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Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning: Is This Tom Cruise’s Last Adventure?

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Among my most eagerly awaited movies for 2025 is the upcoming “Mission: Impossible” spectacle – “Mission: Impossible – The Final Chapter”. This will be the EIGHTH film in the Tom Cruise-led action spy series, and the fourth consecutive Mission: Impossible movie penned and directed by Christopher McQuarrie. Hints suggest that this could be a farewell for Cruise’s longstanding character Ethan Hunt. As an ardent fan of the franchise, I went into it with a hope that he wouldn’t actually be saying goodbye.

The blockbuster hit “Barbenheimer” overshadowed the previous “M:I” film (2023’s “Dead Reckoning”), which earned approximately $570 million. This is a significant drop of over $300 million compared to 2018’s “Fallout”. Despite its critical acclaim, the film’s underperformance and high production costs prevented it from achieving the necessary box office success. Yet, “Dead Reckoning” was deservedly lauded by both critics and fans, paving the way for this upcoming installment – the largest, most extravagant, and longest running “Mission: Impossible” movie yet.

In his most captivating and daring, Ethan Hunt, an IMF agent, embarks on a new mission. Following the occurrences of “Dead Reckoning,” we encounter Ethan pursuing Gabriel (Esai Morales), a former contact to an artificially intelligent entity called The Entity that has been gobbling up information. This power-hungry Gabriel aims to command The Entity, whereas Ethan wishes to annihilate it to prevent a catastrophic nuclear event.

In order to accomplish his task, Ethan will once more lean on the aid of his long-standing companions, Luther (Ving Rhames) and Benji (Simon Pegg). Moreover, Grace (Haley Atwell), an adept thief transformed into an IMF operative, and Paris (Pom Klementieff), a former assassin for Gabriel who defected to Ethan’s side after he rescued her life, have also joined him. However, his progress is hindered by CIA director Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny, reprising his role) and his deputy Briggs (Shea Whigham), who view Ethan as a dangerous risk.

With swift dominance over global nuclear networks, U.S. President Erika Sloane (Angela Bassett) defies her cabinet’s advice and equips Ethan for a covert operation in the North Pacific Ocean. In an aged Russian submerged at the frigid depths of the Bering Sea, there lies a module holding the Entity’s programming codes. When coupled with Luther’s “Poison Pill,” this module grants control over the Entity and consequently, the world. However, the Entity harbors malicious intentions to exterminate humanity.

Regardless of its length of around three hours, “The Final Reckoning” moves swiftly with minimal pauses. Penned by McQuarrie and Jendresen, it’s packed with tense buildups leading to satisfying resolutions. Compared to other Mission: Impossible films, this one has a more somber tone due to the heavy stakes involved. Given the serious nature of the situations portrayed, the intensity is appropriate. McQuarrie and Cruise strive to convey the immense gravity and urgency, and they succeed admirably by immersing us in the dangerous world they construct. It’s quite effective.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but marvel: What would a Mission: Impossible film be without the indomitable Tom Cruise once more risking everything? “The Final Reckoning” is packed with thrilling action, but it’s two pulse-pounding scenes that will leave audiences speechless – one submerged in the debris of a submarine deep beneath the ocean; another featuring biplanes dancing through a canyon before soaring to an astounding 10,000 feet. These sequences, I assure you, are not just extraordinary; they’re unlike anything you’ve ever witnessed on screen. It might seem like an exaggeration, but trust me when I say, these scenes defy description.

In “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” we find an impressive addition to the series, but not without a few minor flaws. An early revelation (to avoid spoilers), which I’m still puzzling over, is one such flaw. Additionally, there are a couple of subplots that could have benefited from more development. However, these minor issues didn’t detract from the overall captivating experience. The intriguing premise, swift pace, clever references, Fraser Taggart’s stunning visuals, the nerve-wracking climax, the heartfelt humanity at the core – there’s a lot to appreciate in this film.

Mission: Impossible – The Last Stand” provides everything you’d expect from a high-budget blockbuster, offering an electrifying cinematic experience that highlights why we still love going to theaters. Tom Cruise and his team push their limits to deliver another thrilling, entertaining spectacle. This film successfully achieves its goal of astonishing audiences, serving as a fitting, gratifying conclusion to what might be the best and most consistent action series in recent memory. Remarkably, it’s also one of the top movies of the year.

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2025-05-23 18:59

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