Your mission, should you choose to accept the latest installment of the “Mission Impossible” series? Heck yes! After the sixth installment “Fallout” came out in 2018, Paramount Pictures & Tom “TC” Cruise green-lit a two-part follow up titled, “Dead Reckoning.” Originally released on my 28th birthday July 23rd 2021, Paramount was forced to delay the film due to COVID-19. Not once, but thrice. In December 2020, TC went on a full profane rant on two crew members not following COVID safety rules. Say what you will about his association with Scientology, his separation from Katie Holmes, losing custody to Suri and jumping on Oprah’s couch, he has a legitimate point. We need to take precautions seriously regarding the future of the workers’ kids’ college education, provide food for our families and earn stable income to pay bills, mortgage, taxes etc.
In 2022, TC’s other film “Top Gun: Maverick earned critical acclaim and became the second highest-grossing film. Steven Spielberg once said, “Tom saved Hollywood’s ass.” What about Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire & Andrew Garfield? They made almost $2 billion for “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” Other 2021-2022 films that saved Hollywood from COVID listed below. I give credit where credit is due.
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings ($432,243,292)
- Godzilla VS. Kong ($470,116,094)
- Venom: Let There Be Carnage ($506,863,592)
- Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ($955,775,804)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ($859,208,836)
- The Batman ($770,962,583)
- Puss in Boots: The Last Wish ($484,702,569)
- Minions: The Rise of Gru ($939,628,210)
- Avatar: The Way of Water (only praising it for making $2.3 billion)
- Sing 2 ($408,396,446)
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part One is officially out in theaters. It received critical acclaim. As of July 2023, its making money at the box office. The second part will be released on June 28, 2024. They’re going with the “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” route. Don’t forget to mark your calendars.
Today’s review contains no crucial SPOILERS. Feel free to read my non-spoiler article.
Right & Wrong Qualities
Right: Tom “TC” Cruise reprises his role as Ethan Hunt. He did an excellent job for his performance. He also co-produced the film.
Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson & Vanessa Kirby reprise their roles and they all did an excellent job for their respective performances.
Newcomers to the series such as Hayley Atwell, (Agent Carter) Esai Morales, (Slade Wilson/Deathstroke from Titans) Pom Klementieff, (Mantis from Guardians of the Galaxy) Shea Whigham & Cary Elwes all did a decent job for their respective performances.
Christopher McQuarrie did an excellent job directing the film. He also co-produced it.
Action Sequences are friggin’ amazing. Like the previous installments, TC did all his stunts without a body double. You can’t forget Tom’s trademark run.
Lorne Balfe (Megamind, The Lego Batman Movie) orchestrated the soundtrack.
Cinematography captures full scale imagery.
Practical Effects were heavily involved to create dangerous stunts.
A key plays a pivotal role. Kinda similar to “Kingdom Hearts,” but without traveling to Disney worlds and battling Heartless.
Gabriel’s tied to Ethan’s past. This time it’s personal.
Gabriel’s henchwoman Paris reminds me of Harley Quinn.
Ethan has a fight scene on a train. A callback to the first film. Way bigger than last time.
Ethan’s chemistry with his teammates his put to the test.
At one point, Ethan says “Talk to me Benji.” A reference to Maverick’s line from “Top Gun.” “Talk to me Goose.” Gotta love in-jokes.
The Plot involving Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) is disturbingly relevant. The 2023 strike with the WGA and SAG (led by Fran Drescher) are protesting movie studios over an unethical decision to replace writers and actors with A.I. They also demand proper income from CEOs.
There’s a few twists and turns that’ll make you gasp. I cannot tell you. You’re gonna have to see for yourself. This review is classified.
Without giving anything away, the final scene sets up Part Two.
Wrong: I couldn’t find any flaws. I’m giving the cast and crew an Extra Point for making a flawless spy film as possible.
The Final Verdict: A, FOR APEX!
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part One is definitely worth every single penny. So far, this is one of my favorite films of 2023 alongside “John Wick: Chapter 4 and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” All three are rated as my highest grade an A, FOR APEX. If you have nothing else over the week, Dead Reckoning – Part One’s a must-see. I’m looking forward to “Oppenheimer.” It’ll be out before my 30th birthday. This’ll be one heck of a present.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 