"Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" Movie Review

This is certainly a massive year for spy movies, isn't it? We have already had the phenomenal Kingsman, and now he have another Mission: Impossible movie, with a reboot of "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." and the return of James Bond in "Spectre" still to come. Over the last 19 years, the M:I series has promised a blend of adrenaline fueled action, humour and well rounded characters.  Each entry has been helmed by a different director, who have each brought something different to the franchise. For the fifth film, Paramount have brought on director Christopher McQuarrie, most well-known for "Jack Reacher," another Tom Cruise flick. Despite this being only his third directing job, McQuarrie has added on the brilliance of "Ghost Protocol," creating a gripping plot guaranteed to satisfy both longtime fans and newcomers.

The plot of M:I 5 revolves around Ethan Hunt's discovery and investigation of a new terrorist group, called The Syndicate, led by the mysterious and deadly Solomon Lane. While it is unclear for the majority of the plot the ultimate goal of the evildoers, it is made clear that they are as equally skilled as the lead agents and capable of unlimited horrific acts. Unfortunately, the movie's story is strongest when the audience is kept in the dark. While I do not wish to spoil the rest of this terrific movie for you, the plot soon becomes very familiar, a flaw only made worse considering the Syndicate being set up as a seemingly unpredictable enemy. However, despite the serious nature of the film, the writers wisely decided to inject doses of humour throughout, helping to create some more light-hearted moments in between the intense action sequences.

There is no doubt that Tom Cruise is a good actor, with the wit, humour, and star power to lead a film franchise. Once again, he does a fantastic job as Ethan Hunt, continuing to bring the likability but also sharp nature to the character, although he does not receive much development in this entry. This time round, however, he shares the spotlight with Rebecca Ferguson. The actress does a great job as Ilsa Faust, with her acting rivaling that of Cruise and the two playing off each other very well in tense and comical scenes alike. The film also has a stellar supporting cast. Simon Pegg returns, with his part acting as the vessel for the writers to deliver the majority of the movie's humour. Ving Rhames and Jeremy Renner are also a part of Ethan's team, although they do not have nearly as much to do as the others.

One recurring issue with the Mission: Impossible series is weak, one-dimensional villains, with only the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman's Owen Davian in M:I 3 really standing out. There was a fear that this problem would also appear in this latest venture, with Sean Harris' nefarious character being oddly absent from the movie's marketing campaign. Luckily, this was not the case. Although he does not speak a great deal over the course of the film, Lane still manages to be among the most menacing and intimidating villains of the series. Harris conveys well the cold and calculating personality of Lane, making it clear that he was more than a match for Ethan both intellectually and physically.

Tom Cruise is 53. Let that sink in. Most actors considerably younger than that will use stunt doubles for all of their stunts, some as simple as riding a motorcycle. That just makes it all the more impressive that Cruise is performing all of his own death-defying stunts, with this movie adding an extended underwater scene and the well publicised airplane sequence. These are only a couple of the action-packed set pieces that are present in "Rogue Nation." Director McQuarrie has managed to achieve the perfect balance between action, humour and emotion, filling the run time with these highly entertaining and exhilarating moments without sacrificing an interesting storyline.

Undoubtedly, this series has its fans, and for good reason. However, as with every series, whether it be a film, video game, or in television, people begin to look for new elements in movies when they have been being made for nearly 20 years (although each film is released 4 or 5 years apart). Unfortunately, this entry in the spy series, no matter how successful, does not massively innovate on what has come before. That only means that these fans may be disappointed if they recognise certain aspects. Aspects like the IMF being shut down, similar to "Ghost Protocol." Aspects like the motorcycle chase from M:I 2. I could mention some other elements but that would involve delving into spoiler territory, but keep that in mind when you see the movie, and you absolutely should. 

That being said, "Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation" is not a bad movie at all. Although the plot may become more common in the film's later stages, that did not take away from the overall feeling of satisfaction I felt after spending 2 hours watching the film. The film does a great job of keeping the audience engaged throughout the run time, with heart-racing stunts, moments of humour and superb performances across the board, this movie will certainly not disappoint those searching for another brilliant summer blockbuster. 

Pros

• Intense action
• Performances from all actors
• Finally, another strong villain
• A good sense of humour

Cons

• The plot becomes laughably generic later on
• Will be familiar to fans of the franchise

Rating: 9/10

Original Release Date: July 31st, 2015

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Jeremy Renner, Sean Harris, Alec Baldwin