Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

If you're new to this site I'll get this out of the way quick:

I'm a massive fan of the Mission: Impossible franchise. It holds a special place in my heart for multiple reasons and I genuinely love each and every film in the series. Even the second one I adore because it's just so balls -o-the-wall and overdramatic that it works for me. People often talk about where they find inspiration, and I fully admit that the Mission Impossible films inspire me in my spy novel writing, probably even more so than James Bond. For a film series to be this strong for this long and have arguably no "bad" films, while retaining it's major star, is unheard of and realistically Mission Impossible is rather unrivaled when you consider those factors.

Then for a franchise to hit it's peak with its fourth film, Ghost Protocol, a film that was so inventive, witty, and downright fun that I gave it a perfect score (the first on my site)...it was clear that the series was transforming into something that would become much more special than many probably anticipated.

Clearly I was "first in line" for this next film, Rogue Nation, to see if the trend of greatness could continue, and on IMAX no less. So...now that I've laid out my lofty expectations for a series I would place in my Top 5 favorite, there's only one question that remains should you choose to accept reading this review:

Does Rogue Nation stack up?

Really poor parallel parking job, Ethan.

New variation on the "jazz" flute...

Oh absolutely it does. Was there even ever a doubt? For starters, Tom Cruise is intensely passionate about these films and this franchise, and I'm sure it only grows after each new film premieres. The directors may go through a revolving door, and while that would certainly mean the death knell for most series, it's part of Mission Impossible's strength. Rogue Nation feels both similar and wholly different from Ghost Protocol and it comes across more as a breath of fresh air rather than a shocking change. Chris McQuarrie is in the director chair this time and he brings a keen eye for strong action and a witty script with him. The film even goes into the realm of analyzing Ethan Hunt and why he does what he does, at one point claiming that the danger and lifestyle thrill him. Given that Cruise does many of his own stunts, including holding onto the side of a cargo plane as it's f**king flying(!), one could argue that the analysis is geared toward Cruise in real life too, making it all the more entertaining. I'd vote that Rogue Nation has one of the better stories of a M:I film and it continues to twist and turn throughout, keeping you guessing for much of its duration. It's complex and for those that have a hard time paying attention, they may lose interest, but the threat of an anti-IMF, the Syndicate, is as strong a foe as Ethan's ever taken on. It's a shame that the face of the organization cannot be a more memorable villain (Phillip Seymour Hoffman still wears the crown of "best villain" for the series), but he does a serviceable job.

A rather awkward episode
of 30 Rock

The rest of the cast is stellar though. Tom Cruise once again lives and breaths Ethan Hunt, while Simon Pegg gets quite a bit to do in the film, and it's all the better for it. Ving Rhames and Jeremy Renner are fun, though their action is limited, and newcomer Alec Baldwin proves that he fits right in with this group. The show is pretty much stolen by Rebecca Ferguson, who came out of nowhere, and plays a smart, sexy, and strong (literally...she's jacked) double/triple agent who's motives are never clear. The mystery surrounding her is one of the films strongest points and while I'm sad to see Paula Patton go from Ghost Protocol, Ferguson steps in and makes us nearly forget all about her. I'd love to see this character in future installments and I'd even argue that she is "un-ditchable" at this point. Her character was just too prominent in this one to be tossed aside.

More importantly, the action is phenomenal. I don't think anything beats that Dubai skyscraper scene, but parts of the film come so daringly close that it doesn't matter. The "big stunt" of this one, with Cruise hanging off the side of a plane, happens in the first 10 minutes which was fairly surprising. Luckily the rest of the action holds up for the most part with a well choreographed and edited opera battle, a fantastic car/motorcycle chase sequence, and probably one of the best "break-in" scenes I've ever seen that truly keeps you on the edge of your seat. Most of the action is filmed cleanly, something which I really appreciate, and in IMAX the sound effects are LOUD. Punches crunch, engines growl, and gunshots pierce. My only complaint would be that there are some shaky CGI moments, particularly during the motorcycle scene, that pulled me out of the moment, especially when the film relies on practical effects so heavily.

This screen grab is just too cool to even try and make a joke about it.

Rogue Nation represents much more than a really exciting spy film. It's the proof, as if we needed more already, that the Mission Impossible series is one to be taken seriously. Much like the Bond films this should be a series that is highly anticipated by the mainstream and celebrated for its impressive run of quality and Cruise's impressive run of staying front and center in the franchise. As for me? Rogue Nation is another win for a franchise that I already held in the highest regard and I couldn't be more excited for the future of the franchise, which is exactly what I said after the previous film too. It's time that everyone accept these missions.

CONS:

• The villain is pretty "meh" in this installment, though the Syndicate is a formidable foe
• Some poor (read: obvious) CGI in certain segments
• Several climaxes made the film feel longer than it actually is and the actual ending is a bit anticlimactic

PROS:

• Provides a solid analysis of Ethan Hunt's psyche that I found interesting
• Tom Cruise is bonkers. For his age, he looks fantastic and still does tons of his own stunts. As Ethan Hunt, he's as great as he ever has been
• The action is stupendous and well filmed. I found the break-in scene to be the highlight
• Strong and fun supporting cast
• Rebecca Ferguson kicks so much ass. She needs to become a series regular
• Strong cinematography throughout
• Great original score that keeps the iconic original theme
• Amazing and loud in IMAX
• The plot keeps you guessing and is fairly complicated, so be sure to pay attention
• A fun, smart, exciting spy film. Sounds like a winning combination to me



Rath's Review Score: 9/10