Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning (Part 1) – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning (Part 1) – Adrenaline of a Spy: I Choose to Accept …

In life, we dance a line of uncertainty.  With each experience, it becomes a moment defined by the unknown.  That feeling is profound, especially in films.  When you walk into a theater, you start with a blank note.  No matter what is expected, it can become a journey fulfilled.  In this review, I look at the latest installment of the Mission Impossible franchise.  This is a spy series that has continued to redefine itself, providing many entries of pure entertainment.  Through a simple espionage setup, Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning (Part 1) is another high-octane outing that shows … blockbusters can be great.  

In this latest chapter, we find Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team on another mission to stop world annihilation.  With many new and old obstacles to confront, will they be able to prevent disaster or fall victim to the 21^st century threat.  Building off the typical espionage outline, the directive begins with an action prologue, before leading through expositional elements.  Through these elements we are re-introduced to Hunt (and his team), who learn about a rogue AI that has infiltrated the world’s networks.  After another series of expositional scenes, Hunt (and team) goes rogue (again) to find a specific item (MacGuffin) that may provide the path to destroy the AI.  As the team begins their mission, the generalization begins to lift into the franchise’s unique bravado.  Through the convoluted web of a rogue AI, international thief and being a target by the U.S. government, the moments are balanced well between the intuitive action and witty dialogue.  The globetrotting adventure feels organic through its methodical pace, building off each sequence through a raw but genuine feel.  With each death-defying moments, it becomes an enveloping experience of creative artistry and spectacle.

As Hunt (and team) find out the truth behind the AI, more layers from the past lead to the mission’s uncertainty.  As Hunt stands upon broken memories, this adds gravitas to the already suspenseful situation.  With one last hope, we head into the third act of a race-against time motif within an action filled catalyst.  With the journey heading into one of its iconic set pieces, it leads into an emotionally riveting climax and an epilogue that closes the chapter on one mission, with another on the horizon.  Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning (Part 1) is a showcase of what a blockbuster should be.  If you are a fan of the series, action/spy films or like blockbusters, this is one for you.  A definite good time at the theaters.   

Full Score – 4 out of 5 (Full Price)