Review - Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning: Part One (2023)

          Hey guys, Chuck here, and this is my review of the brand new movie Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning: Part One. Directed by returning director Christopher McQuarrie, the latest film in Paramount Pictures' long-running Mission: Impossible film franchise, this movie sees the return of Tom Cruise as IMF agent Ethan Hunt, alongside other returning players like Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell, Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn, Henry Czerny as Eugene Kittridge, Vanessa Kirby as Alanna Mitsopolis, and Rebecca Ferguson as Isla Faust. Among a myriad of newcomers include the likes of Esai Morales, Hayley Atwell, Shea Whigham, Pom Klementieff, and Cary Elwes. 

       So, the mission this time around involves a self-aware, sentient artificial intelligence known as the Entity, and how the governments of every nation on Earth wants to control it. However, the key to either controlling it, or killing it, is a two-piece key called the Cruciform Key. So, Ethan and his IMF team must locate the key before it falls into the hands of Gabriel, a mercenary from Ethan's past who is supposedly working with the Entity. 

        Now, the Entity itself is a hyper intelligent AI that learns more and more by interacting with others. And, it can access any digital mainframe system in order to confuse its enemies into carrying out its own wishes. Think SKYNET on steroids. And, with the growth of AI in our modern world, and the complexities of what AI can accomplish, it makes a lot of sense for a renegade AI to be an antagonist in the Mission: Impossible franchise at this point. But, since no one can physically fight an AI, the movie needs a human villain for Ethan to go up against. And, I like the idea of Esai Morales' Gabriel being a foe from Ethan's past. Hell, it was an encounter with Gabriel years before that led Ethan to join the IMF in the first place. And Esai Morales portrays Gabriel very well, and he's a pretty interesting villain. 

        I also enjoyed the additions of Hayley Atwell as Grace and Pom Klementieff as Paris. With Grace, we have someone who could potentially be an ally for Ethan and the IMF, and with Paris, we have someone who is a unique enigma, but I don't want to spoil too much. 

         Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, and Henry Czerny all return from earlier Mission: Impossible movies, and each of them were fantastic. Hell, Henry Czerny makes his franchise return for the first time since the original movie back in the '90s. And, he plays a pretty significant role in the movie. But again, no spoilers. 

        The action? Please! It's a Mission: Impossible movie. So, the action is, as always, on point and the best part of the movie. That motorcycle jump over the edge of a mountain that was in the trailers was really something. Seriously, this series just keeps getting better and better when it comes to action and stunts. The music by Lorne Balfe was also fantastic, and easily one of the best in the franchise. Also, the writing by Erik Jendresen and Christopher McQuarrie, as well as the directing by Christopher McQuarrie, was easily among the best in the franchise, right up there with my personal favorite film from the Mission: Impossible franchise: Ghost Protocol.

        And, of course, there's Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. To me, Tom Cruise IS Ethan. This is the role that, with every new movie, he just gets better and better. And, this movie is no exception. The stakes are higher than before, and Tom Cruise meets the challenge excellently. As much as I, like many of you guys out there, enjoyed seeing Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick, I will always see Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. And, he absolutely delivered a banger performance as Ethan in this movie. 

       Overall, I absolutely loved this movie. Now, something to mention is that this is only Part One. Part Two is still due for release some time in 2024. So, I think you can probably guess that Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning: Part Two is going to be really high on my list of Most Anticipated Movies of 2024. As for Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning: Part One, I'm giving the movie a rating of 5/5. 

       Alright, you guys, this is Chuck signing off, and I'll see you guys later.