28. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: DEAD RECKONING PART 1 (2023)

 

Language: English

Genre: Action

Mission Impossible is a franchise that consistently gets bigger and better with each new installment, and Dead Reckoning part 1 is no exception. The film follows the same formula, has all the elements you would expect from a mission impossible film, with the world in peril and all hopes resting with "Ethan Hunt" and his team, played by (or lived by) Tom Cruise . This time, Ethan needs to pull off the seemingly impossible by thwarting the villain, who is trying to take over the entire world with the help of  a self-learning AI.

By skillfully fusing high stakes thrills with emotional themes while still using familiar tropes, director Christopher McQuarrie cleverly reconfigures this new installment. And the right use of humour heightens the overall comedy amid the overall tension produced by high-octane action set-pieces. There are many other reasons to like the movies, but Tom Cruise, who is in incredible shape and accomplishes the unthinkable given his age, is one thing that keeps the movie together. Throughout the film, he maintains incredible physical fitness and moves with the utmost confidence and ease as he sprints, jumps, fights, and even speeds. Even though Tom Cruise does all the work, the other actors—particularly the women in this film—have important roles to play. 

Among the women, Rebecca Fergusson and Vanessa Kirby both did fantastic jobs, but Hayley Atwell, a newcomer to the franchise, made the biggest impression. Additionally, Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg perform as expected, enhancing the film's positive aspects.

Overall, MI: Dead Reckoning part 1 is a very impressive endeavour considering its genre. The movie delivers what it promised and establishes the plot for the subsequent part. With its cliffhanger ending, the franchise promises there will be more adrenaline-pumping adventures from Ethan Hunt.

My opinion: Recommended