Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames and Pom Klementieff
‘A Captivating Blockbuster’
Few film franchises about impossible missions are as beloved as “Mission: Impossible”. Ever since Tom Cruise lit the fuse in the 1990’s, the franchise has made memorable movies. On a personal level, I find the franchise about impossible missions to be relatable. My appreciation for the impossible missions franchise began when I suffered leg injuries causing tensions. Years ago, my life hit a crushing low when I suffered leg injuries causing sorrow. A heartbreaking injury, it resulted from engaging in the risky business of running. Seeking a need for speed, I was drawn to running that made me feel I was guaranteed to succeed. Like Ethan Hunt’s strong desire to achieve an impossible mission, nothing stopped me from my routine of exercise giving me satisfaction. However, my goals of becoming fit were shattered when I got injured. My dreams being fit began to vanish when I was warned running was an impossible mission I couldn’t accomplish. It was hard for me to give up an activity I had always felt had completed me. Unable to handle the truth, I found it hard to face leg injuries that were painful. As I lost all hope, Cruise’s movies gave me courage to cope. Watching Ethan Hunt climb commemorated skyscrapers in Dubai inspired me to overcome injuries that terrify. Cinema became an art that allowed me to recover from injuries that had torn my life apart. Years later, I treasure commemorated movies inspiring me to achieve impossible missions recovering from injuries.
Now, Cruise is back and it’s a joy seeing him on a final mission in his movie “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”. Released in 2025, Christopher McQuarrie’s latest movie brings the action franchise to satisfying conclusion. Packed with breathtaking action, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s an exhilarating blockbuster. At the centre of it all is Tom Cruise, who embodies an agent facing issues. Although “The Final Reckoning” is entertaining, it isn’t a flawless film. At nearly 3 hours, it is slightly overlong. Nevertheless, it offers engaging entertainment that will satisfy fans of the mission impossible franchise.
Following “Dead Reckoning: Part 1”, “The Final Reckoning” finds agents facing final missions that are frightening. Tom Cruise portrays Ethan Hunt, an aging agent with issues. Following his fallout, Hunt has retired from professions he isn’t passionate about. However, Hunt’s life changes when he is assigned one final mission causing disaster. Assisted by his team of companions led by Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), Hunt embarks on tough missions. Faced with missions proving impossible, Hunt questions faith in a profession that’s painful.
Christopher McQuarrie has always been fascinated with impossible missions. A fantastic filmmaker, McQuarrie has often made engaging movies about hunted spies in danger. With “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”, however, the filmmaker created his first action finale. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to conclude a beloved action franchise in cinematic history but he pulled it off successfully. Evoking “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol”, McQuarrie effectively uses handheld camera to capture Ethan Hunt’s love for running to achieve impossible missions. For instance, handheld camerawork elevates the running scene. During this unforgettable scene, Ethan Hunt embarks on a fierce run across London seeking to save Luther from a disastrous situation. It brought back fond memories of my love for running before I suffered severe leg injuries. Montages are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Rob Reiner’s “A Few Good Men” suggested, montages elevate classic courtroom dramas. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through breathtaking visuals, McQuarrie captures commemorated agents facing their final reckoning.
Another admirable aspect of “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” is the production. One of the primary highlights of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise has always been practical action sequences, and they are clearly evident in this movie. From a technical perspective, the film features the most impressive stunts in the franchise. Evoking “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation”, McQuarrie uses aerial stunts capturing Ethan Hunt confronting planes that are terrifying. For instance, aerial stunts elevate the helicopter scene. During this unforgettable scene, Ethan Hunt dangles from soaring helicopters causing life-threatening injuries that are frightening. It reminded me about my depression when I injured my legs leaving me emotionally devastated. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Max Aruj’s commemorated music is key towards the success of the movie. It gives the film tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden spies going on impossible missions bear. Through bold set-design, McQuarrie captures spies that shine.
Amidst all the thrilling action entertainment, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” finds time for strong character development. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses flashbacks capturing tensions that spies on impossible missions are facing. Evoking “Mission: Impossible – Fallout”, McQuarrie effectively uses flashbacks to capture the trauma faced by a hunted agent experiencing a fallout. For instance, flashbacks elevate the entity scene. During this unforgettable scene, Ethan Hunt is reminded of his joyous past as an agent by the entity. It reminded me about my yearning for a past joyous time when I could go running without being affected by injuries leaving me devastated. Flashbacks are tricky techniques. As Christopher Nolan’s “Batman Begins” suggested, flashbacks elevate comic-book movies. Nevertheless, they work in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, McQuarrie honoured a spy franchise today.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Tom Cruise delivers one of his greatest career performances as Ethan Hunt. Cruise earned appreciation for playing the spy on impossible missions in “Mission: Impossible”. With “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”, however, he took on his most emotional role. If previous movies in the franchise portrayed Ethan Hunt as an invincible hero, the final film gave the actor a rare chance to showcase emotional vulnerability. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most iconic role. With riveting expressions, he captures the angst, desperation and resentment of a hunted agent that embarks on his final mission. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the finest actors working today.
While the movie is mainly a showcase for Tom Cruise, the supporting cast is also excellent and worthy of recognition. Hayley Atwell is amazing, bringing authority to a female agent that is determined to excel in a profession with stories to tell. Pom Klementieff is spectacular, capturing the bravery of an agent driven to achieve an impossible mission. Lastly, Ving Rhames merits appreciation. As Luther, he brings heartfelt emotion to these movies.
Although “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” is an entertaining blockbuster, ultimately it isn’t a flawless film. If there’s a minor drawback to the movie, it suffers from an extended running-time. McQuarrie’s decision to integrate exposition into the movie during the first hour is bold but hinders the pacing. Due to this faulty decision, scenes focusing on main characters explaining important events from previous films aren’t as engaging as the central mission. As Doug Liman’s “Edge of Tomorrow” suggested, exposition elevates science-fiction movies demonstrating dreams. Therefore, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” can’t quite honour a commemorated franchise about missions that are worth accomplishing.
Nevertheless, fans of Tom Cruise will definitely appreciate “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A fantastic action finale, it honoured a franchise about impossible missions that’s iconic.
Nearly 30 years after Ethan Hunt lit the fuse seeking to accomplish impossible missions that are challenging, it’s a heartwarming farewell to a long-running franchise that hasn’t lost its abilities to leave audiences entertained through death-defying stunts in memorable movies which are definitely worth celebrating.
As strong as final reckonings Ethan Hunt seeks to finish, it has motivated me to move on several years after a painful leg injury that caused anguish led my dreams of being fit to vanish by treasuring an iconic franchise about hunted spies that I will forever cherish for inspiring me to believe that no mission in the world is ever impossible to accomplish.
4.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 