Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie
Genre: action spy thriller
Running time: 131 minutes
Released: 2015
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
With the IMF now disbanded and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) out in the cold, a new threat — called the Syndicate — soon emerges. The Syndicate is a network of highly skilled operatives who are dedicated to establishing a new world order via an escalating series of terrorist attacks. Faced with what may be the most impossible mission yet, Ethan gathers his team and joins forces with Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), a disavowed British agent who may or may not be a member of this deadly rogue nation.
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is a fun summer blockbuster. It manages to distinguish itself even among the new Bond films and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. As opposed to the more serious James Bond films, it takes a somewhat comedic and more action-intensive approach to the spy genre. For example, the film emphasizes huge fight scenes more heavily than spying, making for a fun and thrilling film.
In Rogue Nation, the IMF has been disbanded as it finally answers for all the collateral damage that Ethan Hunt has caused in the previous four films. This occurs just as Hunt finally discovers the Syndicate, a mysterious organization linked to multiple terrorist operations that nobody else seems to believe even exists. To complicate things further, the CIA has turned Hunt into a fugitive and wants him to answer for all the damage he has caused, leaving Hunt and his team to combat the Syndicate alone while evading the government.
Part of what makes Rogue Nation a fun film is that it does not shy away from poking fun at Cruise. There is a scene where he faces an agent of the Syndicate who turns out to be practically twice his height, which makes fun of Cruise’s actual height. In addition, the film lets him take a beating before he fights back, showing that he is no superhuman. I also enjoyed the focus on Hunt’s team and its dynamic instead of trying to portray him as some sexy, infallible, “I work alone” type of guy.
Despite all of this, the main appeal of the Mission: Impossible series is still Cruise and his penchant for action films, and Rogue Nation delivers plenty of these. The film opens with a thrilling scene in which Hunt clings to the side of an airplane while it takes off. Further in, the action continues with an interesting opera assassination that incorporates the music of the opera with the fight scene pretty well. There is also an intense extended car chase that switches to a motorcycle chase that will really get the adrenaline pumping.
Rogue Nation is another great entry into the Mission: Impossible franchise. It delivers what the viewers want: great action and thrills. I would definitely recommend this film for anyone looking for some mindless fun.
Author: Austin
Austin enjoys reading fantasy books and watching a variety of films from actions to dramas. In his free time, he can be found gaming.
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