Mission : Impossible - Dead Reckoning, partie 1

The arms race of big-budget action movies is on full display in this Tom Cruise production (yes, he gets a possessive credit for the movie in the opening credits, which don't show up on screen until 28 minutes into the overlong film). I found the derring-do scenes exciting to watch but was not thrilled by the pointlessness in toto.

Of course, an action movie requires action, though even here there are several intrinsically dull and static scenes of the actors carefully and deliberately reciting the dialogue exposition establishing the basic details of an AI-themed end of the world (unless Cruise can save the day) scenario. Especially with the feature climaxing on a train, I would vastly prefer a less pretentious, suspense/thriller with more small-scale issues, as in the classic "The Narrow Margin" by Richard Fleischer or its remake by Peter Hyams.

I had trouble recognizing Hayley Atwell, the dexterous leading lady, who I had admired in more full-figured (even her face is different) form in "The Duchess" and "Agent Carter". The more emotional scenes between friends and dire enemies are the highlight, as all of Tom's running, flying, biking and fighting are merely a given. Outdoing everyone else's stunts and one's own time after time is a pointless exercise.

The lavish Italian party segment only reminded me of a better (and more visceral) sequence from one of the John Wick movies, and the hokey final perils on the falling train cars was merely the same kind of showing off that made the recent "Uncharted" film so silly.

Around 1970 (after "Easy Rider' was such a hit) movie budgets were capped and the resulting films were all the better for it. If the comic-strip movies were reduced to Saturday matinee level and scale, and the ridiculous spending in the hundreds of millions ceased, I think overall storytelling and quality films could make a comeback.

While this movie maintains the stunning action sequences and stunt work, the rest of the movie is severely lacking. Despite the development of the characters from previous movies, they feel very thin and hollow in MI 7. The pacing of the film and writing are quite peculiar. It almost feels hacked together in a messy way. The previous movie managed to create compelling characters, with moments that clearly defined them and made them standout from one another. In this iteration, they feel like rote action movie characters without distinguishing characteristics. The previous movie also managed a sense of whimsy through the writing and cinematography that was completely absent from MI 7. This general tone and pacing was perhaps my favorite aspect of MI 6, so for it to be missing this time around felt like a huge step backwards for me.

Overall, the movie just felt a bit bizarre. Almost like an AI wrote it or something. I seriously hope the next one tries to get closer to the tone of MI 6.

Remember that classic MI scene where they broke in at CIA, and Cruise was hanging from the ceiling using wires? It's not a huge setpiece, but that scene is a nailbiting example of ingenious problem solving.

In 'Dead Reckoning' there's none of that. Here it's keys changing hands every 10 minutes that is suppose to pass as suspense. And of course the only true selling point: the stunts performed by Tom Cruise.

But I want and expect more than that.

A large part of the film is devoted to people sitting or standing in a room, explaining what the plot is. Endless talking and explaining. We are told in several scenes the same information we just heard. Worst one is Benji, who is merely there to repeat things for someone in the cast, to make sure everyone in the audience knows what is going on. That is sloppy writing. One of the biggest no-no's as a screenwriter is resolving to "so what you are saying is, that..." info sharing. Benji does this all the time. And he is as incompetent as usual. And he is supposed to be a part of a small and unique team that is saving the world? Really?

I hope MI:8 isn't just another Tom Cruise stunt reel where it looks like they make the story up as the go along, as long as all marks are checked in the end (running, face swapping, dealing with heights etc), and where character development takes a backseat. Bigger is not always better. And the action ALWAYS has to serve the story, not the other way around.

The latest Mission: Impossible film is a part one of two story but finishes in a satisfying way rather than annoying and you won't feel hard done by.

It's another great big screen action film that we've come to expect. It feels huge the whole time however I must say I while the set pieces were stellar, the hand to hand combat scenes were not great and a big step down from the last film (Fallout).

Thebeginning is slow with a lot of expository being dumped (more than you'd usually see) but once it gets going it is pretty nonstop.

This is a good chapter and Haley Atwell shines but it is nowhere near my favorite of the series.

7/10

Mi rankings

Mi6 Fallout Mi3 Mi4 Ghost Protocol Mission: Impossible Mi4 Rogue Nation Mi7 Dead Reckoning part one.

Ethan Hunt has left the mere secret agent status and has ascended to the all living perfect messiah.

There is so much wrong with this movie, which seriously pains me because I seriously love this series. The mission impossible movies have steadily become more convoluted and more stupidly written. This film reaches the peak of absurdity, feeling more like an over the top fast and furious movie. All foolish action, cheap parlor tricks to pull the heart strings (empty relationships), horrible writing, poor plot development.

I mean seriously what ever happened to show don't tell?! This is becoming rather ridiculous.

*convoluted villain dialogue* "So what you're telling me is you plan to establish a new world order if you get that key and if someone stops you that would be bad?!"

Has Ethan Hunt suddenly become this vanilla James Bond? With the Bond girl cycling through every few films? Lazy writing. Not natural feeling. Forced. Bligh

It pains me to give this so low.

The truth is, this movie is mindless entertaining action. Tom Cruise delivers on some awesome stunts (seldom compared to other MI films). It's not horrible. It's fun entertainment, but a scour on the (in my opinion) reputable authentic feeling mission impossible series.