REVIEW #439 Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (2025)

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning

Synopsis

Ethan Hunt and the IMF team race against time to find the entity, a rogue AI that can destroy mankind.

My Review

Let me start by stating just how insane the production value is…Whether it is filmed in the clouds, the ocean or just a scenic mountain shot of Tom Cruise in all of his glory, it is all captured brilliantly. Granted, with the enormous budget of $400m, you’d expect nothing less, but strictly from an audience perspective, it makes for great viewing! This might not crack my top three Mission Impossible films but it’s still incredibly enjoyable, taking us on an adventure all around the world, experiencing an array of beautiful landscapes on screen, with some of the best stunt work you’ll see. Unfortunately the first twenty to thirty minutes felt quite disjointed where they were putting in the work to establish the links to the previous film, whilst also trying to pay homage to the franchise as a whole too. I guess it’s necessary to establish the foundations for the final instalment, but it didn’t feel cohesive, with the only real enjoyment coming from the emotional exchange with Ethan and Luther. However, once the film found its footing, the fun really began and it had the essence of an extravagant heist film as the IMF team try to obtain the original code of the entity. 

There were plenty of familiar faces, both old and new that pop up during the movie and although some of them were only small parts, they did flex into the story organically and contributed to the overarching narrative really nicely. For me, one of the best moments come during the submarine crash site scenes, it looked like Tom was having an absolute blast and the underwater shots were captured to perfection! The entire sequence building up to this one moment truly lived up to the mission impossible name and I would actually say I found it far more enjoyable than the events that came after. I also have to mention the final Airplane battle which looked like one of Tom’s most daring stunts yet and it’s a living example of why he is one of the all time greats, the fact it’s actually him performing them, ensures the moment feels so authentic and immersive for the audience, removing the need for rash cutting and editing to cover up a stunt double. The Final Reckoning is just pure, popcorn action, a traditional movie made by people who love the industry. The storyline isn’t perfect, perhaps the franchise has had more intriguing plots previously, but it’s simple and above all, it’s enjoyable! Definitely one to catch in the cinema whilst you can.

My Rating: 7.5 out of 10

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