MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT IMAX Spoiler-Free Review; "An Action Movie Masterpiece"
Mission: Impossible - Fallout reaches cinemas on July 25th but does it live up to expectations and how does Justice League star Henry Cavill fare in this very different setting? Find out after the jump...
While moviegoers enjoyed Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom earlier this summer, the general consensus still appeared to be that the franchise was starting to outstay its welcome. With Mission: Impossible now releasing its sixth instalment, audience fatigue is a very real possibility but director Christopher McQuarrie ensures that's not going to happen by delivering the best action movie of 2018. With fight scenes that beat both The Raid and John Wick and action sequences which are even more thrilling than those seen in the likes of Avengers: Infinity War and Solo: A Star Wars Story, the filmmaker has dreamed up the greatest Mission: Impossible movie to date with Fallout and with a story that's every bit as great as the action, there's no denying that this is an absolute must-see.
The franchise's first true sequel, you don't need to have seen the previous movies to keep up with what's going on but it's great seeing Fallout incorporate so many key moments from the past in order to tell a story that's strong both as a standalone piece but even better when those references to what's come before are taken into account. They help make the depth of storytelling here even richer than we could have imagined and Fallout definitely boats the best script of this series to date. Comparisons to The Dark Knight are justified because despite how enjoyable (and often great, especially if we're talking about Ghost Protocol and Rogue Nation) the previous five instalments have been, Fallout exceeds expectations in every respect and sets a benchmark not only for this franchise but action movies in general.
And make no mistake about it: the action in this movie is insane. Whether we're talking about that incredible fight scene set in a bathroom glimpsed in the trailers, the Halo jump, an intense motorbike chase through Paris, or another crazy Tom Cruise stunt which sees him hanging from a helicopter, this is true edge of your seat stuff and a must-see on an IMAX screen because that not only enhances the visuals but ensures you feel every single gunshot and explosion.
In terms of the cast, there are no weak links and Tom Cruise is as reliably excellent as always. He's also very funny in Fallout, showing a slightly different side to Ethan Hunt while still delivering stunts it's hard to believe he's really doing without any help from special effects. However, it's arguably Henry Cavill who steals the show as Agent Walker. While the British actor is obviously best known as Superman to comic book movie fans, he proves that there's a whole lot more to him than that here and without giving anything away, this performance should open the door to some very different roles for Cavill down the line which will be fun to watch. Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, and Rebecca Ferguson also shine, as do every other returning and new cast member. It's a strong ensemble and everyone is given the chance to shine under the watchful eye of McQuarrie.
An action movie masterpiece, Mission: Impossible - Fallout is nothing short of incredible and an absolute must-see. It's redefined the genre and this franchise, and the bar has now been set impossibly high for other action movies to try and follow it.
