Mission: Impossible - films and tv series

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  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,968
    I'm not sure if it was mentioned already, but the film was screened the other day on the same famous Norwegian fjord featured in the movie - Pulpit Rock - for 2,000 fans, who had to hike four hours to reach it. Pretty cool!

    http://thehill.com/homenews/media/400295-carl-bernstein-situation-with-trump-is-worse-than-watergate
  • BennyBenny Shaken not stirredAdministrator, Moderator
    Posts: 15,133
    Well the most anticipated film of 2018 for me has finally been viewed.
    What can I say, other than it did not disappoint. A stunning addition to the MI franchise, unbelievable action set pieces, that an action movie fan like myself craves.
    I enjoyed this film a lot. Easily as good as GP and RN...maybe even better.
    Great cast, Cruise is some kind of machine. But series regulars Rhames, Pegg and Ferguson are all given enough to do as well. Henry Cavill was for me a good addition to the cast
    (I see a potential Bond)
    along with the wonderful Vanessa Kirby.
    Christopher McQuarrie returns for a second outing and does not let us down. If anything he's surpassed his original. Not ground breaking storytelling, but at least well written and no major plot holes or poor story angles. The action has been taken up to the max, with some truly breathtaking stunt work. Visually stunning courtesy of Rob Hardy and with wonderful locations, make the film feel epic.
    I really enjoyed Mission Impossible Fallout, and look forward to another viewing.



  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Creasy47 wrote: »
    I'm not sure if it was mentioned already, but the film was screened the other day on the same famous Norwegian fjord featured in the movie - Pulpit Rock - for 2,000 fans, who had to hike four hours to reach it. Pretty cool!

    http://thehill.com/homenews/media/400295-carl-bernstein-situation-with-trump-is-worse-than-watergate

    Pretty cool, but Trump sucks.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    edited August 2018 Posts: 8,395
    My favourite YouTube channel Geekvolution released a run down of all previous 5 MI films in the run up to Fallout. Watching it, a few comments really jumped out at me as interesting.



    35:50 "A blanket Statement about this franchise and in particular the last two (Ghost protocol and Rogue Nation), they are what the Bond movies want to be, and what the Bond movies should be. Mission impossible has figured out how to make fun engaging films that aren't insulting, but also aren't broody or overly realistic. They are making what we think of as James Bond movies".

    38:33 "Rogue Nation isn't actually better than Skyfall, but, putting Bond movies in a box of what what they are supposed to be, Rogue Nation is the best Bond movie since Goldeneye."

    These comments spoke to me, because it is something I have thought for a very long time. Mission has essentially replaced what I think of as a Bond movie, and CR and SF, while considered Bond classics, simply don't scratch that itch the same way. It's been over 20 years since there was a Bond film done the way I remember them, and mission impossible comes the closest I have seen in modern cinema.
  • BMW_with_missilesBMW_with_missiles All the usual refinements.
    edited August 2018 Posts: 3,000
    Just got home from seeing this film. It’s the first MI film that I’ve managed to sit through (I gave up 30 minutes into MI:2), and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I agree with the above statement; “Mission impossible has figured out how to make fun engaging films that aren't insulting, but also aren't broody or overly realistic. They are making what we think of as James Bond movies.” MI definitely isn’t Bond, and doesn’t hold anywhere near the interest or excitement that Bond has with me, but this is the type of over-the-top spy epic that Bond needs to be. It’s what Bond used to be and I don’t see why it would have been “cliched” or “stale” to continue in that vein as some people say. One of the first things I said upon exiting the theater was, “I don’t see how they can make this type of extravagant spy film, and have it be successful, but Bond films were criticized as being corny prior to the reboot.” It would be nice if EON would keep up and lose their obsession with personal drama and subverting audience expectations and just deliver a damn Bond movie.
  • Major_BoothroydMajor_Boothroyd Republic of Isthmus
    edited August 2018 Posts: 2,722
    Just got back from seeing 'Fallout' - fantastic fun. Gripping last half hour. Tom Cruise is a maniac in the stunt scenes.

    I don't see how EON can ignore what the Mission Impossible series has achieved in its last three outings.
  • edited August 2018 Posts: 4,619
    Saw the movie last night. Cruise is great as usual and the action scenes are quite good, but there is way too much plot, and not enough emphasis on characters. The stunts (altough bigger), were not as fun and clever as some of the stunt scenes in Ghost Protocol and Rogue Nation. Also, I did not like how much they connected this to previous M:I movies. I am confident Danny Boyle will top this with Bond 25.
  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,395
    Just got home from seeing this film. It’s the first MI film that I’ve managed to sit through (I gave up 30 minutes into MI:2), and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I agree with the above statement; “Mission impossible has figured out how to make fun engaging films that aren't insulting, but also aren't broody or overly realistic. They are making what we think of as James Bond movies.” MI definitely isn’t Bond, and doesn’t hold anywhere near the interest or excitement that Bond has with me, but this is the type of over-the-top spy epic that Bond needs to be. It’s what Bond used to be and I don’t see why it would have been “cliched” or “stale” to continue in that vein as some people say. One of the first things I said upon exiting the theater was, “I don’t see how they can make this type of extravagant spy film, and have it be successful, but Bond films were criticized as being corny prior to the reboot.” It would be nice if EON would keep up and lose their obsession with personal drama and subverting audience expectations and just deliver a damn Bond movie.

    Yes, and that's the secret formula they unlocked with Goldfinger in the first place, I think. Big crowd pleasing spectacle, but with enough wit style and charm to avoid being placed in the B movie trash pile. The recent movies have gotten pretentious, and MI is a reminder of how it should be done.
  • edited August 2018 Posts: 1,661
    Just got home from seeing this film. It’s the first MI film that I’ve managed to sit through (I gave up 30 minutes into MI:2), and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it! I agree with the above statement; “Mission impossible has figured out how to make fun engaging films that aren't insulting, but also aren't broody or overly realistic. They are making what we think of as James Bond movies.” MI definitely isn’t Bond, and doesn’t hold anywhere near the interest or excitement that Bond has with me, but this is the type of over-the-top spy epic that Bond needs to be. It’s what Bond used to be and I don’t see why it would have been “cliched” or “stale” to continue in that vein as some people say. One of the first things I said upon exiting the theater was, “I don’t see how they can make this type of extravagant spy film, and have it be successful, but Bond films were criticized as being corny prior to the reboot.” It would be nice if EON would keep up and lose their obsession with personal drama and subverting audience expectations and just deliver a damn Bond movie.

    Yes, and that's the secret formula they unlocked with Goldfinger in the first place, I think. Big crowd pleasing spectacle, but with enough wit style and charm to avoid being placed in the B movie trash pile. The recent movies have gotten pretentious, and MI is a reminder of how it should be done.

    Craig's Bond films do have their fair share of over-the-top moments but I guess you can argue they're grounded in a semi-realistic spy world. I think it all changed in Casino Royale when the waiter asked Craig's Bond if he wanted a Vodka Martini and he replied:
    Do I look like I give a damn?

    That is the moment Barbara Broccoli laid the old Bond to rest.

    You can argue that dialogue is post modern reinvention or a cynical disregard for Bond's established character. Personally, I didn't like it and wish the line had never been delivered but more to the point it introduced us to a Bond that doesn't care about he trappings of a super spy. I guess it's all down to B Broccoli's desire to show Bond's "character" whereas Cubby and Harry wanted to show Bond's "style."

    If Craig is the slightly more brooding 'semi-realistic' Bond the next Bond should embrace the more fun aspects of the Bond universe. For example: it would be cool to see Bond becoming a bit more of a womaniser and going back to liking Vodka Martinis! I can't see Ethan Hunt ordering a drink like that. Diet coke is probably more his thing. ;)
  • Posts: 1,165
    I think that the first three movies were where the franchise was finding it's feet but on Ghost Protocol they cracked the formula and now they know exactly what's needed from them to deliver to the audience and the fanbase.

    They will never go back to being auteur driven vehicles anymore. Not that it's a bad thing!
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    TR007 wrote: »
    I think that the first three movies were where the franchise was finding it's feet but on Ghost Protocol they cracked the formula and now they know exactly what's needed from them to deliver to the audience and the fanbase.
    You are absolutely correct. Cruise pretty much said this to McQuarrie when he was hesitant to return. Then they both decided to shake it up marginally with a more personal touch.
  • edited August 2018 Posts: 4,615
    First Thoughts:
    This is one hell of a movie
    Cruise is on top form re his acting (overlooked because of stunt work)
    Ving is superb in two sensitive scenes and McQ knows Pegg cant do this stuff
    RF - just stunning - her beauty in the white light of the toilet scene - and in top acting form, please please return, please
    White Widow - great addition, really worked for me
    Sound track - top work, really adds to the darkness and threat of the film
    Some of the smaller stunts deserve praise - the roof of Blackfriers station, the tower of the Museum of Modern art, wondeful rear wheel drive, classic BMW 5 series driving
    Some scenes are very very clever - coming across the female police woman - unexpected, clever change of pace and examines Hunt's moral framework plus running into the funeral
    Really shows up Bond badly
    Really shocked by Baldwin's death - but it did work

    Picky points:
    the freefall stunt was shoehorned into the plot, wasted IMHO
    the final climax was two set pieces welded together - too long IMHO
    HC can't act IMHO - just watch his opening lines, he just cant do it, out of his depth, so many more interesting casting options (Karl Urban?) , real shame
    Some of my favourite scenes throughtout the series are when the team "takes a breath" and discuss's their future (the train scene in MI 1 the perfect example, ) , it needed one more of these IMHO, it did get a little frantic. Sometimes the audience needs to take a breath

    Overall, MI has huge momentum with character developents ready to explore in the next episode (what was the whisper?). Room for new characters or the return of others. MI goes from strength to strength

  • Mendes4LyfeMendes4Lyfe The long road ahead
    Posts: 8,395
    Fallout is crushing it at the boxoffice, accruing 10 million on its second Friday in the US.
  • Posts: 4,615
    It does have great "second viewing" potential, I'm already planning to go back on Monday. IMHO thats a big bonus re revenue potential
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited August 2018 Posts: 23,883
    patb wrote: »
    First Thoughts:
    ....wondeful rear wheel drive, classic BMW 5 series driving
    It was a nice touch, and I wondered whether it was an subtle nod to Ronin, seeing as that part of the film was set in Paris and all.
    patb wrote: »
    Some of the smaller stunts deserve praise - the roof of Blackfriers station, the tower of the Museum of Modern art
    I completely agree. It's the little things that made this film for me, more than the OTT stuff.
    patb wrote: »
    Some scenes are very very clever - coming across the female police woman - unexpected, clever change of pace and examines Hunt's moral framework plus running into the funeral
    Both great touches. Cruise really gets it these days.
    patb wrote: »
    Overall, MI has huge momentum with character developents ready to explore in the next episode (what was the whisper?). Room for new characters or the return of others. MI goes from strength to strength
    Couldn't agree more. I wish they will never stop even though I know they have to one day. I'm completely invested in the characters and their arc.
  • edited August 2018 Posts: 4,615
    Given this is a Bond forum, how many of these little touches or changes of pace would work well in a Bond movie? And why is MI coming up with these rather than Bond. It's not about budget or doing massive stunts. It's about creatitivity and then expert execution.
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    edited August 2018 Posts: 13,779
    I'm seeing expression here of A LOT more acceptance for the general approach M:I used (Scooby gang, parallel action, story arc, increased personal involvement, plus overt/accidental recreation of famous Bond moments as homage) that conversely are the common complaints leveled against Bond.

    Enjoyed Fallout very much. The female officer down. The funeral. That would work great in a Bond film, sure. It's definitely fine competition, on the other hand there's no way the Bond films could hold a monopoly on it all. It's not a fault of Bond filmmakers that other movies do good stuff.

    To me Bond is doing great on his own action-wise and on other levels. So this is a second Golden period for the franchise, something to relish alongside M:I's successes.

  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,216
    I'm seeing expression here of A LOT more acceptance for the general approach M:I used (Scooby gang, parallel action, story arc, increased personal involvement, plus overt/accidental recreation of famous Bond moments as homage) that conversely are the common complaints leveled against Bond.

    Of course. It makes sense that what works for MI doesn't work for Bond and will be called on as such. The team work especially.
  • RC7RC7
    Posts: 10,512
    I'm seeing expression here of A LOT more acceptance for the general approach M:I used (Scooby gang, parallel action, story arc, increased personal involvement, plus overt/accidental recreation of famous Bond moments as homage) that conversely are the common complaints leveled against Bond.

    Enjoyed Fallout very much. The female officer down. The funeral. That would work great in a Bond film, sure. It's definitely fine competition, on the other hand there's no way the Bond films could hold a monopoly on it all. It's not a fault of Bond filmmakers that other movies do good stuff.

    To me Bond is doing great on his own action-wise and on other levels. So this is a second Golden period for the franchise, something to relish alongside M:I's successes.

    This comment is a breath of fresh air.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    I'm seeing expression here of A LOT more acceptance for the general approach M:I used (Scooby gang, parallel action, story arc, increased personal involvement, plus overt/accidental recreation of famous Bond moments as homage) that conversely are the common complaints leveled against Bond.

    Of course. It makes sense that what works for MI doesn't work for Bond and will be called on as such. The team work especially.

    Sure, but how about the traitor angle and going rogue?
  • RichardTheBruceRichardTheBruce I'm motivated by my Duty.
    Posts: 13,779
    Oh, there's more.

    Of course some of that's inevitable and that's my point. Praising M:I to complain about the current state of Bond can fall flat in those cases.
  • peterpeter Toronto
    Posts: 9,509
    What a ridiculously fun ride! Cruise certainly pushed it to the edge, literally and figuratively.

    I though Cavill was a menace, physically and had a great snark.

    But he’s a toolbox and was the least charismatic of all the leads and supporting players.
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,216
    I'm seeing expression here of A LOT more acceptance for the general approach M:I used (Scooby gang, parallel action, story arc, increased personal involvement, plus overt/accidental recreation of famous Bond moments as homage) that conversely are the common complaints leveled against Bond.

    Of course. It makes sense that what works for MI doesn't work for Bond and will be called on as such. The team work especially.

    Sure, but how about the traitor angle and going rogue?

    What about them?
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    I'm seeing expression here of A LOT more acceptance for the general approach M:I used (Scooby gang, parallel action, story arc, increased personal involvement, plus overt/accidental recreation of famous Bond moments as homage) that conversely are the common complaints leveled against Bond.

    Of course. It makes sense that what works for MI doesn't work for Bond and will be called on as such. The team work especially.

    Sure, but how about the traitor angle and going rogue?

    What about them?

    Bond gets criticized for it, yet it is there in every MI movie as well.
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,216
    I'm seeing expression here of A LOT more acceptance for the general approach M:I used (Scooby gang, parallel action, story arc, increased personal involvement, plus overt/accidental recreation of famous Bond moments as homage) that conversely are the common complaints leveled against Bond.

    Of course. It makes sense that what works for MI doesn't work for Bond and will be called on as such. The team work especially.

    Sure, but how about the traitor angle and going rogue?

    What about them?

    Bond gets criticized for it, yet it is there in every MI movie as well.

    Yes, that's true. Though the difference is that the rogue idea has been there in MI since the first film and is as much a trait to the series as the Aston Martin is to Bond. They really own that plot thread and work it into the characterisation of Hunt over five films. Hunt is, after all, a very different kind of hero to Bond.

    Though, to be fair, technically Hunt doesn't go rogue in Fallout. He's shadowed by a CIA agent and they're providing competition for the IMF throughout. The IMF isn't shut down at any point and he's not on the run from them. Technically....

    Just as an aside, I don't have an issue with Bond going rogue, personally. Anything can work if it's done well. And I don't think a rogue Bond has ever really been nailed, as least not since Dalton did it.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    It is all good and well in both series, just not every time.
  • Posts: 11,189
    I watched Fallout on Thursday night. Thoroughly entertaining nonsense as usual. Like the other films a lot of the fun came from spotting the Bond nods/connections.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited August 2018 Posts: 23,883
    Anything can work if it's done well.
    Precisely. It's all about execution. I agree that MI owns the rogue story as well. It's part of their M.O.
    ---

    I just got back from my second viewing, this time in glorious IMAX (which is the format to best experience this film imho - everything just comes alive and particularly the finale).

    I just love this film. It's probably the most impressive theatre experience I've had since TDK, so I can appreciate how some reviewers have made the comparison. I called it a masterpiece after my first viewing, and I stand by that lofty statement. In fact, I'll accept any superlative actually, as I'm quite giddy with admiration & respect like an irrationally exuberant kid.

    The action is of course quite phenomenal and is rightly lauded and revered. However, it's not based on one or two massive set pieces like in the last two, so I can understand how that may disappoint some. Rather, I feel this one is much more than the sum of its impressive parts. It's the little character moments, insight into Hunt's motivations and the humour sprinkled throughout which really make this work for me.

    Since GP, Cruise has been a master at playing a sort of everyman hero - a man who's flying by the seat of his pants - in over his head. He brings that vulnerable (but never weak) quality here again and I just love it. There's none of the smugness which he displayed in his youth.

    As Ferguson said in a recent interview, every main character is essential. The film just wouldn't be the same without any of them. The teamwork, the comradery, the affection for one another - it's all genuine and heartfelt, and that makes the death defying action worthwhile, consequential and so much more than it otherwise would have been.

    They've borrowed from many great classics (including prior Bond films), but packaged everything in a film which is indisputably all MI, all the way. It's infused with their DNA. This is really class 'A' film making in my view. A+ actually. It just hits the bullseye cleanly and comprehensively for me.
  • JamesBondKenyaJamesBondKenya Danny Boyle laughs to himself
    Posts: 2,730
    Just watched it
    It was a bit of a fun time.
    Thought the helicopter bit could have been more exciting. The HALO jumps scequence was awesome though.
    Bond 25 has a lot to live up to.

    8/10

    However I would like to point out I think these films have grossly inflated critic scores I mean 98???
    More than Any bond film ever
    Come on
    It’s like TND a pretty okay film with some good action
    TND has like a 50 soemthing on RT
  • PropertyOfALadyPropertyOfALady Colders Federation CEO
    Posts: 3,675
    I was going to start a thread on this but then decided not to: Has Bond been replaced by MI in the action/stunt department?
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