Mees Meets MI: Approves Dead Reckoning
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning was released on July 12th to an audience eager to see the latest installment in the 27 year old franchise.
Protagonist Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise, breaks away from his team, the “Impossible Mission Force,” to keep every country in the world from destroying each other. Ethan must find two keys that control a device called “The Entity,” a dangerous sentient AI created by the US government. The AI promptly rebelled against its maker, accessing and modifying digital information and using technology to manipulate humans.
Hunt reunites with Luther, played by Ving Rhames, and Benji, played by Simon Dunn. He also meets with Ilsa Faust, played by Rebecca Ferguson, a recurring character in the franchise since the fifth movie, Rogue Nation. Hunt also encounters a new ally, the skilled pickpocket Grace, played by Hayley Atwell.
In addition, Hunt is faced by an old adversary, the mysterious Gabriel, a new character in the series. Gabriel acts as a “dark messiah” of The Entity, ruthlessly stalking Hunt around every corner of his journey to stop him from obtaining the keys.
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning continues the series’ tradition of impressive stunts. As usual, Cruise performed most of his character's stunts himself, something he insists on doing even as he ages. The film features one impressive stunt jump near the end, which was performed with little to no CGI. The stunts keep the audience engaged, and when paired with the compelling story makes for one of the best movies in the series
I believe that Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning is one of the best movies released this year. The movie brings a new concept rarely seen in action movies, a villain (The AI) unable to interact directly with the protagonists but is forced to rely on others. Despite this, the writers were able to make the villain feel like a legitimate threat to the world. The unconventional antagonist helps create a story that feels fresh, and isn't just the copy and paste “stop this bad man from doing a bad thing.”
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning stands out in the franchise for its story, stunts, and new concepts. The product is a movie that feels new, interesting, and exciting. The film is a must-see for fans of action movies.
