The newest, greatest installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise reiterates the reasons why people still go to the movies. With action packed stunts and thrills, it's a guarantee that the best way to enjoy Tom Cruise working his hardest for your entertainment, is through the big screen. And you can see the dedication that Tom Cruise has for his role as Ethan Hunt from his signature live action stunts. His passion for visual reality over fake computer graphics is rare when it comes to huge blockbusters, but that's what initially sets his work apart from the rest. And the reality does make a difference. The freshness of the film, along with the suspenseful storyline and undeniably fun trademarks, pushes Mission: Impossible - Fallout beyond any of its predecessors and competition.
The director, Christopher McQuarrie, improved the franchise by building upon his work on the previous Rogue Nation, with the help of an engaging story and interesting development within Ethan's life. Memorable action sequences are nothing without a memorable story to back it up, and it seems like McQuarrie learned upon realizing the flaws of Rogue Nation (which isn't a terrible blockbuster by any means, just a bit forgettable).
While the movie runs at approximately two and a half hours, the sheer gravity of the stakes makes every minute worth scrutinizing. But at the same time, the whole experience flies by—even watching Tom Cruise run across Paris for a solid five minutes is an exciting moment. With masterful editing, the film doesn't waste a single scene throughout its entire running time and gives every character the screen time that they deserve and need.
Both Henry Cavill and Vanessa Kirby, new to the franchise, pick up their distinct characters and unrelentingly run with them to the finish line, mirroring Tom Cruise's performance beat by beat. The rest of the cast provide a friendly buffer back into the world of Mission: Impossible. Even the minor character (or major, depending on where you're coming from), Henry Cavill's infamous mustache, plays its part immensely well. Midway through the movie, the mustache is vindicated of its crimes towards Justice League, making it clear that Cavill's character, August Walker, is indeed a villain (just in case you couldn't figure that out earlier). And everyone knows that a good villain in a spy film is nothing without a scar or a mustache.
Jokes aside, I can strongly state that Mission: Impossible - Fallout is the best of the series and even say that it's the best action film so far this year. It is such a well made blockbuster. I mean, did you see that helicopter chase scene? Fallout is one of the reasons why I'm warming up to the Academy's decision on including a popular film category to the Oscars. Movies like Fall Out are the heart and staple of the big screen, so why not celebrate the modern-day North by Northwest(s) of the industry? It'll be fine, as long as Marvel or Transformers doesn't win.