FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.firstshowing.net/2025/review-mi-final-reckoning-emotional-ambitious-conclusion/
"Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning may not be the best film in the franchise, but it's certainly a worthy, emotionally satisfying farewell.
Despite some pacing issues and an overreliance on exposition, Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise triumph through their audiovisual spectacle, thematic strength, and unwavering commitment to the saga's legacy. If this truly is the end, then what a beautiful, heartfelt goodbye it is.
Thank you, Ethan Hunt. And thank you to... read the rest.
Whenever a film playing in theaters is introduced by one of the members of the picture’s creative team, it’s a safe bet that it doesn’t live up to its pre-release hype. (Indeed, in all the years I’ve watched movies theatrically, that’s been the case every time with just two exceptions.) And, regrettably, that’s very much the case in this final installment in this long-running franchise. To put it simply, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” is an offering with a lot of problems, the biggest of which being the decision to split the story into two parts in the first place. As it stands, th... read the rest.
It might have been a good idea for Tom Cruise to have re-released the first part of this career retrospective a few weeks ago so we could be reminded of just what was in the submarine perched precariously on a subterranean ridge in the Arctic - because I had totally forgotten what happened last time around. Quickly, though, we are reminded that the entity (anyone see the “Forbin Project” from 1970?) is bent on seizing control of the world’s nuclear arsenals and using them to start a process of mutually assured destruction that will eradicate all life on Earth. Luckily “Ethan” (Cruise) has the m... read the rest.
Solid entry (final?) of the franchise and while not the strongest in terms of plot (has the same issue that I had with Dead Reckoning), the stunt work (most notably the submarine and airplane sequences) were top notch. Probably wasn't in the budget but would've loved to had cameos of past IMF members. Oh, and the twist of one of the characters seemed a bit of a stretch and probably not what they had in mind when writing/filming MI:DR. 3.75/5
I do wonder given the box office for this and MI:DR wasn't exactly stellar, at least not reaching the heights of previous entries, if they may try g... read the rest.
'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning' is up there for being the most I've enjoyed a M:I movie, it's certainly in the top four anyway. It probably is a touch overlong, though I can't say I ever felt bored through the 2hrs 50mins. It's packed with action, so no surprise.
Tom Cruise is, as we've seen across the prior seven installments, excellent in the role of Ethan Hunt. Those with him here are very good, but there's no doubt Cruise is the glue. Speaking of the rest, Ving Rhames gets a nice arc, while Hannah Waddingham and Tramell Tillman have good bits.