Episode 133 - M:I Series 7 & 8 - Mission: Impossible Dead (2023) & Final Reckoning (2025) Review

Flick Flops

Tom Cruise is launching himself off a mountain like Wile E. Coyote on an ACME motorcycle in Dead Reckoning Part One, the most self-aware mission yet: big, bold, and built around set pieces that dare other action films to keep up. But we're not just talking about Dead Reckoning as we also will discuss The Final Reckoning! Where Ethan Hunt faces his most formidable adversary yet: ChatGPT, I mean, the Entity. The Final Reckoning delivers high-octane action, emotional farewells, and a nostalgic nod to the franchise's roots. But do these 2 films stick the landing, or was the mission simply implausible - unattainable - hopeless - unsolvable - dare I say Impossible?

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🎥 Synopsis

The IMF faces its most abstract—and dangerous—enemy yet: an all-powerful AI known as The Entity that has infiltrated global systems. Ethan Hunt must track down a key to control (or destroy) the Entity, while facing deadly opposition from Gabriel, a ghost from his past. With the world’s fate in flux and trust running thin, Ethan and his team race across continents to stop a digital apocalypse in progress.

🧑‍💼 Main Cast & Crew

• Director: Christopher McQuarrie (3rd time helming)

• Writers: Christopher McQuarrie & Erik Jendresen

• Producers: Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie

• Music: Lorne Balfe

• Cinematography: Fraser Taggart

Starring:

• Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt

• Hayley Atwell as Grace

• Esai Morales as Gabriel

• Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust

• Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn

• Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell

• Vanessa Kirby as Alanna Mitsopolis (The White Widow)

• Pom Klementieff as Paris

• Henry Czerny as Eugene Kittridge (returning from the original film)

💣 Interesting Details

1. The Cliff Jump Is Real: Cruise did the motorcycle base jump off a cliff in Norway over six times to get the shot.

2. AI as the Villain: The Entity reflects modern fears of digital surveillance, autonomy, and deepfakes—topical and terrifying.

3. Reunites with Kittridge: Henry Czerny reprises his role from the first film, bringing the franchise full circle.

4. Train Finale Is Practical: The climactic train derailment was filmed using real train cars and physical sets—not just CGI.

5. Hayley Atwell’s Entry: Her role as Grace introduces a compelling foil/partner dynamic not seen since Ilsa’s debut.

6. Longest Film Yet: At 2 hours and 43 minutes, it's the most epic in runtime and tone—fitting for a two-parter.

🧨 The Heist

The core infiltration occurs during the Abu Dhabi airport sequence, where Ethan and his team must intercept a buyer for half of a mysterious key. It’s a multi-layered mission involving digital decoys, sleight-of-hand thefts, and multiple parties trying to outwit each other while avoiding surveillance from The Entity.

💥 Main Action Sequences

• Airport misdirection op with Benji and Grace pulling off simultaneous security dodges.

• Rome car chase, featuring Ethan and Grace handcuffed together in a tiny yellow Fiat.

• Motorcycle base jump off a cliff, transitioning into a BASE jump and parachute drop.

• Train top brawl between Ethan and Gabriel.

• Train car collapse escape, as Ethan and Grace leap through hanging train cars à la Uncharted meets Buster Keaton.

🧗‍♂️ Tom Cruise’s Stunts

• Motorcycle BASE jump off a Norwegian cliff, leaping off a ramp at 60mph and freefalling 4,000 ft. He practiced this over 500 skydives and 13,000 motocross jumps.

• Hand-to-hand train fight shot practically on top of a real moving train.

• Did his own driving in Rome, including drifting the Fiat through real Roman streets.

• Performed climbing and sliding through train cars, many on gimbaled rigs simulating derailment.

• Aerial stunts and parachuting in the final act—done for real, as expected.

🎭 Unmasking

1. Ethan uses a Kittridge mask to deceive an arms dealer aboard the train.

2. Benji and Grace pull off classic misdirection but don’t use masks this time.

3. The Entity uses digital manipulation, creating a new kind of "mask" by faking voices and camera feeds (not a physical mask, but worth noting).

Total film unmaskings: 1 (plus digital mimicry by The Entity)

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