Disturbing yet enthralling

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

One of the aspects of the Mission: Impossible franchise that really helps separate it from the conveyor belt of action/spy/thriller movies that hit our cinema screens and streaming services every year is the idea of introducing a new director for each new entry. Such an approach helps prevent fatigue from Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt and whatever team he assembles, and gives each film its own feel without disrupting the flow of the series. Brian De Palma riddled his movie with unbearable moments of tension, while John Woo favoured slow-motion gunplay. J.J. Abrams introduced a darker tone to the proceedings, only for Brad Bird to lighten the tone while packing more of a physical punch. They aren't all great, but you can at least recognise a style. Christopher McQuarrie was the choice to envision part five, and with him he brings a bland, by-the-numbers style that infected his previous movie, the Tom Cruise vehicle Jack Reacher.What also has helped this series to survive over the years are set-pieces built around real stunts and genuine danger. In this regard, Rogue Nation doesn't disappoint, although it clearly blows its load far too early. If you've seen the trailer, you'll know the film's signature jaw-dropping moment involves Tom Cruise clinging to the side of a plane as it takes off, the ground behind him shrinking rapidly with each passing second. Simon Pegg's Benji Dunn frantically bashes an iPad while Jeremy Renner's returning William Brandt barks panicked directions over loud-speaker, and it's all edited to guarantee maximum thrills. In fact, the entire first half of the film manages to maintain this exciting pace, delivering a high speed motorcycle chase and a stealthy mission in the Vienna Opera House. Plot has never been the strong suit of this franchise, and things grind to a halt when McQuarrie decides to slow things down for the finale. A plot involving the kidnapping of 'the British Prime Minister' (played by Tom Hollander) and a shadowy organisation called The Syndicate are plot devices straight out of James Bond, and it often feels like Rogue Nation is simply trying to be America's version of Britain's most popular fictional spy.McQuarrie does have some aces hidden up his sleeve however, and the biggest of these is Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust, a fellow spy working within the Syndicate for her own dubious reasons. While her character shares no chemistry with her lead co-star, she makes a fantastic impression in the action stakes as she repeatedly crosses paths with Hunt, and hordes of bad guys, in the field. Cruise does share great chemistry with Simon Pegg however, and although the Shaun of the Dead star is little more than comic relief and the guy who can push a few buttons on his laptop and open any door in the world, his screen time with Cruise helps to humanise Hunt, which is important in a universe looking to turn its hero into an unstoppable super agent. It's a perfectly passable two hours, but will likely fade from memory mere seconds after the credits have rolled. Unlike the lit fuse during the opening credits, Rogue Nation fails to explode into life, fizzling out when the film starts to think that this series can be anything more than a bunch of people chasing a McGuffin and having to retrieve a few things in spectacular fashion along the way. Woo's effort remains the worst in the series, but Rogue Nation lacks an identity. While the first hour is certainly fun, it often feels like McQuarrie is auditioning for a different franchise altogether.

"Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" is everything you would expect from a "Mission: Impossible" film. Great action set pieces and locations. And Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) running. Boom bow! Mission: Go watch it!

'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)' introduces a new level of palpability and is responsible for the whole series' retroactive, but slightly unwarranted, reputation for tangible, essentially 'real' stunt-work, thanks to its many fantastic set-pieces built solely around the slightly insane idea of Tom Cruise being as close to death as possible every moment he's on screen. This is really the reason why the film works so well and is as purely exciting as it is, as it always feels absolutely authentic and manages to keep the audience as engaged as possible with both its action and the characters caught up in it. It's interesting that each film in the series has significantly raised the bar in terms of action, and this is no exception. Thus far, the sequences in this picture are possibly the best in the series: fast, frenetic and fantastically composed. They're all very well conceived, crafted to be as exciting as possible. There's an ever-so-slightly darker tone this time, though things aren't dour and moments of levity are used to great effect. This vibe is bolstered by a smaller but seemingly more personal plot, which sticks closely to the roots of the franchise but does avoid many of its predictabilities. It's certainly an ensemble piece, as much as its direct predecessor. It has possibly the best cast in the entire series, and the most focus on them. All the core players are given several moments to shine, which means that you understand and care about them all. The momentum of the piece is kept thoroughly forward-moving without ever compromising on the character moments that make the narrative so impactful. The movie really is just incredibly entertaining when it gets going. 9/10

Jam packed with action, comedy, and tables turned around every corner. Exciting to watch and an outstanding score of 5 stars deserved. Absolutely recommended to watch. This franchise has hit its peak and now is set sail for the sky. -TE (8.5.15)