Title: Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation (2015)
Starring: Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt), Jeremy Renner (William Brandt), Simon Pegg (Benji Dunn) and Rebecca Ferguson (Ilsa Faust)
Rating: 4/5
Today resulted in a spontaneous trip to the cinema to see the new Mission: Impossible film. First off, I have a confession to make: I haven’t seen any of the first four films, other than the odd scene here or there when it’s been on TV. Also, I’m not a massive Tom Cruise fan, so I really wasn’t expecting too much from this film. However, as you can see from my 4* rating, I came out with a different opinion.
Rogue Nation sees Ethan Hunt, top IMF agent, on the run from the US government. He must put his trust in Rebecca Ferguson’s elusive character, Ilsa, to help him get the proof he needs. Of course, this isn’t as easy as it sounds. Ilsa’s loyalty is in question as she seems to be working each team off against one another, yet helps Ethan out of a deadly situation more than once. The plot isn’t the easiest to explain, and towards the ending it gets particularly sticky, but I am willing to overlook this in favour of some brilliant action sequences.
The highlight of the film was the adrenaline fuelled motorbike chase, which reminded me a little of the Matrix. There was also a tense, edge of your seat moment when Ethan must hold his breath underwater for three minutes, and everything goes horribly wrong. I have a feeling I wasn’t the only one feeling claustrophobic during that scene.
Another plus for me was the fact that Ferguson’s female character maintained the ability to be such a powerful woman in an otherwise male dominated film. She is essential to the plot and challenges the relationships between the main characters, and although her fighting in high heels is very questionable, her skills on a motorbike are not.
Knowing that Tom Cruise does many of his own stunts really brings the action to life for viewers. The opening scenes feature Ethan hanging onto the side of a plane, something Cruise actually did himself. The acting is actually not bad at all, and I was too immersed in the story to notice any awkward scenes or mistakes, which is a rare occurrence.
The majority of the action is set in London town, and this gives Rogue Nation a very James Bond feel which I guess would be hard to escape for a film that lives in it’s shadow. There were similarities to the Bourne Identity films too, but in this genre that’s bound to happen.
It’s actually doing very well in the box office, with favourable reviews flooding the internet. So, if you’re looking for an action film and Marvel just doesn’t do it for you, then Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation is the perfect summer blockbuster.
Jade's Library 