Face to face. Just as you wished Ethan.....

Rating: 7/10 (20 August 2015)

With the IMF now disbanded and Ethan Hunt out in the cold, a new threat called the Syndicate soon emerges.
The Syndicate is a network of operatives who are dedicated to establishing a new world order via a series of terrorist attacks.
Faced with what may be the most titular mission yet, Ethan gathers his team and joins forces with Ilsa Faust, a disavowed British agent who may or may not be a member of this deadly rogue nation.......
Five films on and almost twenty years since the release of the first film, and it's more of the same from Ethan and his IMF team, which isn't a bad thing. Like they say, if it ain't broke.....
The films have rarely took a step wrong, the second movie was an incoherent mess, but Woo's cut apparently came in at three hours, so it was always going to be a mess. But it had Woo's trademark all over it, it was a Woo movie primarily, as was De Palma's.
Here, Cruise is in control of almost everything, and kudos to the man, whatever you think of his private life, no one can deny that he's a wonderful screen presence, the epitome of a living legend, and the man dedicates himself to role, and Ethan Hunt has done wonders for his status.
So it's more of the same. A shady bad guy who wants world order (and lots of money), the obligatory Cruise stunt and jump from a great height, the extended cameo from a prolific actor playing the head of an agency and questioning IMFs worth, and of course,the wonderful chemistry between the titular group.
So playing it safe works, but it's one of those films you have to see on the big screen, not because of its spectacle, which there is plenty of, it's because the film will have your undivided attention, whereas if you watch this at home, you may become easily distracted, because the filler between set pieces can become slightly mundane in places.
But it's well written, it's wonderfully humorous in places (Tom Hollander as the Prime Minister is a highlight) and the set pieces are gripping, especially Cruise hanging of the plane and an assassination attempt.
But the biggest plus for the film and the lead, is that Cruise can send himself up, and in several scenes he is really self deprecating, and it's a nice touch.
So all in all, it's more of the same, but it's a fun movie.