When the IMF is dismantled by the CIA, a select few agents led by Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) take on their most impossible mission yet: exposing and eradicating the Syndicate, a rogue organization of agents equally powerful.
The Syndicate execute statecraft down the barrel of a gun, on a global scale, independently.
Joining agent Hunt are agents Brandt (Jeremy Renner), Dunn (Simon Pegg) and Stickle (Ving Rhames). With both sides chasing them, the team must work with a possible double agent, Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), who has infiltrated the Syndicate on behalf of England.
We say, “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is action-packed fun.”
TAYLOR: Rogue Nation has all the right pieces in the right order. From the trailer, it kind of felt like it would succeed by lightening up a bit, adding Mr. Pegg and by acknowledging that the film is not meant to be taken seriously. Thus, we can forgive its more preposterous aspects and enjoy the adventure.
The stunts, chase scenes and action sequences are unique and exciting. The story, while convoluted, is interesting and puts us into the next scene quickly.
There were some edits that were technically poor, due to scenes being cut for time (it’s rather obvious), leaving some things unexplained, but for the most part, I enjoyed the way the film unfolded.
HOWE: I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Even though Cruise is a teeny, tiny man he knows how to make a big blockbuster and they don’t come much bigger this summer than Rogue Nation.
The long, fast car/motorbike chases felt like I was sitting alongside them for the ride. The action is nonstop and the witty dialogue between the characters kept it ticking along. You do get an occasional breather, even if it is only for a couple of moments.
TAYLOR: Some breathtaking action, no time wasted on romance, lots of spy gadgets, impossibly sticky situations solved cleverly and originally: MIRN succeeds. Sometimes it’s silly, but it’s so much fun you won’t mind. Cruise works hard and deserves our respect, but this film isn’t delivering anything we haven’t seen before, it’s just doing it well, with style and humour. It’s not as much fun as Antman, but well worth the ticket. Go.
HOWE: The first Mission: Impossible was very well done, the next few, not so well. Rogue Nation seems to have returned to its roots: snappy, fun, providing the most entertainment and value for the money. I think it will end up compared to the upcoming The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which I am looking forward to, due later this year. But for the time being, this mission is a success.
– Howe gives Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation 4 LP’s out of 5.
– Taylor gives it 3.5 plastic bladders out of 5.
– Peter Howe and Brian Taylor are film reviewers based in Vernon, B.C. Their column, Reel Reviews, appears in The Morning Star every Friday and Sunday.
