Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Mission: Impossible’ @ Top of its Game

Some would call MAD MAX: FURY ROAD the most exciting action thriller of the summer – others may choose JURASSIC WORLD….

Me?

I say it’s MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE–ROGUE NATION.

This is the fifth big screen adaptation – and in my book – the best since the vintage TV spy series first hit into theaters in 1996.

There’ve been some excellent directors along the IMF’s long and winding road, including Brian DePalma, John Woo, J.J. Abrams and Brad Bird.

But writer/director Christopher McQuarrie (Jack Reacher) brings a new found flair and energy to the proceedings that makes ROGUE NATION fly by in seemingly no time.

“This could very well be our last mission—make it count!”

And that’s exactly what Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt sets out to accomplish.

Not that the storyline differs that much from past entries.  It’s all about the execution again that truly stands out.

Seems Ethan Hunt and his crew find themselves in a bait and switch swindle between their highly secretive IMF and the CIA.

Convinced that Hunt has gone rogue, he is now a fugitive on the run from the CIA.

The entire set-up is orchestrated by a terrorist group known as ‘The Syndicate” which Ethan has to uncover to prove his innocence.

“The mission is to take down the syndicate!”

But getting there is something else with left turns in the plot hitting about every 20 minutes

Yet unlike previous MI’s you’ll have no trouble following these goings-on.

The action starts right at the top of the film with Cruise climbing onto and hanging from the outside of a giant Airbus 400 transport plane—during takeoff!

Hanging on until about 5,000 feet into the air.

What makes the stunt so amazing is that it’s REAL!

(A harness and cables that actually tied him to the plane were then digitally erased.)

Other highlights have to include a superbly staged chase through, above and beyond the Vienna Opera House DURING a live performance of Turandot.

There’s a terrific underwater suspense sequence that’ll have you gasping for air.

And if a good chase is your game, the high speed cycles versus BMW confrontation in Morocco is just badass awesome.

“Hunt you’ve set back American-British relations to the revolution.”

All that plus a terrific supporting cast including Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris and Alec Baldwin as the CIA chief.

THIS franchise is actually getting better with age!

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE-ROGUE NATION, the perfect summer action thriller, scoring a solid A. 

(Reviewed at Cinemark, Merriam)

JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings at 6:40 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on 98.1FM, KMBZ and anytime on Facebook.