Review of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015) by Johnathon W — 09 Jul 2018

Exciting entry into the "MI" franchise, that while not the best in the series, continues the level of excellence set by "MI3". Cruise is his usual leading man best as Ethan Hunt and even at 52 (yes, that is correct) can hold his own with stars have his age.

He gets great support from the rest of the cast, with Simon Pegg stealing scenes with abomb. However, the breakout is Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust, who is a gorgeous & mysterious femme fatale & quite convincing in the action sequences, even when wearing a beauty evening gown (best legs since Famke Jansen in "Goldeneye").

Behind the camera, Christopher McQuarrie crafts an atmospheric & exciting movie, with some fantastic action sequences (the plane & water tanker scenes are classic "MI" entries") while providing plenty of intrigue, particularly in guessing if Faust is good or bad.

Unfortunately, like most of the franchise, the villain Solomon Lane is never fleshed out (no fault to Sean Harris, who gives the right level of creepy menace to the role) and the film doesn't have the personal stakes of "MI3", that elevated that film to the best of the series.

Overall, still a great time at the movie, and even with a fifth entry, shows the "MI" series is still going strong.