Uh, what? It's absolutely said out loud on screen in Fallout.
Spoilers Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (2025) - Review and Discussion Thread
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Cruise and McQuarrie talk about it in the audio commentary, but the movie itself doesn't even hint at it aside from the White Widow's role being similar to Max's.
On the contrary, the Widow states it outright in her speech: "This charity was started in honor of my mother. Those of you who knew her understood her strength. Her tenacity. Her resourcefulness. But there was another side to her. The side most people never saw. It's that part of her spirit that has brought us all together tonight. Max was something of a paradox. She had a fascination for paradoxes. A fascination she passed onto me. Max had no illusions about the world we live in today. But she had dreams of a very different future. One in which her unique talents were no longer required."
But IIRC the speech is going on in the background while other stuff is happening, so you have to be paying attention.
Huh. I never caught that. My bad.
So I watched this on Wednesday evening at my local IMAX, I throughly enjoyed it and loved how it had a Hunt for Red October and general Cold War espionage vibe to the whole film.
I'm sure Bassetts character was a nod to Clanceys book version of Jack Ryan, going from CIA Officer to Head of CIA and then becoming POTUS.
I espcially loved how the Savastopol was sunk over a decade before this film and how the White Rabbit/Anti-God helped to develop The Entity.
But what I thought was fantastic and he took it to his grave and not tell anyone, was Luthers plan to not destroy the cyber-environment, but to switch it off and on again once The Entity was trapped in the magic box and thus saving the world and not turning it into the world at the end of the third-best three-colour-Cornetto film.
The ultimate switching it off and on again as it were.
I'm sure Bassetts character was a nod to Clanceys book version of Jack Ryan, going from CIA Officer to Head of CIA and then becoming POTUS.
I espcially loved how the Savastopol was sunk over a decade before this film and how the White Rabbit/Anti-God helped to develop The Entity.
But what I thought was fantastic and he took it to his grave and not tell anyone, was Luthers plan to not destroy the cyber-environment, but to switch it off and on again once The Entity was trapped in the magic box and thus saving the world and not turning it into the world at the end of the third-best three-colour-Cornetto film.
The ultimate switching it off and on again as it were.
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I just walked out of the theater. The movie was… OK? I think it was about 45 minutes too long. The baffling use of flash forwards was confusing and frustrating all in the same. At the same time, it was nice to see a little bit of closure from the first movie from all the way back in 1996, particularly around the Langley guy. I do think that one guy Jim Phelps’ son made no sense at all.
It’s pretty telling that the better roles were from more of the supporting players than from Hunt, Benji or Luther. But I was sorry to see Luther go. However, it was nice that his presence was felt throughout the rest of the film. Hannah Waddingham, Nick Offerman, and Trammell Tillman were excellent additions to the cast.
The action sequences were nice, particularly the submarine scene. The airplane scene was a little much. Particularly when Ethan‘s parachute suddenly burst into flames. WTF?!?
Overall, I give this a 6 out of 10. But I certainly don’t believe that it’s the final anything.
It’s pretty telling that the better roles were from more of the supporting players than from Hunt, Benji or Luther. But I was sorry to see Luther go. However, it was nice that his presence was felt throughout the rest of the film. Hannah Waddingham, Nick Offerman, and Trammell Tillman were excellent additions to the cast.
The action sequences were nice, particularly the submarine scene. The airplane scene was a little much. Particularly when Ethan‘s parachute suddenly burst into flames. WTF?!?
Overall, I give this a 6 out of 10. But I certainly don’t believe that it’s the final anything.
I also feel that this was an okay movie. It's not terrible, but I did nod off in the middle during the big underwater sequence that just went on and on. Final Reckoning was long, with a lot of unnecessary characters and drawn-out scenes. But it wasn't all bad.
Likes:
-The cast. While I felt it was bloated, the actors did their jobs well for the most part.
-Angela Bassett's president. She would've been a great president for 24.
-The stakes. They never felt higher than in Final Reckoning, which was fitting for the supposed finale.
-Tying the Entity to the Rabbit's Foot.
-The last big action sequence.
-I liked seeing the side character from the first Impossible film. I thought it was nice that they took the time to give him a life and some development (wish they had done that for other characters).
-Jim Phelps Jr. felt to me like a nod to those who didn't like what happened to Phelps in the very first movie.
-How integral Luther was to saving the day.
-Cinematography.
Dislikes:
-Runtime. The movie needed to be shorter and the story tighter.
-Lack of action. I think there needed to be more action in the first half of the movie.
-Ethan Hunt worship. They almost went full Chosen One in this movie.
-The history between Hunt and Gabriel wasn't explored at all in the second movie and I think that weakened the dynamic between them.
-Luther's health was never explained. It just felt like something they cut but I wish we had gotten some explanation about that. I'm iffy about his death, but I'll go with it because it was the last film. There might have been one too many Luther voiceovers from the beyond, but still it was nice that the character and actor was getting respect.
-Jim Phelps Jr. While I appreciated the gesture, the reveal came out of nowhere and added nothing to the story. This just felt like something that they might have been saving for a future film and just shoved into this one since this is the supposed end.
-Theo Degas's underdevelopment. I had to look his name up because I don't think they even said it in the movie. I wonder if some scenes got cut because it's never explained why he joins Hunt's team.
-Lack of romance. If this is the final film, I don't see why they couldn't at least have Hunt and Grace share a kiss.
-No Faust resurrection.
-Not bringing back some of the characters from past movies. It would've been nice to see Paula Patton, Maggie Q, or Thandiwe Newton again for example.
Likes:
-The cast. While I felt it was bloated, the actors did their jobs well for the most part.
-Angela Bassett's president. She would've been a great president for 24.
-The stakes. They never felt higher than in Final Reckoning, which was fitting for the supposed finale.
-Tying the Entity to the Rabbit's Foot.
-The last big action sequence.
-I liked seeing the side character from the first Impossible film. I thought it was nice that they took the time to give him a life and some development (wish they had done that for other characters).
-Jim Phelps Jr. felt to me like a nod to those who didn't like what happened to Phelps in the very first movie.
-How integral Luther was to saving the day.
-Cinematography.
Dislikes:
-Runtime. The movie needed to be shorter and the story tighter.
-Lack of action. I think there needed to be more action in the first half of the movie.
-Ethan Hunt worship. They almost went full Chosen One in this movie.
-The history between Hunt and Gabriel wasn't explored at all in the second movie and I think that weakened the dynamic between them.
-Luther's health was never explained. It just felt like something they cut but I wish we had gotten some explanation about that. I'm iffy about his death, but I'll go with it because it was the last film. There might have been one too many Luther voiceovers from the beyond, but still it was nice that the character and actor was getting respect.
-Jim Phelps Jr. While I appreciated the gesture, the reveal came out of nowhere and added nothing to the story. This just felt like something that they might have been saving for a future film and just shoved into this one since this is the supposed end.
-Theo Degas's underdevelopment. I had to look his name up because I don't think they even said it in the movie. I wonder if some scenes got cut because it's never explained why he joins Hunt's team.
-Lack of romance. If this is the final film, I don't see why they couldn't at least have Hunt and Grace share a kiss.
-No Faust resurrection.
-Not bringing back some of the characters from past movies. It would've been nice to see Paula Patton, Maggie Q, or Thandiwe Newton again for example.
Not alot of LOL moments that stuck out like in the past movies. People did chuckle at Paris twisting Benji's ear.
The underwater scene went on a bit too long
Gabriel being all mustache twirling with his dialogue
"MWHAHA! You can't get me Hunt!"
The underwater scene went on a bit too long
Gabriel being all mustache twirling with his dialogue
"MWHAHA! You can't get me Hunt!"
You think the latter seasons of Agents of SHIELD take place in a post-Snap world (despite never once mentioning it), but you consider M:I-2 non-canon?!
I saw at least two split-second shots from 2 in the opening minutes; one of Hunt rock climbing and one of Anthony Hopkins. I do wish there'd been more, it's my favorite also.
Can't think of a finer Denzel CRIMSON TIDE homage than that.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film, it was the embodiment of exciting cinema, a bit thin plot-wise here and there, and it leaned heavily on franchise experience, but then again, it had some fantastic stunts, and some genuinely fun callbacks too. I was on the edge of my seat with the plane stunt at the end, knowing Cruise actually put himself into those positions... it's mind-boggling what he will do to get people to the cinema!
The submarine sequence was also really impressive. I'm intrigued for a behind-the-scenes reel at some point, it would be fascinating to see how they put it all together.
The submarine sequence was also really impressive. I'm intrigued for a behind-the-scenes reel at some point, it would be fascinating to see how they put it all together.
It's more like The "Fine"-al Reckoning, am I right? 
It's more of the complete nonsense plotting of Dead Reckoning, but with a dour tone that's closer to Fallout. I don't care about Luther dying when he's had zero character development for the past five or six flicks, and now that Gabriel has gone rogue, The Entity's vague and undefined mission to exterminate humanity just plays like a tired retread of Skynet and Ultron, with none of the quick-thinking mystique it had in Part One.
Sure, the two major stunt/action sequences are fun enough, but they're both variations on what we've seen before, and there's no heists whatsoever this time. Hayley Atwell of course remains charming, but her and Ethan's vague siblings-in-arms,-or-maybe-someday-lovers? chemistry also mostly just replays his quasi-relationship with Ilsa. Meanwhile, the movie's whole "Ethan Hunt/Tom Cruise is literally Jesus" shtick was tiresome throughout, and, given the story's sci-fi angle, it's impossible (har, har) not to be reminded of Cruise's, uh, personal life. All told, apart from an homage to Fail Safe, (the US president having to proactively nuke a US city as a conciliatory, escalation-suppressing measure), there were really only two new elements here: the unexpected and genuinely sweet story about the bit player from the first flick, and at least 10 seconds of screen time that seems to be arguing the world's best medicine is a few hours' exposure to Atwell's bosoms, which, sure, can't argue with that.
In conclusion, the movie left me satisfied on the action front, but wanting to rewatch either 2 or Ghost Protocol to experience a proper popcorn spy story. III, Fallout, Dead Reckoning, and The Final Reckoning all have standout action sequences, but I don't think I'd ever rewatch them start to finish on my own, and I might even include Rogue Nation on that list. (I haven't seen the original recently enough to fully rate it, but I didn't much like it the first and only time around.) That may sound a bit harsher than I intend, as I don't outright dislike any of those movies; they're just not particularly satisfying stories.
Dead Reckoning Part One: B+
The Final Reckoning: B-
It's more of the complete nonsense plotting of Dead Reckoning, but with a dour tone that's closer to Fallout. I don't care about Luther dying when he's had zero character development for the past five or six flicks, and now that Gabriel has gone rogue, The Entity's vague and undefined mission to exterminate humanity just plays like a tired retread of Skynet and Ultron, with none of the quick-thinking mystique it had in Part One.Sure, the two major stunt/action sequences are fun enough, but they're both variations on what we've seen before, and there's no heists whatsoever this time. Hayley Atwell of course remains charming, but her and Ethan's vague siblings-in-arms,-or-maybe-someday-lovers? chemistry also mostly just replays his quasi-relationship with Ilsa. Meanwhile, the movie's whole "Ethan Hunt/Tom Cruise is literally Jesus" shtick was tiresome throughout, and, given the story's sci-fi angle, it's impossible (har, har) not to be reminded of Cruise's, uh, personal life. All told, apart from an homage to Fail Safe, (the US president having to proactively nuke a US city as a conciliatory, escalation-suppressing measure), there were really only two new elements here: the unexpected and genuinely sweet story about the bit player from the first flick, and at least 10 seconds of screen time that seems to be arguing the world's best medicine is a few hours' exposure to Atwell's bosoms, which, sure, can't argue with that.
In conclusion, the movie left me satisfied on the action front, but wanting to rewatch either 2 or Ghost Protocol to experience a proper popcorn spy story. III, Fallout, Dead Reckoning, and The Final Reckoning all have standout action sequences, but I don't think I'd ever rewatch them start to finish on my own, and I might even include Rogue Nation on that list. (I haven't seen the original recently enough to fully rate it, but I didn't much like it the first and only time around.) That may sound a bit harsher than I intend, as I don't outright dislike any of those movies; they're just not particularly satisfying stories.
Dead Reckoning Part One: B+
The Final Reckoning: B-
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^^The climbing on the outside of that building in GP is the thing of nightmares.
Oh, one question... correct me if I'm wrong, but the movie didn't even bother to give an explanation for why that torpedo tube opened, right? I may be a Navy veteran, but I wasn't a submariner, so I'm not certain about this, but I don't think torpedo shafts have an internal button wherein they'll open up to the ocean if a person happens to find themselves stuck in one? And he didn't do anything to set up the shaft opening, right? It was pure and shameless plot magic that he didn't just get stuck and drown in there?
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It was not too far from that John Philip Law sci-fi film nobody remembers the title of. SPACE RAGE or something....
Yes, basically I felt she was just a replacement for Ilsa.
Which was basically how it was handled after Ilsa died she conveniently walks into frame as the next lady for Ethan/Cruise