Mission : Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

                 Twenty- seven years ago Tom Cruise and Brian De Palma brought  Mission: Impossible to the big screen. At that time, the world already had one super spy and he liked his martini’s “shaken, not stirred” he also had little competition in the spy game. Enter Ethan Hunt, who when he is not hanging from a wire stealing computer secrets, is running to save the world from some bad guy. While most franchises don’t maintain their quality with each sequel, the Mission: Impossible series has been a fine wine and had only gotten better with age. Now with the latest installment Ethan is out once again to save us all, the question is, has he finally met his match?

                 After having a pretty tough time of it in the last installment, you would think Ethan ( Tom Cruise) would take a vacation, however that is not happening.  The world is in trouble once again, and Ethan and his reliable team consisting of Luther (Ving Rhames) and Benji (Simon Pegg) are ready for action. As things take a turn for the worse, Ethan and his team are put on the wanted list, where they will once again have to operate outside the system. Lots of action happens, with Cruise and the cast risking their lives for our entrainment. All in what could  be the biggest mission yet.

Once again Christopher McQuarrie returns behind the camera, as well as co-writing the script with Bruce Geller and Erik Jendresen. Dead Reckoning Part One packs in a lot, all while introducing a slew of new characters, and also bringing back familiar faces. It is the returning characters that makes it a good idea to have seen the last two installments, so you can be more in the loop on what is going on. Where you don’t need a refresher in is in the action and Dead Reckoning Part One delivers a great opening scene that not only sets the tone for the action-packed thrills but introduces the formidable villain knows as The Entity-an artificial intelligence program that really feels current with the rise of A.I. in our everyday life. With its knowledge of everything and the ability to be everywhere, this might be the most powerful villain the Impossible Mission Force has ever faced.

           The Mission: Impossible series has really found its groove with the last three films  and while Dead Reckoning Part One might not surpass Fallout, it is just a notch below for me. Nevertheless, the film does solidify the Impossible series as the gold standard of the modern blockbuster. We all love a good story, and you will find that here, even if at times it feels like it is just building and building for Dead Reckoning Part Two, the real reason you come for is the action. With that you are getting memorable set-pieces and a sense that this is leading to something huge. Which is pretty phenomenal. I for one gladly will accept this mission over and over again, and I know you will as well, and I can’t wait for the next one.