Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning

Lamest movie in the series, if not ever! I unfortunately spent money in the theatre to watch this so waste of time as well as money! I don't even want to waste any more words writing this review but unfortunately cannot post this until and unless it contains three hundred words so to sum up... Lamest movie ever!

It was quite clear this film had lofty ambitions since the previous entry.

And considering what it is, what came before it and the legacy it was meant to conclude.. I was expecting to be wowed! Not bored at the start, anxious for something to happen in the middle, and losing all hope to at least be surprised by the end.

It is almost 3 hours long, and the little that does happen, is buried between too much nothing. Awful pacing, dull and meanders dialogue that often goes nowhere nor builds-up to something, a completely dull villain and threat. And worse of all.. what is the point in a movie that constantly tells you exactly how it is going to go? And by virtue of being what it is, there is absolutely no mystery about its conclusion. Not playing with a viewer's expectation is NOT a requirement in storytelling.. but you have to give them something! A bit of tension and intrigue.

It's a shame because I can see what it wanted to achieve with its premise, but it feels stuck in the past while trying to use more modern tropes.

Still, it is entertaining enough, and provides spectacle-scenes so incredible anyone would be hard pressed to replicate them in such quality. The cast is okay, the locations good, great production, visuals and cinematography.

But a film has to be more than a few set pieces and scenes.. it has to work as a whole and be more than the sum of its parts.

It's a fact that not all previous entries have been stellar. So I'm somewhat sad this is how M. I. "ends".

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning serves as the grandest and boldest farewell to arguably the greatest action franchise of all time. Yet, it lacks a true sense of finality.

The film shoulders a colossal burden, attempting to deliver a worthy goodbye to Ethan Hunt and the iconic franchise. It aims to provide satisfying conclusions to a bloated roster of side characters while also setting up inevitable cash-grab sequels. Additionally, it strives to outdo every previous installment by going bigger and bolder than ever. While it excels in some areas, it falters in others.

One of the film's biggest challenges is managing its vast ensemble of characters. The script occasionally struggles to balance them all, resulting in scenes where some characters randomly appear and disappear, seemingly out of convenience rather than logic. This inconsistency can be jarring, pulling the audience out of the experience.

In typical Mission Impossible fashion, the film promises the most spectacular set pieces yet-and it delivers. These grand, meticulously crafted action sequences are thrilling to watch. However, their constant back-to-back presence somewhat dampens their impact. Once the audience becomes accustomed to the relentless spectacle, the element of surprise and tension starts to wane.

The stunts, while still impressive, carry a bittersweet note. Unlike previous installments where Tom Cruise's daring feats were fully captured on camera, this time around, roughly half of the action scenes rely on noticeable green screen effects. Though understandable, given Cruise's age and safety precautions, it slightly detracts from the visceral thrill of witnessing genuine stunts, making the danger feel less real.

Performance-wise, this installment shines, particularly with Angela Bassett delivering one of the most emotionally charged portrayals in the franchise. The script's emphasis on deeper emotions allows for some of the finest acting moments in the series.

However, the editing feels somewhat sloppy, giving the impression that substantial material was left on the cutting room floor. While the brisk pacing keeps the film engaging, it sometimes feels as if we're only witnessing the start and end of scenes without the journey in between, leaving a sense of incompleteness. The cutting is fast, but not in an exhilarating manner-instead, it's disorienting.

If this truly is the final goodbye to the Mission Impossible series, it's been an unforgettable ride. Despite its flaws, the franchise remains the pinnacle of action cinema in my book, and its legacy will undoubtedly endure for generations. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: we are witnessing a master at craft. Cherish it while you can.

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It should be titled "Missing" Impossible. Everything you love about the MI franchise is gone. If you are expecting an espionage thriller, there are 7 other Mission Impossible movies for that. It isn't this. The story is convoluted and doesn't make sense. The editing is so choppy and doesn't feel cohesive. Taking place less than 2 months after the last movie, so much has changed that is never explained. How is so-and-so president all of a sudden when they weren't 2 months prior? How did that other character get into the state they are in? No explanation. The franchise should have ended with the last movie. This felt like it was all about Tom Cruise trying to prove to himself and others that he can still do this. What a disappointment!

This movie successfully concluded this 30-year-old franchise. The action was superb but not over-the-top. There are a lot of characters from the past that being brought back naturally, which I feel is a nice touch. It serves their purpose and doesn't feel out of place or forced. However, not all are to my liking - the twist wasn't as impressive as previous movies and the plot felt a bit linear and thin. It's almost 3 hours so I feels like a road trip rather than a roller coaster. Despite this, I enjoyed the ride and it reminded me of what MI is really about: "We live and die in the shadows, for those we hold close, and those we never meet."