The Impossible Mission Force is facing shutdown just as Ethan Hunt uncovers evidence of a destructive organization known as The Syndicate. Responsible for world-changing events, they stand poised to create a vast terror network if they can get their hands on a list of secret bank accounts. With the CIA in pursuit, Ethan goes rogue, along with a mysterious woman who seems to be playing both sides, in an effort to expose the evil mastermind behind the violence. His quest takes him into the most secure computer system in the world and eventually he must also kidnap the British Prime Minister to save civilization as we know it.
2015, Color, Rated PG-13, 2 Hrs 12 mins
Dolby Atmos, TrueHD 7.1, 2.40:1 Aspect Ratio
Starring: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie
Rating
Violence: Yes
Sex: Brief Partial Nudity
Language: Mild
If the plot sounds similar to the previous Mission Impossible films that’s because it is. Tom Cruise has created a formulaic franchise from the original television series that ran from 1966 to 1973. And that’s completely OK. In fact if he wants to keep cranking out more chapters, I’ll keep watching them; as long as Simon Pegg remains part of the cast. He provides the perfect foil to Tom Cruise’s ultra-serious complete-the-mission-at-any-cost character.
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Pretty much every box has been checked here: fantastic vehicle stunts, an attractive and mysterious female lead, Ethan Hunt breaks into a facility with impossible-to-defeat security, Ethan Hunt performs actions that defy physics, Ethan Hunt is the only one who really knows what’s going on; and of course the story is never quite what it seems. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep you guessing, mainly centered on Ilsa Faust, a mysterious female agent whose loyalties aren’t really clear until the end.
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Whether you’re already a fan of the series or if you’ve never seen a Mission Impossible film before, Rogue Nation provides a two-hour thrill ride, a solid plot, plenty of witty humor and top-notch production quality. Action movie buffs will want to add this one to their libraries just as I have.
It seems that every new Hollywood blockbuster ups the ante in terms of image quality and Rogue Nation is no exception. Shot entirely on digital cameras the lines between live and computer-generated action are completely blurred. It seems there is nothing that cannot be done in the special effects department. Contrast, color and clarity are all beyond reproach with saturated hues, deep blacks and no trace of murkiness or artifacts.
Like all the recent Dolby Atmos-encoded Blu-rays I’ve watched this one has a soundtrack that is huge in every respect. It’s mixed quite loud and I had to turn the volume down a bit which I almost never do. Even at ear-splitting levels there is no distortion or harshness, only fine detail and an almost limitless surround envelope. And the bass will shake your walls if you have a large enough sub. I have to give major kudos to the score which is largely based on Puccini’s opera Turandot. Composer Joe Kraemer has done a fantastic job adapting this hauntingly beautiful music to the screen.
Rather than the usual making-of documentary, the extras on this release focus on specific elements in the film. Each is only a few minutes long. Subjects covered are the underwater sequence, the opening airplane stunt, a brief study of the four lead characters, a look at the motorcycle chase and a discussion about the franchise’s staying power. Also included is audio commentary by Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie.