Review: ‘Rogue Nation’ proves Cruise still has it for what may be the best ‘M:I’ film yet

Posted on August 7, 2015

By MARK VIOLA

With the arrival of “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation,” actor Tom Cruise has returned once again to the film franchise that refuses to die. And this is actually a good thing, because 2011’s “Ghost Protocol” and this latest installment have proven that some franchises can actually get better with age.

“Rogue Nation” is from writer/director Christopher McQuarrie, who directed Cruise in “Jack Reacher,” but is better known for writing such movies as “Edge of Tomorrow,” “Valkyrie” and “The Usual Suspects.”

While 2011’s “Ghost Protocol” could have easily been the series’ high-water mark, I do have to say, upon leaving the theater after seeing “Rogue Nation,” it is quite possibly my new favorite installment.

In addition to Cruise, the franchise has the best reccuring characters, including Benji (Simon Pegg who joined in “M:I – III”),
Brandt (Jeremy Renner who joined in “Ghost Protocol”) and Luther Stickwell (Ving Rhames who has been on board since the beginning).

Filled with action, crazy gadgets, humor, a wonderful villain and, most important, perhaps the franchise’s best script yet, “Rogue Nation” is a lot of fun. For the 2015 summer blockbuster season, which admittedly has a few weeks left, this film ranks right up there with “Ant-Man” for my favorite action movie of the season.

“Rogue Nation” is a lot of fun and just what we want from a good summer blockbuster. I already can’t wait to find out what the next impossible mission might be.

The film is rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence, and brief partial nudity.

(This is a shortened version of the full review available in our printed or e-edition papers.)

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