Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation will finish your summer with a bang

Movie:   Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

PG-13, 2 hours, 12 minutes

Grade:   A-

In a Nutshell:    I can neither approve, nor deny this movie review without approval from the Secretary…

Tom Cruise reminds us again that he is still an action star that can draw us in.  Alec Baldwin’s character says of Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise): “Hunt is uniquely trained and highly motivated, a specialist without equal, immune to any counter-measures, there is no secret he cannot extract, no security he cannot breach, no person he cannot become….Hunt is the living manifestation of destiny.”

The movie is pure action, fun, fresh, intelligent and just what you want to watch with some buttery popcorn.  This franchise knows its audience and delivers.

Uplifting Theme:

·         Self-sacrifice, loyalty, friendship, patriotism.

Things I liked:

·          The comic relief role is provided by the loveable Benji (Simon Pegg whose movie Hector and the Search for Happiness inspiring).  He sighs, “IMF.  See the world….on a monitor…in a closet.” 

·         The Turandot opera scene was pretty awesome, using the music to accent the action. 

·         The Mission Impossible theme song is the best.

·         I love that the villain has a high-pitched whiny voice, instead of the deep growl that most villains         have.

·         Aw, those masks.

·         It’s always fun to see Alec Baldwin involved with the CIA.  One of my favorite movies of his is The Hunt for Red October .

·         You know an underwater action sequence is good when it makes you hold your breath.

·         Fun chase scenes and lots of them.

Things I didn’t like:

·         It always cracks me up when spy women in long ball gowns and high heels climb curtains and roof tops with ease.

·         Beautiful woman in a wet bikini, walking slowly out of a swimming pool.  So cliché.  I guess it’s to be expected in a Mission Impossible or James Bond movie.  Rebecca Ferguson is a nice addition to the franchise.

·          

Funny lines:

·         “We’ve never met before, right?”  - Ethan Hunt

·           “She tried to shoot me!” – Benji

       “That doesn’t make her a bad person.” – Ethan

·         “Oh hey boys!  What did I miss?” – Benji

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Cool lines:

·         “This man, can you find him?” – William Brandt  (Jeremy Renner)

“I won’t stop until I do.” –Ethan Hunt

·         “You want drama?  Go to the opera.”  - Ethan Hunt

·         “Tell me it’s possible to pull facial recognition off a sketch.” – William Brandt

“For mere mortals, no.  For me, I could have done this at home.” – Luther Strickell (Ving Rhames)

Tips for Parents:

·         Some foul language, but no sex scenes.
-    Lots of flying bullets, suspenseful moments, explosions, fight scenes, and high body count.

Mission Impossible movies that are done well: