with the long meaningless shots and scenes of Tom Cruise which seemed to have done nothing more than showcasing his good looks. I'm glad to say that in this movie there is a lot less of this type of indulgence and a lot more sensible action. Maybe the fact that JJ Abrams directed this one has got something to do with that. Whatever the reason, I found this version of the franchise a lot more palatable.

And it is for this reason also that I rate it at 3 out of 5 stars again.

Trailer link:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFBd9WIWCoU

The famous leap between the two buildings.

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II

Featuring: Tom Cruise; Thandie Newton, Dougray Scott

Director: John Woo

For this movie, the action moves to Australia - Sydney to be more precise. And a bit of outback.

This time agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is called upon to find a fellow agent, Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott). He has gone rogue and is in the process of negotiating to sell a deadly virus to the highest bidder. In order to locate and stop him Ethan engages the services of a professional thief, Nyah Hall (Thandie Newton). Apparently she and Ambrose used to be in a relationship which did not end well for either of them.

This second film in the series follows much the same recipe as the first one with lots of long brooding scenes by Cruise not doing much of anything. This is alternated by the occasional explosive action sequence. The one outstanding feature of this movie, however, is the bike-chase-scene which is one of the best ever filmed. And, to my mind, that is its saving grace.

This is the only reason why I am prepared to rate it at 3 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIpqpRuGrq4

  ...from the bike-chase-scene...