MOVIE REVIEW: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING

 

Ethan Hunt and the IMF team race against time to find the Entity, a rogue artificial intelligence that can destroy mankind.

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Cast: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny, Angela Bassett, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff

Release Date: May 23, 2025

Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence and action, bloody images, and brief language.

Runtime: 2h 49m

Review:

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is massive in nearly every way imaginable from its pair of massively thrilling action set pieces that have to be seen on the biggest screen possible but the whole thing is nearly bogged down by a lore heavy plot that tries to tie together 30 years of the franchise with a noticeable sense of self reverence.  Christopher McQuarrie directs the film with the kind of capable hand you'd expect from somebody who's been playing in this sort of scale for years.  He excels at the rather insane action sequences which have become the hallmark of the series and again delivers the sort of blockbuster insanity that other films can only aspire to.  The submerged submarine sequence is equal parts The Abyss and Titanic with its rotating kaleidoscope of death that's sure to leave a memorable impression.  The much talked about biplane sequence is visceral on every level thanks in large part to Tom Cruise's willingness to put himself in tangible danger to pull off the stunts.  McQuarrie orchestrates it all with impressive ease that you barely notice that both sequences are nearly dialogue free.  There are more noticeable lulls in between those big moments especially when compared to recent entries thanks to an unnecessarily muddled script.  There are plenty of call backs throughout the film with some feeling more natural and organic than some of the more forced moments.  It’s a shame because as nonsensical as the plot is there a sense that if the story had jettisoned some or all of the nostalgia this would have been a leaner more effective send off.  That's not to say there isn't a lot to enjoy here but it’s just not up to the levels of 2018's Fallout or 2023's Dead Reckoning.  Tom Cruise and McQuarrie might just suffer from setting the bar to high at this point by making it nearly impossible to top themselves.  Cruise and his character are practically indistinguishable by this point in the series which shouldn't be much of a surprise even as he spends more time with smaller supporting players than the returning cast.  Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny, Angela Bassett and Pom Klementieff all have their moments to shine.  Atwell is earnestly wide eyed throughout while Pegg is given the chance to step up and lead.  Klementieff again makes the most of her screentime leaving her the most memorable supporting character once it’s all said and done.  Esai Morales returns as the main human villain here but much like the last entry there's never a ton of time spent giving him much depth or making him feel like a tangible treat to Cruise's Hunt.  Missteps aside, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a solid send off for the series even if doesn't reach the heights of its best entries.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING PART ONE

 

Ethan Hunt and the IMF team must track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity if it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than the mission -- not even the lives of those he cares about most.

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Cast: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Esai Morales, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny

Release Date: July 12, 2023

Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some language and suggestive material.

Runtime: 2h 43m

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One delivers another sprawling action epic that shows the series is still firing on all cylinders.  Christopher McQuarrie's film is massive in every sense of the word with another set of incredibly impressive action set pieces from an insane Italy set car chase, my personal favorite of the film, to a thrilling train sequence in the film's latter stages.  Those sequences each deliver a mix of humor and thrills as they unfurl onscreen with each bringing enough variety to keep the whole thing from becoming monotonous.  They are huge sequences but McQuarrie smartly lets them breath and never loses sight of the characters while everything is going on.  Tom Cruise can play Hunt in his sleep by this point but he still carries the film with the steely determination and confidence he's brought to the role since day one. Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg once again join him as members of his team with solid supporting turns that give their interactions ring true as a team that's worked together for years.  Rebecca Ferguson returns as well but isn't given all that much to do as she pops in and out of the story.  Hayley Atwell joins the series as she brings her playful but self assured energy to her role which works really well for her role. Atwell and Cruise share fun chemistry together especially during the car chase sequence but the romantic angle feels a tad forced as the film rolls on.  Esai Morales and Pom Klementieff serve as the primary antagonist for this entry.  Morales is solid but his character never feels as dangerous or intimidating as he should be.  Pom Klementieff on the other hand does a lot with screen time as a mysterious female assassin who would have benefited from a bit more fleshing out.  Shea Whigham and Greg Tarzan Davis have a running sublot as a pair of agents chasing down Ethan for The Community who have some fun moments but we never get any explanations for Whigham's laser focus on Hunt.  The overall plot is surprisingly timely especially considering it was written a few years back which works in the film's favor.  While it works as a singular entry there's plenty of unresolved threads left for the second film by the time this one wraps up. On its own, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One delivers nearly all the goods for a big screen blockbuster adventure with huge action and character moments which makes the film a breezy experience, a testament to the overall  quality of the film since its nearly three hours long.  

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: CHRISTOPHER ROBIN

Christopher Robin -- now a family man living in London -- receives a surprise visit from his old childhood pal, Winnie-the-Pooh. With Christopher's help, Pooh embarks on a journey to find his friends -- Tigger, Eeyore, Owl, Piglet, Rabbit, Kanga and Roo. Once reunited, the lovable bear and the gang travel to the big city to help Christopher rediscover the joy of life.

Director: Marc Forster

Cast: Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, Jim Cumming, Brad Garrett, Bronte Carmichael, Mark Gatiss

Release Date: August 3, 2018

Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Rated PG for some action

Runtime: 1h 44 min

Review:

Christopher Robin is a saccharine sweet bit of nostalgia that’s enjoyable and entertaining even though it’s an uneven tone.  Marc Forster’s film is well crafted from start to finish with a strong cast and impressive CGI.  Ewan McGregor turns in a charming performance even though character seems eerily similar to Georrge Banks from Mary Poppins.  The character is a bit more complex than expected and probably could have been explored a bit more.  Hayley Atwell makes for an equally charming wife to match McGregor.  The voice work turned in by Jim Cummings and Brad Garrett really stands out for Pooh and Eeyore, giving the film its sweet center.  The film does have a tinge of melancholy running through the entire film which makes for a strange tone for a children’s film. Christopher Robin never seems to decide if it wants to be a straight forward children’s film or a most measured meditation on rediscovering your youth. 

B

MOVIE REVIEW: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER 3D

IN THEATERS

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER 3D



Director: Joe Johnston

Cast: Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Sebastian Stan, Tommy Lee Jones, Hayley Atwell

Release Date: Jul 22, 2011

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action

Runtime: 2 hr. 4 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure

Review:

Captain America was among the list of superhero films that worried me going into this summer. It’s the type of property that’s hard to pull off because so much of the characters soul is trapped in a by gone time that might not translate to the big screen. Joe Johnston’s luckily was given a script that firmly places this origin story in its proper time and place. Shooting it with the look and feel of a WW2 propaganda film, Johnston captures so much of what makes the character and what he stands for without being overly jingoistic. Johnston paces his film methodically; taking his time with the characters and allows them to breathe. As a result, Chris Evan’s is given ample time to flesh out the scrawny runt Steve Rogers by giving him an earnestness that carries over to the Captain America version of Rogers. Hugo Weaving is good fun as the sinister Red Skull, even if the characters written a bit broad for my taste. Thanks to Johnston’s patience, secondary characters played by the likes of Tommy Lee Jones, having a ball, Hayley Atwell, Stanley Tucci and Dominic Cooper don’t come off as one dimensional as they could have. Johnston also has to be given a lot of credit for well staged action sequences which keep pepper the 2nd half of the film, some of the larger set pieces giving a decidedly Raiders of the Lost Ark to them somehow. The 3D, if you those like me who enjoy the novelty, is effectively used for effect but some of the action sequence can sort of bombard your eyes with information.

B+