A Reel Opinion - Ranking MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE

In 1996, Tom Cruise elevated himself to the level of a genuine action star with the explosive MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE; a loose adaptation of the TV series (1966-1973), where his IMF (Impossible Mission Force) Agent Ethan Hunt races around the globe to prevent one global disaster after another. The series has proven to be resilient and immensely popular, earning over $4 billion at the box office and bringing the best pieces and parts of the franchise into pop culture. Arguably, it has nudged over James Bond with its worldwide locations and world-saving missions. This month, the eighth and (perhaps), final installment for Cruise landed (read Reel Speak’s review HERE), and with the series for Cruise ending, now is the time to accept the mission of ranking the franchise. 

 

 

This blog will self-destruct in…

 

 

 

8. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2 (2000)

 

Hong Kong action director John Woo helmed the first MI sequel which had Hunt chasing down a genetically modified disease. This film started a 25-year tradition of each MI film trying to top the other in spectacle and stunts, and while some of the action here is pretty cool, other pieces come off as silly. To date it is the worst reviewed film in the series, and is fortunate it didn’t become a franchise killer. 

 

 

 

7. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III (2006)

 

J.J. Abrams took over six years later and delivered this serviceable, yet flawed entry. The action was decent but criticized for too much CGI and an intrusive romance plot. Still, there is much to enjoy here. The film looks great, and the late great Phillip Seymour Hoffman is electric. 

 

 

 

6. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING (2024)

 

The supposed final film for Cruise in the role of Hunt gave him and his team a proper sendoff, but it is often bogged down with way too much exposition that repeats itself. The plot of Hunt chasing down an A.I. before it takes control of the world’s nuclear arsenal does work, even if it pushes the realm of believability in places. But again, there is much to enjoy. Cruise dangling off a biplane is fantastic to see, and an extended sequence underwater with no dialogue literally leaves us breathless. 

 

 

 

5. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - ROGUE NATION 2015)

Hunt takes on an international group of rogue government agents in this hit directed by Christopher McQuarrie. This is where the series really started to get going, opening with one of the most impressive stunts of all time: Cruise hanging off a transport plane at 8,000 feet. Not to mention later on he holds his breath longer than a Navy SEAL.

 

 

 

4. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (1996)

 

The one that started it all with legendary director Brian DePalma. Hunt goes on the (ahem), hunt for the killer(s) of his team on a mission that had gone terribly wrong. Although the stakes seem low, it’s a tight look at international espionage and switching allegiances, and it gets to the point that we never know who to trust. It’s also the home to some of the most iconic scenes in cinema; the exploding fish tank, the helicopter and train chase, and Hunt’s dangling theft by wire. 

 

 

 

3. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL (2011)

 

Brad Bird of THE INCREDIBLES fame made this one his live-action debut, sending Hunt and his team on the run after the Kremlin gets bombed. Cruise stuns again by climbing up the side of the tallest skyscraper in the world in a scene that is an achievement in filmmaking. Highly praised in many areas, it would be the highest-grossing film in the franchise before FALLOUT in 2018. 

 

 

 

2. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FALLOUT (2018)

 

McQuarrie was back for this one which served as a direct follow-up to ROGUE NATION, with Hunt and his team preventing a nuclear attack. By this film Cruise and McQuarrie had really hit a stride, ramping up the tension and dialing up the stunts to stunning effect; Cruise pulling a HALO jump at 25,000 feet is another cinematic achievement. The ensemble cast is terrific, and Henry Cavill is quite super. 

 

 

 

1. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING (2023)

 

When this Blogger reviewed DEAD RECKONING in 2023, I called it the best in the series and I’m still standing by that. Backed by a breakneck plot trotting around the world to stop that pesky A.I., the cast was beefed up by welcome additions by Hayley Atwell (CAPTAIN AMERICA), and Pom Klementieff (GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY). Hunt gets some real characterization here, and Cruise’s real-time dirt bike jump off a cliff is another stunner. Action is top-notch, with extended scenes in an airport and a runaway train making for incredible cinema with a lot going on at once. So good that that the next film suffered in comparison. This is the film that accomplishes it all. 

 

REEL SPEAK’S MISSION IMPOSSIBLE RANKINGS

1. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING
2. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - FALLOUT
3. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL
4. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE
5. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - ROGUE NATION
6. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING
7. MISSION  IMPOSSIBLE III
8. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2

A Reel Review - MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING (or MI:8), has two missions to accomplish. First, as the direct sequel to the outstanding DEAD RECKONING (or MI:7, from 2023, read Reel Speak's review HERE), it has several storylines to wrap up. Second, as the (supposed) final film in the series (or at least, the final outing for star Tom Cruise), it has the responsibility to end it all on a high note. This mission is chosen and accepted by Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie. Did they accomplish it…? 

 

Set just a couple months after the events of MI:7, Agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise), and his team (Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Pom Klementieff), race around the world to prevent Gabriel (Esai Morales), from letting a powerful A.I. called Entity from spreading into the world’s nuclear missile controls. 

 

Directed by McQuarrie and produced by Cruise, MI:8 continues the tradition set by the first MI film (way back in 1996!), of having a plot that feels denser than it needs to be. Stopping Gabriel and the Entity is the mission, but there are several layers and complexities to get through to make that happen. There’s a lot to do, and the film often has to stop dead in its tracks to explain everything that is going on. 

 

Once things get out of the planning stages and into the action, MI:8 delivers and delivers well. Sequences such as Cruise dangling off an airplane and exploring a wrecked submarine at the bottom of the ocean are incredibly tense, with the underwater scene amazingly done with zero dialogue for nearly 20 minutes (and also not healthy for any claustrophobic viewers to watch). Cruise is committed as ever to do the stunts himself, and the realism is excellent. 

 

The plot has a lot to do, so any deep character work is traded in for spectacle and getting everyone from one place to another. It’s not a dealbreaker but the film feels shallow. MI:8 also uses past events from nearly every previous film, with returning characters from MI:1 being put to great use. The worldwide locations are well-used and are stunning. 

 

Acting is great all around. Tom Cruise owns every scene he is in. Hayley Atwell is always excellent, as is Pom Klementieff…but both feel underutilized. Angela Bassett returns to the franchise, this time as POTUS, and is very good. 

 

By the time all the running and high-flying stunts are done, MI:8 settles into a quiet, and satisfying ending for Hunt, his team, and the franchise. The thick plot hinders the film in places, but once it gets going the tension is relentless with its massively high stakes and jaw-dropping stunts. It has its fair amount of nostalgia that works and is a love letter to the last (nearly) 30 years of impossible missions. This mission is accomplished. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it

 

A Reel 20: STAR WARS - EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH

“You were the chosen one…!”

 

Today marks the 20th anniversary of STAR WARS – EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH. 

The third and final episode of George Lucas’ Prequel Trilogy, REVENGE OF THE SITH covered the tragic fall of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker to the dark side and his becoming Darth Vader… along with the end of the Republic and the rise of the evil galactic Empire, and the birth of future STAR WARS heroes Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. It was preceded by EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002), and EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE (1999). 

 

The roots of REVENGE OF THE SITH go back to George Lucas’ original story for the Saga in 1973. The climactic duel between Anakin and his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, would have its basis in the novelization of RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983). Lucas began the screenplay for SITH during production of ATTACK OF THE CLONES. Possible titles included RISE OF THE EMPIRE and BIRTH OF EMPIRE, before settling on REVENGE OF THE SITH…which was a nod to the original title of RETURN OF THE JEDI. 

 

Filming would take place in 2003 from June into September in the UK and Sydney. It would be the only film in the Saga with no location shooting (one location shot was actually captured during the ATTACK OF THE CLONES production). The cast would include returning actors Hayden Christensen (Anakin), Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan), and Natalie Portman (Padme, Anakin’s wife). Other cast members included Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Smits, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, and Christopher Lee. Matthew Wood would provide the voice of General Grievous, taking over for Gary Oldman who dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. John Williams would return to provide the score. 

 

Upon release, REVENGE OF THE SITH would be met with mostly positive reviews, despite criticisms on the writing and acting. The film would break several box office records, and it still holds the mark for the highest opening-day gross on a Thursday, at $50 million. It would finish as the highest grossing film in the U.S. and the second highest worldwide. It would be nominated for an Oscar for Best Makeup, and would win the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film. In April of 2025 it would have a re-release for its 20th anniversary, and would finish second for the week. It would be the final film George Lucas would direct. 

 

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Two decades after release, REVENGE OF THE SITH has aged very well. It’s themes and storylines have served as a basis for further content on TV and streaming (CLONE WARS, OBI-WAN KENOBI, BAD BATCH, ANDOR), and its plot of a Republic falling to deception and authoritarian rule is suddenly, and frighteningly…hitting close to reality. 

 

REVENGE OF THE SITH is true to its title; the bad guys win and the hero of the Prequel Trilogy falls to the dark side. It is a tragedy that Shakespeare or the Greeks would have penned, but the closing shot offers that one thing that STAR WARS has always preached and loved: 

 

Hope. 

 

“Goodbye old friend. May the Force be with you.”

 

A Reel 25: GLADIATOR

“My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius…”

 

This month marks the 25th anniversary of GLADIATOR. 

 

The 11th film from famed director Ridley Scott, who had helmed the classics ALIEN (1979), and BLADE RUNNER (1982). It would tell the story of Maximus, a former Roman general who is betrayed by the son of the slain Emperor. Reduced to slavery, Maximus becomes a gladiator and wins the hearts of Rome while plotting his revenge. 

 

The first draft of the script was written by David Franzoni, who was inspired by his motorcycle trip through Eastern Europe and the Middle East. During a stop in Iraq, he read the 1958 novel For Those About to Die, which gave him the idea for GLADIATOR. Years later, Franzoni would pen the script for Steven Spielberg’s AMISTAD, and pitch the idea of GLADIATOR to Spielberg. DreamWorks producers would suggest Ridley Scott, and the script would then go through many revisions…many of which would happen during filming. 

 

Scott would assemble an ensemble cast. Russell Crowe would win the role of Maximus, and he would be joined by Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, Richard Harris, Tommy Flanagan, and Spencer Treat Clark. It would also be the final film appearance of Oliver Reed, who would pass away during filming. Production would take place in England, Morocco, Malta, and Italy. Hans Zimmer would provide the score. 

 

GLADIATOR would be a hit with critics and audiences, finishing as the second-highest grossing film of 2000, behind MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2. At the 73rd Academy Awards, it would win five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe. It is considered to be one of the best and most influential films of this century.

 

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As a cinematic masterpiece of action, emotion, and scale…GLADIATOR deserves a top spot amongst the best films of this century. It masterfully blends epic storytelling, breathtaking visuals (thanks to some well-chosen international locations), and powerful performances. Russell Crowe’s role made him an overnight international star, and his moments have become cultural icons. GLADIATOR was a human story set against a massive backdrop, and that balance re-taught Hollywood how to do the classic epic; ushering an era of films that would bring us THE LORD OF THE RINGS, AVATAR, OPPENHEIMER, and DUNE.

 

For this blogger, GLADIATOR was a new, all-time favorite since day one. Every year, the night before the Oscars, I revisit it because it is everything that a Best Picture winner should be: big, epic, sweeping, emotional, and memorable. It’s themes of honor and redemption resonate, making it unforgettable and eternal. 

 

“What we do in life…echoes in eternity.”

 

A Reel 20: KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

“We are, all of us, what we do.”

 

This month marks the 20^th anniversary of KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. 

 

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN was the 15^th film from famed director Ridley Scott, who had helmed the modern-classics ALIEN (1979), BLADE RUNNER (1982), and the Oscar-winning GLADIATOR (2000). KINGDOM would be a fictionalized take on the events leading to the Third Crusade, focusing on the battle to defend Jerusalem. 

 

Scott would shoot on-location in Morocco, where he had previously filmed GLADIATOR, and BLACK HAWK DOWN (2001). Orlando Bloom, who was enjoying tremendous success in the early 2000’s, appearing in high-profile franchises such as THE LORD OF THE RINGS and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, would land the lead role of Balian; a blacksmith turned knight. Scott would surround Bloom with an ensemble cast: Liam Neeson, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, David Thewlis, Brendan Gleeson, Marton Csokas, Michael Sheen, and Edward Norton. 

 

On release, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN would be met with mixed-to-bad reviews, and would be a box office bomb. However, in December of 2005 Scott would release a director’s cut, which was highly praised and considered to be one of Scott’s best works. 

 

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Re-cuts have been the topic of much discussion in film over the last decade. Divisive director Zack Snyder has spent the last three movies of his career re-cutting until they got better reviews. Elsewhere, studios crank out editions of films labeled as Directors Cuts or Extended Cuts, which simply have deleted scenes put back in; which is often a showcase for why those scenes were cut in the first place. 

 

For KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, Scott showed how to do it right. His Director’s Cut, which added deeper insight and better character, has often been hailed as one of the best alternate versions of a film ever made. Overall, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is nothing short of epic. Similar to GLADIATOR, it is a film that calls back to the Golden Age of Hollywood, when films were shot with thousands of extras for battle scenes in exotic locations, and the story is balanced with character and massive scale. Ridley Scott has an impressive catalog of classics, and his own vision of KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is one that hovers near the top. 

 

“What man is a man who does not make the world better.”