by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
I saw the original Mission: Impossible in theaters back in 1996 and was the proud owner of the VHS. It’s been easily two decades since I’ve seen it, though, and I cannot recall seeing the rest of them. Many of my friends, and critics I trust, swear up and down by the franchise, especially the newer ones. I’m very excited about Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, so I decided to finish the series once and for all.
Some spoilers ahead!
Mission: Impossible
What a great introduction to this world. The first Mission: Impossible will always be remembered for that amazing heist scene at Langley when the NOC list is stolen. A far cry from the massive stunts that the series would become known for, this scene relies on a ton of tension and a more contained setting to dazzle audiences (myself included). The twists and turns of the original are a great setup for what we will see in the future, with great spy work, teamwork, and innovative ways to solve problems using the iconic mask and glasses. The villain becomes a common issue with the whole series, but that doesn’t change the great performances we get from people, including those who have limited screen time, like Jon Voight as Jim Phelps (a great callback to the original series), Emilio Estevez as Jack, and Kristin Scott Thomas as Sarah. Some great characters are introduced in this movie, but Ethan (Tom Cruise) becoming the leading man he was meant to be, and Luther’s (Ving Rhames) trusty partnership, would be the staples we watch out for moving forward.
Rating: Liked It
Mission: Impossible II
Mission: Impossible 2 runs into a problem that a lot of sequels do: It tries to expand the world too much with too many new characters and not enough substance or character development. John Woo’s turn in the director’s chair has too much stylization in the action, which makes it unpalatable at times. The clunky dialogue and changing the iconic theme music also don’t help Mission: Impossible II’s case either. Ethan Hunt, in this one, was running the risk of becoming a little too much like James Bond, which is something we didn’t need at the time. Although it’s the weakest of the series, and there isn’t a signature action set piece in this similar to any of the other movies, Cruise is still great, and it has a semi-fleshed-out story to still make it enjoyable enough. The villain is forgettable, even if the idea that he presents is an interesting one. Lots of great ideas and poor execution for this sequel.
Rating: Just Okay
Mission: Impossible III
At times, this feels like a goodbye to the franchise, as it sets up some of the best storylines the series eventually pays off down the road. It also features the introduction of Julia (Michelle Monaghan) and Benji (Simon Pegg). There are some wasted characters, since we only see them in this one before they mysteriously vanish in the future. Mission: Impossible III will always be known for Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman), who is arguably the best villain of the entire series. This one also gets credit for the swings it takes to develop Ethan as a character. There’s a huge jump in development, and Cruise gives an outstanding performance that gives Ethan more texture than ever before. And J.J. Abrams creates some amazing action sequences, particularly the one on the bridge.
Rating: Liked It
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
Brad Bird enters the director’s chair, which sets the series’ style in a different direction. The climb on the Burj Khalifa is a strong action set piece, one of many in Ghost Protocol. This one curiously leaves someone out of the mix, but it also finds a way to connect to the third movie, which feels like a progression of the story instead of the episodic, James Bond-esque nature of the earlier entries. Ghost Protocol introduces the idea of the Syndicate, and finds a way to set them up as a formidable foe now and in the future. I am a little curious about what to do with some characters who simply don’t get enough screen time to make a dent in our memory banks. Jeremy Renner’s addition is a questionable move, as he was being tabbed to take over several series.
Rating: Liked It
Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
Rogue Nation subverts expectations from the start by introducing a heavily previewed action sequence much earlier than expected. Thankfully, Rogue Nation is a standout for the series, as it continues the development of several main characters, including Ethan, and we start to see the semblance of a core team in place. We’re introduced to important new characters like Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson), Solomon Lane (Sean Harris), and Hunley (Alec Baldwin). Perhaps the greatest introduction in Rogue Nation, though, is director Christopher McQuarrie, who I’d let direct the series until he doesn’t want to anymore. With action sequences like the one at the opera in Vienna, Ethan’s dive, and the motorcycle chase in Casablanca, Rogue Nation set the bar high moving forward.
Rating: Loved It
Mission: Impossible – Fallout
The guts it took to solve Ethan’s worst trait is smart for the franchise. He hardly makes mistakes, even if his methods are unorthodox. In Fallout, we see the consequences of actions from characters who are largely running around unchecked. One might chalk up Ethan’s mistake in this one as a rare blip, but it helps him be less reckless and make smarter choices. This is also the closest thing we have to a direct sequel in the entire series. Fallout has some amazing callbacks from the older Mission: Impossible movies, and McQuarrie’s direction is incredible.
Rating: Loved It
Franchise Ranking:
- Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
- Mission: Impossible – Fallout
- Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
- Mission: Impossible
- Mission: Impossible III
- Mission: Impossible II
This series manages to accomplish (dare I say) the impossible. It takes a TV show from the ‘60s and found a way to reboot it with compelling missions, wonderful characters, and jaw-dropping stunts. Mission: Impossible has gotten better with age, and Cruise is a large reason why the action series is regarded as one of the best of all time. I don’t dislike any of these movies, which is a testament to their quality. The five different directors all bring something unique to the table, and leave their mark on the film they’re in charge of. Ethan Hunt is one of the greatest action heroes in film, and although I wonder how much longer he (and Cruise for that matter) will be able to escape unscathed, I will continue to watch these until they stop making them.
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