Bring home ‘Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning’

Category: Blu-ray's, DVD's and Digital

 

What is touted as the final film in the franchise, Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, once again has Tom Cruise in daring situations that amaze and entertain viewers. Cruise steps back into the shoes of Ethan Hunt in this daring adventure that could mean the end of the world.

Technology is a blessing and a curse, and in this story it is definitely a curse. In today’s world we know that AI is intelligent and always “learning.” The storyline in this film has an AI, known as the Entity, planning to take over all of the world’s nuclear missiles with the intent on ending humanity once and for all. When that is accomplished this Entity will be the only power and able to control everything that is to come.

Hunt and his team are not about to let that happen. There is a bit of a convoluted story about how they have to acquire separate items in order to trap the Entity. This story takes them around the world to the UK, Norway, and South Africa. 

Hunt’s team consists of Grace (Hayley Atwell), a brilliant pickpocket, Benji (Simon Pegg), a tech wiz, Paris (Pom Klementieff), Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis), and Luther (Ving Rhames). Esai Morales returns as Gabriel who is also trying to get the items to take over control of the Entity. Angela Bassett plays the President of the United States who has a difficult decision with her hand literally on the nuclear button. 

The movie is intense – and long! at 2 hours and 49 minutes, there are several scenes that go on, and on, and on. The water scene, for instance, could have been cut in half. But being the final film in the franchise (as it is supposed to be) it was probably Director Christopher McQuarrie’s intent to keep viewers on the edge of their seats as long as possible.

Cruise has mentioned that this is his last MI film, however there have been rumblings in Hollywood that there could be more, with or without Cruise. That doesn’t bode well for fans of the franchise and fans of Tom Cruise. When Sean Connery relinquished his role as James Bond, the franchise continued with several more actors taking on the role of 007. 

That doesn’t mean another actor would step into the shoes of Ethan Hunt. There could be a completely different MI team in the future, however it is more likely this is definitely the finale for Mission Impossible. It is interesting to contemplate. After all, Mission Impossible originated in 1966 as a TV series that ran for seven seasons. 

So, with all the high-flying (literally) stunts, the deep dive (literally) into the frozen arctic waters, and more intense situations, Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning has all the ingredients of its predecessors. It is everything MI fans want and expect.

The Bonus Features

With several bonus featurettes, viewers see behind the scenes of the making of the film and how extraordinary the intense sequences were to not only imagine but also to create and execute.

“I love flying,” Cruise states. In one scene the actor had to hang off a bi-plane and maneuver himself inside the cockpit. This sequence is described as “unique” and “classic.” They had to rebuild vintage planes to specifications that would withstand everything they were put through. There is no doubt this scene will be part of Hollywood history. 

For the underwater sequence they built a special tank, which was huge. The frame of a submarine had to fit inside along with a specially built rotating gimbal that was lowered into the tank. This was a challenging part of the film, but one they managed to create to perfection.

Filming in the arctic, as they say “on top of the world,” was another challenge with temperatures in the minus forties. Can you say “brrrr?”

And there had to be a car chase. After all, what would an MI film be without one? This time they set the vehicles underground.

To say they went beyond what they had done in the past with all the thrilling and chilling (literally) sequences is an understatement. Watching the bonuses puts into perspective the dedication, creativity, and vision of the entire team of filmmakers. This is one momentous way to conclude the franchise.

The 4K Ultra HD steel-book comes with a 4K disc, a Blu-ray disc, and a disc filled with bonus features, as well as a Digital Code. The film is also available on a DVD.

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning is rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence and action, bloody images, and brief language.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, and is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County. Francine is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.