Once more unto the breach for Tom Cruise…or is it?
Across nearly three decades, the Mission Impossible franchise has shapeshifted through tones, directors, and stylistic eras, eventually finding a signature rhythm with the Tom Cruise/Christopher McQuarrie partnership, starting with Rogue Nation (2015) and reaching what many consider the pinnacle with Fallout (2018). 2023’s Dead Reckoning, was pitched as “Part One”, a moniker dropped in this retooled and renamed follow-up Final Reckoning. A film that corrects some of the missteps of its lead-in, while seeking to serve as a fitting capstone to both the current storyline as well as 30 years of blockbuster filmmaking defined by its indefatigable star Tom Cruise.
Dead Reckoning introduced the franchise’s most contemporary threat, the Entity, an emergent AI capable of infiltrating global communications, corrupting information, and effectively granting whoever controls it dominion over “truth” itself. That film set the stage with a hunt for two halves of a key that could unlock the Entity’s central core, a mission entwined with the wreck of a downed Russian submarine. The Final Reckoning picks up with the IMF team reeling from the death of Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) and staring down even higher stakes. The Entity is no longer a rising threat, it is actively seizing control of global nuclear systems, turning misinformation into imminent annihilation. Ethan, Benji (Simon Pegg), Grace (Hayley Atwell), and their newest allies Degas (Greg Tarzan Davis), and former assassin Paris (Pom Klementieff), race to take down the digital threat before it delivers its final blow.
Where Dead Reckoning was burdened by setup and a cliffhanger, The Final Reckoning benefits from having an actual finish line. It corrects some of the earlier film’s missteps, though is still tasked with plenty of heavy lifting, beyond dense exposition, there are retcons that stretch back through the franchise’s history, and more than a few callbacks that vary wildly in effectiveness (one involving Shea Whigham’s character feels particularly unnecessary.)
There’s a leaner, tighter film hiding inside this one, even if it doesn’t quite break free. Still, the film remains a testament to Cruise’s enduring presence. He runs, fights, and freefalls with the same ferocity he brought to the role decades ago. The marketing heavily teased the idea that this would be Tom Cruise’s final outing as Ethan Hunt, yet the film’s actual ending hedges that bet, offering something more noncommittal than conclusive.
Most importantly, the movie delivers where this franchise has always excelled, thrilling action, clever spycraft, and a playful sense of humor that keeps the whole machine humming. The standout sequences, a missile-dodging dive into a spinning submarine wreck and a vicious bi-plane fistfight, are classic Mission: Impossible: inventive, physical, and grounded in practical stunt work that feels increasingly rare in modern blockbusters.
No, The Final Reckoning doesn’t reach the sharp, breathless heights of Fallout or the kinetic reinvention of Ghost Protocol. Its wordy exposition, callback clutter, and hefty runtime occasionally bog down its momentum. But the film remains immensely enjoyable, a showcase for action craftsmanship, buoyed by charming characters and a sincere commitment to doing things the hard, physical way.
The Package
The 4K- presentation here is one of near reference quality. There is a standout level of detail and depth to the image. Solid blacks, crisp whites and a verdant palette range that showcases natural but healthy color reproduction. The crispness of the biplanes against the blue sky is a real standout in this regard. Final Reckoning was shot on a combination of film and digital, even so there is a clean, crisp, and consistent quality presentation throughout. The release includes a copy of the film on 4K, Blu-ray, and via digital with an included code. A third disc houses most of the extra features, which include:
4K Disc
- Audio Commentary featuring Christopher McQuarrie and Tom Cruise – A lively tracks that has a real focus on the filmmaking and stuntwork seen in the film, but also weaves in conversations on the franchise in general
- Audio Commentary featuring Christopher McQuarrie, Eddie Hamilton, and Mary Boulding – McQuarrie is joined by the film’s Editor and First Assistant Director for a commentary that leans into the more technical aspects of the production
- Isolated Score Track
Blu-ray Disc
- Behind the Scenes: Around 17 minutes total, each segment focusing on a different part of the film
- Taking Flight: Focuses on the biplane sequence
- To the Depths: The tank/gimbal setup for the sub interior sequence
- To the North: Crossing the Arctic
- Through the Mine: Working within the final (subterranean) location for the film
- The Score : Not action perse, but a look at an important component of the films feel and pace
- Editorial Content:
- Deleted Footage Montage w/ Optional McQuarrie Commentary: Omitted pieces with context
- Olifants River Canyon w/ Optional McQuarrie Commentary: Technical insights into low altitude filming for this sequence
- Biplane Transfer w/ Optional McQuarrie & Cruise Commentary: Another piece dealing with the approach to this high-wire act
- Promo Spots: Parachute Burn, Snorri Rig Camera: Snippets of the film used in advertising spots
- Galleries: With a focus on Cruise, McQuarrie, and the supporting cast/crew
The Bottom Line
In the end, Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning will likely be remembered fondly: not as the franchise’s best, but as a full-tilt, heartfelt conclusion to one of the greatest long-running blockbuster sagas ever attempted. The 4K release backs up a stellar transfer with some solid extra features. A fitting capper to the franchise…if it really is.
Mission Impossible Final Reckoning is available on 4K-UHD now
