Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is hunting the anti-IMF criminal organization known as the syndicate.   He is captured by them and their creepy blond haired leader with glasses, but he escapes with the help of disavowed British spy Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) who is in deep cover trying to stop the Syndicate.  With the IMF (Impossible Missions Force) disbanded at the request of CIA director Hunley (Alec Baldwin) and Hunt on the run from CIA, he goes to ground to gather evidence to stop this criminal organization before enlisting the help of his former IMF team like Benji (Simon Pegg), Brandt (Jeremy Renner), and Luther (Ving Rhames).   Can Hunt trust Ilsa to help him bring down and expose the Syndicate or is she a double agent with her own agenda?

 

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- ROGUE NATION manages to provide a few thrilling action sequences (the opening sequence with Tom Cruise hanging off the outside of the plane and jumping into an underwater data hub) along with more humor in a sequel that draws closer to the feel of a classic spy thriller.    It is the entry in the series closet to the original TV series and it may even be better than MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- GHOST PROTOCOL.  Rebecca Ferguson is quite capable as Ilsa even though she does have a little bit of a likeness to Tom’s ex-wife, Katie Holmes.  I liked her character’s fashion (especially the yellow dress) while some of Tom’s fashions are sometimes bizarre (like his jacket during the motorcycle chase).   The Vienna sequence in the Opera House feels like an Alfred Hitchcock version of a James Bond scene done Mission: Impossible style while the London based scenes feel like something out of an old spy thriller.  Director Christopher MCQuarrie does a better job at handling the action and drama than Brad Bird was handling the last film.   The action in the climax isn’t over-the-top like it was in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- GHOST PROTOCOL and it seems very in place with a grounded spy thriller climax and fits in with how the movies end in this series quite well.   Rebecca Ferguson is quite capable as Ilsa even though she does have a little bit of a likeness to Tom’s ex-wife, Katie Holmes.  I liked her character’s fashion (especially the yellow dress) while some of Tom’s fashions are sometimes bizarre (like his jacket during the motorcycle chase).

 

I hear reports that they’re trying to get another movie in the series in production next summer and I’m all for it as long as the next movie is as good as the last two films.  MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- ROGUE NATION is a very enjoyable and thrilling entry in the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise and I would love to see this sequel again very soon.

 

This review is ©8-1-2015 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

 

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