A suspenseful spy thriller that started one of the best film franchises of all time.

Rating: 8/10 (29 July 2018)

'Mission: Impossible (1996)' favours meticulously set-up, supremely suspenseful espionage over balls-to-the-wall action but still delivers delirious amounts of both in its brilliant set-pieces. These are each as unique and thrilling as the last, present only as extensions to an intriguing and involving narrative that rarely, if ever, makes a mistake and constantly keeps you on the edge of your seat. While I can see why fans of the original and revival series may have been upset with the handling of the only returning character, I feel as though the filmmakers made a ballsy decision in their adaptation and ultimately created a piece faithful to the spirit and tone of the show. The movie is extremely entertaining, a more meticulous and perhaps subtle 'action film' than usual (indeed, our hero refreshingly never even fires a gun). You just have to strap in and enjoy the ride while never even thinking about 'turning your brain off' - perhaps it is those that did that found the movie 'confusing'. If you're willing, you'll experience an incredibly exciting picture that launched one of the best film franchises of all time. 8/10