Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)

What was once billed as the last MISSION IMPOSSIBLE film is probably not. Since this film was shot two years ago attitudes have changed and there has been talk about continuing.  If it is, its a great send off.

A brief, and wildly missing details,  explanation of the plot has the IMF team trying to find a way to stop the Enity program, while dealing with the program wanting  Ethan to get it into the Doomsday Vault in South Africa where it will surive the upcoming nuclear holocaust.  As the world's nation spiral to the brink of war, the team tries to do what it has to. The team also has to battle Gabriel, who is on the outs with the Entity and who has plans of taking control of it.

All you need to know that the the film is entertaining as all hell. It is a film that kept a theater full of writers seated and rapt for three hours even though they needed the rest room. The film moves like the wind and the set pieces dazzle. As a thrill machine it's one of the best of the last few years.

The problem with this film, like the last film, is the villain makes no sense. Not just the evil computer program but Gabriel the human who wants to control the evil beast. He makes no sense. He won't kill Ethan for most of the film but then tries to have him fall from the sky and die- despite him having he one thing that can kill the program on his person. This after running away  and leaving Ethan with an atomic bomb. Why? To create false tension. Everything with Gabriel is a false note. He only exists in the films because Ethan can't fight a program. Honestly this film is so incredibly stupid plot wise that if it weren't part of a billion dollar franchise it never would have gotten off the ground. (If it was a race horse it would get shot)

That said the set pieces and the small moments kick ass. If it could have been just the pieces and the characters I would have loved this unconditionally. Ving Rhames is the heart and soul of the film and his words reduced the people around me to tears.  The rest of the cast are great and they create real characters you fear for. All action films should have characters this well written.

And the set pieces are magnificent. The sub and plane sequences maybe among the greatest ever put on film. That isn't to short sell the rest, if sub and planes weren't in this film the others would also be hailed as all time classics.

I had a blast.

This is one to see on a big screen.