Synopsis
Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team embark on their most dangerous mission yet: To track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity before it falls into the wrong hands. With 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 his mission – not even the lives of those he cares about most.
What We Thought:
After the success of Top Gun Maverick last year I whole heartedly expected Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One to be the biggest movie of 2023. It looked amazing, the marketing team did a great job of showing clips and videos before the release of the film. Tom Cruise was its #1 hype man. But the film disappointed at the box office and I’m not exactly sure why. I liked it, but I do think the last couple of M:I films were better. It’s long and is part 1 of 2, but it not coming close to what it should have done at the box office is shocking to me.
I think the problem with the film is that it feels like a lot of other movies of late. There’s a chase scene in Rome that feels like the similar one in Fast X (a multi-film action franchise that travels the world and brings back characters ala this franchise). I think the M:I scene is better, but both were released earlier this year. The film’s plot involves AI and how it will effect mankind. AI is a trendy topic so it might not have been a good time for this plot. The Creator talks about AI. The actors and writers of Hollywood went on strike because of AI. It just seems like bad timing for this plotline. Fast X had an open ending just like this film being part 1 of 2. This film has an ending that leaves the door open to the next film whereas Fast X just ends on a cliffhanger, but again this feels like other movies and not just ones in its own franchise.
This new 4K is pretty sweet though. The film looks flawless even at home. It sounds even better. These films are over the top with different locations around the world, loud action pieces and everything in between. If you missed it at the theater, the 4K is well worth the price because the film looks amazing. It’s also jam-packed with bonus features including commentary from director Chris McQuarrie and in-depth looks at all the stunts. M:I home video releases do a great job with behind-the-scenes and making of features.
With all that being said, I still enjoyed Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One. It might not be the best in the franchise, but it’s still highly watchable. Hayley Atwell is a nice addition to the cast without taking away from Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. Hunt is clearly the man in charge which can’t be said for the latest Indiana Jones film. There are multiple big action segments and people will be talking about Cruise’s jump and train stunt for years. The locations and backdrops are beautiful as are all the characters. It’s first and foremost a Mission: Impossible film so if you are a fan of the franchise like myself, it’s highly recommended.
Bonus Features:
- Commentary by director Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton—McQuarrie and Hamilton take viewers through each compelling scene with in-depth commentary.
- Abu Dhabi—Explore the exotic filming locations in the desert and at the international airport and discover how each thrilling sequence was shot.
- Rome—Take a behind-the-scenes look at the thrilling car chase through Italy’s historic capital, as Tom Cruise’s driving skills are pushed to the limit while handcuffed to Hayley Atwell!
- Venice—See the breathtaking city of Venice as it’s never been shown on film. Plus, witness the cast’s dedication and commitment to their training as they prepare to get “Mission Ready.”
- Freefall—An extended behind-the-scenes look at one of the biggest stunts in cinema history. Watch never-before-seen footage of the rigorous training as Tom launches a motorcycle off a cliff.
- Speed Flying—Join Tom and the crew as they explain the various training techniques involved in pulling off the dangerous speed flying stunts in the film.
- Train—See how the climactic train sequence was captured on film. From building an actual train from scratch to crashing it using practical effects, you don’t want to miss this!
- Deleted Shots Montage—Director Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton share some of the breathtaking, never-before-seen footage that didn’t make the final film.
- Editorial Featurette: The Sevastopol—Director Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton take viewers through the intense opening scene.
The Nerds Templar 