Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One [Movie Review]
By: Russ Matthews
When Bruce Geller created the original Mission: Impossible series in 1966, there was no way to predict how it would live on as one of the most successful cinematic franchises in history.
Tom Cruise took over the mantle of this secret government agent team operating as the Impossible Missions Force (IMF) in 1996. Seven films later, the familiar Mission: Impossible theme from composer Lalo Schifrin still gets audiences excited about the next adventure with Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and company.
Cruise’s consummate collaboration partner, Christopher McQuarrie helms this current double bill that has the ageing agent tracking down one of the most challenging adversaries, the Entity. This simple computer virus gets out of control of its creators and now has infected the global systems and has become sentient.
As the world’s superpowers look to control this new weapon, Ethan must do all he can to see that it is destroyed. Partnered once again with Luther (Ving Rhames), Benji (Simon Pegg), and Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson), the team must find the key that could contain the power of this threat on humanity. All they need to do is determine if a highly trained pickpocket named Grace (Hayley Atwell) can help to battle against their new enemy and its henchman, Gabriel (Esai Morales).
For the devoted followers of this long-running franchise, there are enough stunts and action sequences to satisfy the soul. Cruise and McQuarrie do not hold back on throwing the star into some of the most harrowing chases, stunts and fight sequences on record. Along with the lead, Atwell and Ferguson hold their own on screen as the screenplay unfolds.
All the while, Rhames and Pegg provide the comedic and dramatic elements to round out the storyline. They all hold on to the film’s frenetic pace that will leave many frustrated since this is merely the first part of a two-part series. Yet, the waiting will leave people wanting more, while this chapter delivers on its promise to entertain. Cruise and company offer audiences one of the year’s best films as they prove that this franchise still has enough spark left to make everyone want to accept this mission again.
Reel Dialogue: Should we Fear the Created Being?
One brilliant component of this storyline is the seemingly omniscient and omnipotent villain, a rogue algorithm. It will tap into the fear of artificial intelligence in the global community, even though this is not new to film. Still, as the debate goes on about the threat that AI has on humanity that outweighs the benefits, this film takes this discussion to the next level.
Despite the overarching power this being has on the world, interestingly, it still needs humans to do it’s ultimate bidding. Also, humanity still proves it has the upper hand as the film showcases the brilliance of the human mind over the created virus.
As the story continues, it is impossible to miss the references to God and his creation as it shows how the creation cannot overcome the creator. Even if this film causes some to fear the power of artificial intelligence, never forget that there is no true being that is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent except for God.
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” – Isaiah 40:28
Article supplied with thanks to City Bible Forum.
All images: Movie stills
About the author: Russ Matthews is a film critic at City Bible Forum and Reel Dialogue. He has a passion for film and sparking spiritual conversations.
