Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)

"The Syndicate is real."

Can we still call Tom Cruise a movie star? 

Can he even be used as an advertising tool anymore?

Here we have 'Mission: Impossible' number 5.

After an International organisation hell-bent on destroying the IMF surface, Ethan Hunt and his team have to track down the highly trained rogue Syndicate and take them down.

I am actually a big fan of the first 'Mission: Impossible' and I had heard through the grapevine that this one was a good step up after the relatively successful 'Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol' in 2011. Tom Cruise has been desperately trying to make a comeback and, if it is going to happen, then it would be with a return to the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise. I was relatively passive towards the release but, seeing as it was released against 'Fantastic 4', 'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation' seemed to be the better option.

I'm glad I went to see this instead of 'Fantastic 4' but I'm also glad that I had the luxury of using my Cineworld card on this one. 

Credit where credit is due, Tom Cruise is looking old but he still manages to keep up with the physical demands of the film and pulls off some pretty incredible stunts. He's build for the role and it helps us believe that, despite his age, he's still able to do everything we are seeing on screen without the help of CGI or a stunt double. I was extremely impressed by the fact that just about all of the stunts in this film are 100% live action. It takes us back to a time when CGI wasn't an option and the blockbuster was a blockbuster for a reason. There are several set pieces in the film that will make your jaw drop, especially knowing that the stunts have been done in camera and not in a computer. One in particular is the shot from the trailer on the plane, a stunning piece of filmmaking and a great opening to the film.

There was quite a lot that I enjoyed in this film. It really felt like a classic action movie and had all the trademarks that you'd expect. There is quite a bit of comic relief, generously provided by Simon Pegg which really helps lighten the mood of the film. If there was no comedy then I don't think this film would be able to stand on it's own, it relies on the comedy to elevate it from a "serious" action flick. 

It also has some great homages and reminds you of why we love the classics. The first act is great and transports you back to the glory days of the action genre. It is dramatic, funny, a bit cheesy and a lot of fun. 

The first act is full of guns, explosions, gadgets and tension and that's all of what we loved about the first 'Mission: Impossible' film. This, however, doesn't last too long as the film spirals into farce and pantomime.

The film is way too long.

Around the point that you expect the finale to arrive, it takes another turn and you begin to check your watch periodically until the end. The plot becomes overly complicated with shoehorned twists and turns that just seem pretty ridiculous. Characters have so many long monologues and sudden revelations that it becomes less and less believable. Even for a 'Mission: Impossible' film. You can suspend belief so far before it just becomes a bit silly.

A massively convoluted plot really drags this film to a halt as you lose more and more interest in it. It would have benefited immensely from ending about 45 minutes earlier and being wrapped up a bit cleaner. If it knew it's limits and knew when to finish, it would have been a fun and modern homage to the great action films of the 80's and 90's. 

When it comes to kicking butt, Rebecca Ferguson plays a relatively functional female but, as expected, there is plenty of ass and cleavage to drag her down as a decent character. She was strong up to a point but, ultimately, still needs Ethan Hunt to save her most of the time.

Sean Harris plays a cardboard cutout of a villain that may as well have been a cartoon character. He's passable as an old school evil super villain but that's pretty much as far as it goes. If corny and pantomime is what they were going for then they hit the nail on the head with Sean Harris.

Overall, 'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation' is a bit of fun if you don't take it too seriously. It's way too long and it begins to drag it's feet in the latter half of the film but has enough action to keep you occupied in between. The stunts are the best part of this movie and definitely make the film worth seeing. You pretty much know what to expect from Tom Cruise and 'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation' comes out the other end as a pretty good action film.

Return to form for Tom Cruise? Maybe, maybe not. 

It might be too late for Mr. Cruise to make a comeback. 

Some may say it's Impossible...

That could be the plot of 'Mission: Impossible' 6, Tom Cruise in his 60's still trying to hold on to his title as an action star. Get him in with Stallone and you've got 'The Expendables 4'.