The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - ROGUE NATION

The 'Not-So-Critical' Critic:

on MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - ROGUE NATION (2015, 131 minutes, PG-13)

Ethan Hunt is back at it again, and delivers the - "impossible".

The past M:I's have been all over the road for style and having varied success with audiences and critics. The first film was a great introduction and was received with enthusiasm. The one major flaw I found was tearing apart the IMF team at the start, not allowing the audience to build a rapport with each member, leaving only Hunt as the focal point. The second film, let's face it, had too much Woo and the story was lame. The third was decent thanks in part to Philip Seymour Hoffman as one of the most ruthless bastards you will ever meet. M:I GHOST PROTOCOL brought the franchise back around with director Brad Bird and writer Josh Appelbaum at the helm. If you skipped over GP because Tom Cruise seemed to have lost his cookies, then please catch up, worth the watch.

ROGUE NATION was about the IMF taking on a hidden organization called the Syndicate while operations get shut down in the US. Under the eye of director Christopher McQuarrie (of JACK REACHER and THE WAY OF THE GUN), who has a very respectable list of credits as a writer; to include EDGE OF TOMORROW, THE TOURIST, and THE USUAL SUSPECTS, he kept to the high level of energy and adding a successful follow-up to GP. And, as you see, McQuarrie's list of credits from above included a number of Tom Cruise movies, and to add VALKYRIE, making 4 films. I pose that this is not just by chance... this is Scient... oh, sorry. It just makes sense is all: they have history.

The one thing that caught my eye was the attention to detail when it came to the crazy action sequences. To start the movie, the plane scene looked about as authentic as possible (possible, I said). The chase scenes with automobiles and motorcycles thankfully avoided the need for wet streets and out-Woo'ed M:I 2. There was only one crash sequence that brought me out of the film and made me think it a poor choice. While I sat there and watched each epic feat, I couldn't help but think this was what the James Bond films lacked prior to the Daniel Craig era - impossible stunts made to look genuine without a "cheese" landing.

The cast included the usual suspects of Jeremy Renner (William Brandt), Ving Rhames (Luther), and, to a larger extent this time, Simon Pegg as the lovable Benji. Rebecca Ferguson was the female lead as Ilsa and will probably find more screen time in the future thanks to this role. She was dazzling, lethal, and elicited a number of emotions throughout the film (some I cannot discuss in public). The lead baddy was Solomon Lane (Sean Harris, known for PROMETHEUS, HARRY BROWN, and DELIVER US FROM EVIL) who was a devious villain with an excellent 'creep' factor.

I think one of the majestic beauties of this film was the complex nature of the plot being made simple. Everything within the film, the scenes and interactions, lead the viewer along with dumbing it down or requiring continuous explanation. You felt as if you were part of the team, trying to survive the mayhem, and brought near death a number of times. If this keeps up, the Bond franchise will indeed have a rival US counterpart.

Grade: B+