‘Mission: Impossible-Final Reckoning’ Ends on Sour Note

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Yes, we know Ethan Hunt will save the day. Always.

Now, the franchise knows it, too.

Mission: Impossible – The Last Stand” serves as both an ending chapter and a tribute, offering numerous flashbacks from previous movies while highlighting the indomitable spirit of our protagonist.

Ethan, Ethan he’s our man. If he can’t do it, no one can! (Literally)

Tom Cruise’s famous character used to flout regulations and disobey his own government, but those days are long gone. Remarkably, even the current President of the U.S. has expressed admiration for him now.

For a compilation suitable for an Oscars broadcast, that works well. But it weakens the unique charm of the spy storyline, if only this issue was the main problem with the eighth movie.

Final Reckoning,” being the second part of a two-part narrative, efficiently introduces novices to the storyline swiftly in its initial scenes. A sophisticated artificial intelligence entity, widely known as The Entity, has expanded globally, infiltrating various world governments and posing a significant threat that could potentially ignite World War III.

Only Tom Cruise’s character Ethan Hunt seems capable of preventing such an event, as the specifics are unclear and opinions differ among people.

Indeed, Ethan’s team has returned to continue their spy adventures, but Luther (Ving Rhames) and Benji (Simon Pegg) seem less lively than before. Given the impending threat of World War III hanging over the plot, it’s understandable that things might be a bit more serious this time around.

Despite Hayley Atwell’s (Grace) arrival as the latest addition to the “M:I” crew, it seems that the team is not open to a romantic relationship between her and Tom Cruise, given their significant age difference (43 years versus 62).

And, yes, we get endless shots of Cruise running at full speed that border on parody at this point.

The main antagonist for now, Esai Morales’ character Gabriel, relishes his scenes excessively. Unfortunately, his enthusiastic performance falls short of expectations. The plot is so complex that the script frequently interrupts the action with long-winded explanations about what will happen next and why it’s nearly impossible to execute successfully.

Unless your name is Ethan Hunt, of course.

The given template seems to leave an unwelcome mark on the preceding episode, introducing a pattern that detracts from the originality and unpredictability of the narrative. This issue appears more pronounced in the current installment.

This sequence takes place deep inside a deserted submarine, and it showcases Director/Co-writer Christopher McQuarrie’s impressive technical skills. However, the sequence seems to drag on indefinitely, culminating in an ending that leaves one rather perplexed with its overly humorous tone.

Despite some scenes falling short of their intended impact, they still sparkle effectively. The extended length of the movie, a hefty 2 hours and 49 minutes, allows for plenty of room for hand-to-hand combat, knife fights, and other exciting sequences. Tom Cruise even engages in a fight while wearing only his undergarments.

At least it won’t result in him being stranded in outer space, much like the controversial ninth part of the “Fast & Furious” series.

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As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I’ve got to say that the sequel has saved the most thrilling for the finale! Tom Cruise’s character, Hunt, finds himself hanging from an old-school biplane, engaging in one breathtaking aerial battle. It wasn’t our superstar who performed the death-defying stunts high up in the sky, though – but it sure feels like he did!

Gosh, it’s rather puzzling how they managed to achieve that. However, there’s no denying it’s Tom Cruise, and the visual effect is absolutely stunning.

The astonishing series of events momentarily overshadows all previous imperfections, making it significant for the franchise in 2025. It’s not just about witty dialogues, consistent plot progressions, or captivating new personalities; it’s about the impact it leaves behind.

The Final Reckoning” underscores Tom Cruise as the Last Remaining Major Star, and he seems content to risk his own wellbeing to demonstrate this fact. However, movie stars shine brighter when they have an exceptional tale supporting them.

It would benefit him more to apply that star power to future movies instead. Even the skillful Ethan Hunt wouldn’t be able to salvage this sequel.

Title Review: “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” offers the adrenaline-pumping action we expect, but its excessive self-reference detracts from its overall impact.

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2025-05-15 05:03