Mission: Impossible--Fallout

After six movies, you either love the Mission: Impossible films or could care less.  I for one absolutely love these movies!  And they seem to get better and better with each new installment, raising the stakes (and the risk to Tom Cruise's life) with each new mission chosen to be accepted.  After Mission: Impossible--Rogue Nation, I said out loud, "There's no way they can top themselves."  They did.
     The latest mission involves Ethan Hunt going undercover with criminals in order to stop plutonium cores from being sold to the bad guys who will use them to create nuclear bombs.  Obviously, it's not as simple as that.  It is a spy movie after all, and honestly, this movie shows that spy movies can still be fresh, exciting, and a whole lotta fun.
     It seems as though director Christopher McQuarrie wrote down a checklist of what all makes for an entertaining spy thriller.  Do the agents wear fancy suits and look good on the job?  Check.  Are there gorgeous scenery shots?  Check.  Car chases?  Check.  Awesome fight scenes?  Check.  Crazy gadgets?  Check.  Outrageous action scenes that put Tom Cruise's life at risk?  Check check and check.  Yes, it does what great spy movies have done before, but it does all of this very well.  I dare say it's one of the greatest films in its genre, challenging even the best of Bond and Bourne films.
     There are two aspects of Mission: Impossible--Fallout that I appreciate the most.  The first is the action.  With so many action movies seemingly becoming more and more like big budget cartoons (Avatar, Avengers: Infinity War, Alita: Battle Angel), it's refreshing to see a movie that relies heavily on practical effects.  There were moments I thought were computer animated in this film, but in actuality, they were done for real, with some being enhanced by CGI.  Tom Cruise really did jump out of an airplane and skydive.  He really did hang on to the side of a net dangling from the underbelly of a helicopter.  And he spent time learning how to pilot a helicopter so he could actually fly one in that insane helicopter chase scene.  The danger looks real and feels real, making the scenes feel even more intense and the perilous high-stake thrills that the characters are facing all the more captivating.  It's also darn good entertainment. 
     Another thing I appreciate about this movie is how it rewards fans who have stuck with the series for all these years.  I won't spoil what happens because the less you know the better the payoff for you, but it gives the sense that, unlike the James Bond franchise, there has been a continuing story throughout all six films.  This film serves as a nice cherry on top to the delectable sundae that is the Mission: Impossible series, giving fans an emotional and satisfying conclusion if this truly is the grand finale to the series.
     If you have enjoyed the Mission: Impossible films of the past or are a fan of action movies or just want a good time while munching on a big bucket of popcorn or are currently alive, you owe it to yourself to go see Ethan Hunt's latest adventure.  It's thrilling, exciting, and keeps you guessing from start to finish.  It's everything a summer blockbuster should be, and it's a mission you should not hesitate to accept.