Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (Christopher McQuarrie)

[Henry Gale]

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[Henry Gale]

Not sure how actually great it is but all I know is I loved it.

It just moves. It just consistently hits all the right beats, switches up its scenery once the audience might feel even slightly bored by the sights on screen, varies the action tremendously, it's super tightly constructed with a joyous verve and nonchalantly clever twists and turns, and even five movies into this series, it manages to pull at least one mask reveal that actually took me by surprise! It wasn't even the sole employment of them! No small feat.

It's like a fifth album by a band that owns its identity in a well-worn two-guitar, bass, drums, and vocals, traditionalist rock style, except replace those instruments and genre with spies being double-crossed, globe-trekking, engaging in high-speed chases, climbing to new unheard heights of danger, and of course, those magic masks. Even a scene that uses a now-tired juxtaposition trope of having intense action set alongside an unsuspecting opera production manages to be an enthralling sequence. There's also some basic location shots that could act as straightforward connective tissue to dialogue scenes, but in Elswit's hands, he sneaks in a few compositions that are just quietly jaw-dropping out of nowhere -- one with escalators in particular. Not to mention he shoots the hell out of the higher-octane stuff too. A foggy sequence towards the end is especially gorgeous.

Renner and Rhames are fairly underused considering their involvement in past installments. It's structured as Cruise & Pegg's show with the antagonistic catalysts for everything going up against the IMF luckily fleshing themselves out sufficiently creepily with a fairly unrecognizable and perfectly reptilian Sean Harris in charge. Baldwin is fun, but basically just playing Jack Donaghy if he became more gruff and jaded in his post-NBC Universal days.

But REBECCA FERGUSON just owns this movie whenever she's involved. Aside from the stunning action the movie gives her (particularly the hand-to-hand bits), she's just the most insanely captivating, sexy, alluring presence a movie like this (or any type) could ask for. The White Queen just skyrocketed to the top of my TV watch-list out of the blue. Whew.

So yeah, I had a blast with it, and maybe if it doesn't click with you early on in the same way you'll take a more critical eye to it, but I think at this point you know where you stand with this series, and it's just as genuinely exciting as anything that's come before to put that sort of attitude aside and just let it take you for its ride. You don't always need to break new ground to build something to marvel at.

***1/2 / 8.3

[D_Davis]

The MI series might be the most consistently good movie franchise. Although, to support that argument I have to pretend that MI:2 doesn't exist.

[Scar]

The MI series might be the most consistently good movie franchise. Although, to support that argument I have to pretend that MI:2 doesn't exist.

I'm an unabashed MI2 supporter. And I am well aware that we are a minority.

[D_Davis]

I'm an unabashed MI2 supporter. And I am well aware that we are a minority.

I used to try to be because of my love for John Woo, but man...I had to come clean, and be honest with myself.

I think there is an OK movie there, but about 40 minutes needs to be cut.

[Peng]

I liked the second one as well. In fact this is the rare franchise for me that gets better and better with each one, for four consecutive installments now. This one might break that streak of mine, although that is based more on how much I loved the fourth one and Brad Bird's direction. I expect to enjoy this one a lot as well (and would be happy to be proved wrong about that streak).

[Morris Schæffer]

I like mi2 enough. Heck, i've seen terminator genisys.

[Irish]

Agree that the movies improve with each outing. Maybe a longer genesis between films helped; there's only been four installments over twenty years.

Curious too that the directors involved have always had a higher profile, but have also gotten arguably "worse" (Brian DePalma > Brad Bird).

[TGM]

Add me to the list of those in favor of M:I2.

[D_Davis]

MI:3 is my favorite; it's a tremendous film.

[Henry Gale]

MI:3 is my favorite; it's a tremendous film.

Yeah, it'd be my pick too, but the rest are so hard to rank.

I mean, M:I-2 is last place kinda by default, but even then it was my favourite movie of the moment when I was around 10 years old, regardless of how it might not hold up for me now (and I haven't seen it for at least a decade to know for sure).

Otherwise, my memory of the original is that it's awesome, Ghost Protocol is an expertly crafted blast, and Rogue Nation feels about the same tier as both of them (and with a more satisfying final third than Ghost Protes).

[TGM]

3 > 4 > 2 > 1

[Dukefrukem]

1 > 4 > 3 > 2

[D_Davis]

3 > 1 = 4 > 2

[Scar]

3 > 4 > 2 > 1

[Peng]

4 > 3 > 2 > 1. If Ghost Protocol had the villian on the level of III's PSH, it would have been a top five action film for me.

[transmogrifier]

I find them tough to rank because, although I liked them all, they are ultimately disposable and weightless.

[Scar]

4 > 3 > 2 > 1. If Ghost Protocol had the villian on the level of III's PSH, it would have been a top five action film for me.

I whole heartedly endorse this statement.

[Stay Puft]

1 > 4 > 3 > 2

That's probably my ranking, too.

I watched the first one recently and thought it held up well. DePalma crafted it quite nicely. I haven't seen the second recently, but I'm comfortable putting anything with a promotional soundtrack featuring Limp Bizkit and Metallica well at the bottom of any list. PSH is the only good thing about the third one (the new Star Wars movie is going to be terrible, sorry). Bird's entry is the most entertaining after the first. I still prefer DePalma for the craft, but Bird's work is a lot of fun and the setpieces are memorable (I loved the car park bit at the end).

[Scar]

That's probably my ranking, too.

I watched the first one recently and thought it held up well. DePalma crafted it quite nicely. I haven't seen the second recently, but I'm comfortable putting anything with a promotional soundtrack featuring Limp Bizkit and Metallica well at the bottom of any list. PSH is the only good thing about the third one (the new Star Wars movie is going to be terrible, sorry). Bird's entry is the most entertaining after the first. I still prefer DePalma for the craft, but Bird's work is a lot of fun and the setpieces are memorable (I loved the car park bit at the end).

What about a movie featuring Guns N Roses with cross over music video?

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[TGM]

3 > 4 > 2 > 1

[transmogrifier]

And the villains in the MI series are seriously dull.

[megladon8]

For myself it'd be 3>1>4>2

[Morris Schæffer]

1
4
3
2

[Watashi]

And the villains in the MI series are seriously dull.

I really don't go to MI films for the villains. I see it for the crazy ass stunts and set pieces.

Rogue Nation is awesome. How is Rebecca Ferguson not Wonder Woman? I hope some casting director got fired for that.