Ghost Protocol: Review of Mission Impossible: Fallout

Mission Impossible: Fallout

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

By Alex Watson

The Mission Impossible Franchise seems to have found its perfect duo in Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie. The new effort Mission Impossible: Fallout somehow not only tops the exhilarating thrills of Rogue Nation but also gives this movie an emotional core. Gone are the days of good-natured fun and for the first time ever, The MI franchise seems to be unafraid to explore character depth.

Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his crew (Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames) are caught in an awkward position after a mission in Berlin goes wrong. Faced with the world's potential destruction from a plutonium bomb, Hunt faces his most perilous mission yet. The re-introduction of old frenemy Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) also complicates matters. Then there is the added problem of the CIA sending handler August Walker (Henry Cavill) to babysit his team.

There has been a sense of this franchise beginning to grow a conscience, Mission Impossible: Fallout is a movie that finally highlights the ramifications of Ethan Hunt's occupation. There is friction aplenty amongst the IMF team-members from the very start. Forced to be partnered with the hulking Walker and chasing a terrorist intent on resizing the world's population through deadly means, to put it mildly, things look very bad. While McQuarrie keeps his dialogue scenes brief and to the point, the sheer amount of thrills speak volumes. Frequently, this franchise finds new ways to provide jaw-dropping set pieces and here, it's on whole new level. A gripping bike chase through Paris, a bathroom fist fight that veers into almost 'Hulk Smash' territory to finally Cruise doing what he does best- running over rooftops! The sixth instalment plays its ace cards smartly and rather than getting lost in an overly complex plot like parts 2 or 3, details are kept to the point at all times Simplicity and entertainment are the key items on the agenda here.

On this occasion there finally seems to be more of an action's have consequences element to affairs. In a rare move, Rogue Nation villain Solomon Lane (Sean Harris) is swept back in to bring a cold and creepy element to proceedings. Lane is the ghosts of IMF past and through his almost whispered dialogue, Hunt's whole world is put into a tailspin. Just what has Ethan gained from accepting all these missions? How do you sleep at night when the world is at stake? The team comradery has never been better and frequently see we scene that demonstrates a deep trust and how far a teammate will go when lives are on the line. The reintroduction of Ilsa is also smartly played, once again remaining morally ambiguous, guessing her motives is literally mission impossible (sorry for the pun). Hunt both needs and mistrusts her in the same breath, but why does she keep crossing him? On his mind is also ex-wife Julia (Michelle Monaghan), which ironically becomes one of the movies key devices late on.

While Mission Impossible: Fallout does lose a few marks for a rather obvious plot twist, it can be forgiven because the last act contains pure excitement. Each MI film has to have one out of this world set piece- it finds it with a midair helicopter battle against stunning mountain scenery. A potential disaster has never looked so beautiful or been this fun before. McQuarrie also finds little moments of joy amongst the against-the-clock feel. Luther undergoing an unlikely bonding session while defusing a bomb is just one of these. The next instalment is going to have one hell of a task bettering this one. This series is now on firm footing and Ethan Hunt can now officially take his place among the very best of franchise heroes.

Tom Cruise shows no signs of slowing down in his twilight years and once more he is unafraid to get physical. Hanging off cliffs, riding bikes at breakneck speeds, brawling alongside Superman- all in days work this guy. Cruise is also able to handle the more human side and show us a glimpse into the troubled mind of Hunt. At heart, the world will always come first but there will forever be a 'what if' surrounding his entire being. Rebecca Ferguson again is able to match Cruise and makes this character impossible to read. Ilsa is becoming a welcome new addition to this franchise. Henry Cavill is also solid support as the big muscled Walker and he adds an air of mystery to his conclusion. Some may have focused on his moustache (which had to be digitally edited out during Justice League shooting), but Cavill once more shows he is a safe bet for a big budget piece.

Mission Impossible: Fallout proves that sixth time really a charm. Cruise and McQuarrie together is becoming the dream team these movies need. Let's just hope its a lucky number seven next time.

Virtual Reality: Review of Ready Player One

Ready Player One

Director: Steven Spielberg

By Alex Watson

Adapting the beloved novel Ready Player One by Ernest Cline was no easy job. Few directors were better equipped for the task than Steven Spielberg. In stunning detail, the legendary director captures the virtual paradise that is 'The Oasis' and he stays true to the novel's pop culture references (including several cheeky nods to his own work). While it nails the look and feel of the novel, the characters in this universe feel underdeveloped on screen. The script by Zak Penn and Ernest Cline is well paced but the splicing and dicing of the original story will alienate hardcore fans.

Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) is a teenager living in a decrepit 2045 Columbus, Ohio. With the world in ruins and society having fallen, most people opt to send their entire days inside the virtual reality world 'The Oasis'. This world was the product of innovator James Halliday (Mark Rylance) and Ogden Morrow (Simon Pegg). After Halliday's death, he left an Easter Egg within the game and whoever passes the three challenges required will inherit his entire company. Wade (playing as avatar Parzival) sets out to claim, but his quest will bring into contact notorious gamer Art3mis (Olivia Cooke).

Any fans who have ever wondered how on earth this imaginary world could even be plausible on screen- you will not be disappointed. Seeing this production in 3D is truly awe-inspiring and you will find yourself transfixed. Spielberg gives all kinds of hard to spot popular culture fun like a car race interrupted by T-Rex from Jurassic Park and King Kong and a battle scene featuring the likes of Jason Voorhees and Freddy Kruger. Literally, Spielberg populates his movie with some many little finds (Zemeckis cube anyone), you will find your eyes in a state of cat-like readiness. With it's 80's cheese soundtrack of Van Halen, Hall & Oates and Joan Jett, this world feels like stepping back in time while surrounded by the beautiful future. We never really learn how the world has declined into a people living in stacks, but in this movie, such details are considered irrelevant.

We learn early on that Wade is a 'Gunter' (a person who hunts the easter egg), this quest brings him to Art3mis' path and both emerge as two purists who are well ahead of the game. Their ability to clue into the smallest details while looking back through Halliday's old journals is mind-bending. Of course, sparks fly but his buddy Aech (Lena Waithe) remains sceptical on the subject of digital love. It also set up a hilarious sequence when along with the other gunters they are forced to search through 'The Shining's' Overlook Hotel. The scary old lady in the bathtub takes on a whole new meaning here.  A rival company IOI are looking to claim the egg for themselves. Nolan Sorrento (Ben Mendelsohn) is the corporate jerk out to ruin everyone's fun and he has amassed an army of people called 'Sixers' whom he owns through debt. He even sets up 'Loyalty Camps' to ensure anyone and everyone aids him. Sorrento is not a man who wishes to have the keys to the kingdom not because he is skilled at playing the game, but because he just wants to get even richer.

Despite this capturing the feel of Cline's novel, the story itself is left second to the visuals. The backstory of the falling out of Morrow and Halliday feels more like a tidbit here. Also, the actual quest Parzival undertakes is completely changed for the movie. Those who have read the book will be unaffected, but fans will fume. In the novel, Morrow plays a vital role in the potential success of our heroes, here this character barely registers. Although Wade and Art3mis make for a cute couple and they firmly stabilize the story both in and out of the game- the same can't be said for the rest of the supporting cast. Other Gunter's Sho (Philip Zhao) and Toshiro (Win Morisaki) are barely given a look in. The decision to bump up antagonist i-R0k (voiced by T.J Miller) is strange because he barely features in the novel. Spielberg does give us a realistic and utterly believable version of Halliday who in this universe was a shy and conflicted Steve Jobs type. Overall, it hard to complain too much about Spielberg's adaptation and it hard to imagine a better person to bring this world to life.

Tye Sheridan has recently been a young actor with promise through his turn's in Nic Cage's movie 'Joe' and the comedy 'A Scout's Guide to the Apocalypse'. Spielberg has always had a good idea for future and Sheridan is excellent throughout. Channelling the die-hard gamer who wants to save The Oasis from corruption, he has the movie's heart on display. Olivia Cooke who was so excellent in the dark comedy Thoroughbred's adds another impressive performance to her resume. Together these two are a charming pair of romantic leads. Mark Rylance, although very briefly on screen is scene-stealingly brilliant as the terminally awkward Halliday. Ben Mendelsohn however, is once again shortchanged in a big film. His Nolan Sorrento has the potential to be a cunning nemesis. In this universe, he just comes across an egotistical dick with little substance.

Ready Player One is a game that you'll want to play by the movie's end. Keep your eyes peeled though, you will busy spotting different characters.

The Final Frontier: Review of Star Trek Beyond

Star Trek Beyond

Director: Justin Lin

By Alex Watson

Star Trek Beyond is a fun and entertaining ride, but nonetheless, there are bumps during this voyage. After the backlash of Into Darkness, new director Justin Lin along with co-writers Simon Pegg and Doug Jung have paid close attention to fans criticisms. Confining the action mainly to the Enterprise crew being stranded on an uncharted planet stays true to the origins of Roddenberry. Director Lin has been a fine replacement for the departing Abrams and shows his flair for the exciting during the fine set pieces. The Enterprise may stray off course in places, but such mistakes can be forgiven.

James T Kirk (Chris Pine) is still debating his place in the world and his lengthy time in space makes him wonder if he still wants to be captain? When the Enterprise receives a distress call from deep space, the crew are suddenly ambushed by the vengeful Krall (Idris Elba), a creature who is out for Federation blood. Stranded on a foreign planet in the Nebula, Kirk and crew must navigate carefully to ensure their safety.

Star Trek Beyond is just a slice of good fun, it doesn't concern itself with overthinking its sometimes sloppy plot and just seeks to entertain. One major plus is that Lin gives the adequate screen to time to Spock (Zachary Quinto), Bones (Karl Urban) and Scotty (Simon Pegg) who each have given this franchise its humour and heart. Reduced to being little more than cameos in Into Darkness, in this installment, they show just how vital they are to this ship. Spock and Bones, in particular, make a fine double act when facing unstable odds together. Facing certain death together, Spock suddenly is teleported cue the doctor grumbling "Well that's just typical!" To a degree, this picture is all about characters wrestling with their demons, Kirk is still haunted by the memory of his late father and is pondering his next move. Spock is considering abandoning Star Fleet due to the death of someone particularly close to him- his loyalty conflicts with his determination to serve his fallen Vulcan's.

However, despite this being a thrilling outing this picture loses points due to a rather flat and underwritten villain. Krall looks the part and his cold-blooded and ruthlessness does excite during his daring first attack. Watching the Enterprise trying every manoeuvre in the manual to try and get away is vintage Lin and the resigned look on Kirk's face as he watches his beloved ships plunge into the depths is heartbreaking. Before long, the inconsistencies in Krall's character show through and this is the one place where Pegg and Jung's script becomes unstuck. We get that he hates the Federation, but for what reason exactly? When the big reveal happens our reaction is more one of confusion that shock. Also, this will lead to a series of questions about how precisely does he keep changing his look? Krall might have some fine monologues, but he lacks any plausible threat.

The action taking place in Star Trek: Beyond makes this worth the price of admission. One sequence guaranteed to thrill is during Krall daring attack on Star Fleet base Yorktown. Without giving too much away- Sabotage by the Beastie Boys is guaranteed to be featuring on many iPods on the way home. The addition of Nebula native Jaylah (Sofia Boutella) works wonders during the movie's middle sequence as her tech wizardry gives us the movies stand out sequence. Seeing Kirk riding an old style bike gives us a Great Escape style nostalgia as through Jaylah's clever device they execute a bold rescue on Krall's camp. Lin's picture might not be perfect, but he has recaptured the wit and the joyful feel that made the 2009 reboot so memorable. Kirk is firmly back in the captain's chair again and hopefully, any kinks will be fixed for the next installment.

Chris Pine once again is the standout and he has come to be the perfect choice as the conflicted Kirk. Showing us a cocky boy who has grown into a tough and assertive man, Kirk may still be a restless soul, but Pine gives him so much charm it is hard to notice. Zachary Quinto again show us just what depth he can add to Spock, here we see his more human side coming through as he feels regrets coming through and begins to wonder if his future lies with his friends? As Krall, Idris Elba is utterly wasted in a flat bad guy role. An actor able to conjure up menace at the drop of a hat (his voice alone in Jungle Book was terrifying), Elba is given little to do other than giving threatening speeches. Krall should have been a more physical and clever monster, instead, we are given a creature whose intentions make no sense.

Star Trek Beyond picks this franchise right back up, hopefully, Justin Lin will be there for any future outings because this is one commander Enterprise desperately needed.

Back In The Saddle Again: Review of Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

By Alex Watson

After an uneven last couple of outings, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation restarts this franchise in breathtaking style. Making a stunning opening with the now notorious shot of Ethan Hunt hanging from an airplane, director Christopher McQuarrie shoots to thrill. Although continually ringing the box office bell, critics were quick to point out signs of wear in this spy series. The after effect of the IMF team's fifth adventure is that we are now eagerly anticipating a sixth outing.

After the IMF is dissolved by CIA chief  Hunley (Alec Baldwin), Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) must now contend with an enemy group named 'The Syndicate' led by Solomon Lane (Sean Harris). Along with fellow agents Benji (Simon Pegg), Luther (Ving Rhames) and Brandt (Jeremy Renner), Ethan faces a tough fight against an organization intent on causing chaos worldwide. Not to mention the tricky business of ambiguous agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson).

From the beginning of Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, McQuarrie quickly gets down to business. Throwing aside any temptation for drawn out narrative or lengthy back stories, the former writer turned director sets about just making a great thriller. Any logic flaws in the story are happily overlooked during a stunning first act set against the opera in Vienna. Watching Ethan Hunt involved in a fight while hanging above a stage as 'Nessun Dorma' is in full swing is bound to broaden smiles all around. Paced to perfection cleverly following the sheet music to the crescendo, this moment is but a snapshot of what is to come later.

More than anything, this fifth installment shows that it hasn't lost its ability on the set piece front. One sequence has Ethan diving into secure underwater server beneath a Casablanca power station to retrieve a super secret red box file. This act is presented beautifully and as Ethan runs dangerously low on oxygen, we hold our breath with him. Not one to hold back, McQuarrie follows this up with one of this year's finest car chases. This moment proves everything effective that a chase should have, including some witty lines. Seeing the exasperation on Benji's face when Ethan asks if he is wearing a seat-belt is priceless. "ARE YOU ASKING ME THAT NOW!" he bellows while the car flies backwards through the air.

What perhaps makes Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation is the mystery surrounding it. On dual duty as both writer and director, McQuarrie succeeds in creating a wonderful uneasy feel. What exactly are 'The Syndicate'? And why does Ethan obsessed with pursuing them? Ilsa however, is the biggest puzzle piece of all. Continually throughout this adventure we find ourselves assumptions about this woman stumped. An irresistible presence and a magnificent femme fatale character, Ilsa is possibly the closest that this series will come to a co-anchor. As a villain, Solomon Lane has presence and his icy chill he brings along with it is truly stirring.

Tom Cruise once more proves that the Mission Impossible series definitely belongs to him. In a performance that is self-assured and surrounded by an easy cool like his first installment, it demonstrates that Ethan Hunt still merits a place in the film world. Rebecca Ferguson nearly steals the film from under Cruise in a sizzling turn. A bold and sexy presence, Ferguson marks the strongest female presence in the series so far. The chemistry between the two runs like a charm and we can only hope she returns in future installments.

Finally the Mission Impossible series has found the right formula and style that makes it successful. Previous efforts have tinkered with a number of ideas (including a Limp Bizkit opening track) and has remodeled Ethan Hunt. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation is a simple and basic thriller that only wants to entertain. More of the same next time please!