A Fitting Finale to Ethan Hunt’s Saga
I recently watched Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning, the eighth and final film of the iconic franchise led by Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt. Surprisingly, many people around me said they didn’t enjoy it as much as the earlier ones — but I beg to differ. Personally, I really liked it.
This film stays true to the franchise’s formula: over-the-top missions, daring stunts, and adrenaline-pumping action. As always, when you watch a Mission: Impossible film, you must leave logic at the door — after all, it’s called Mission: Impossible for a reason.
This time, Ethan Hunt is tasked with a mission to stop a rogue artificial intelligence called Eternity, which believes itself to be godlike. The film revisits past moments from the series, giving a nostalgic nod to its journey since the 1990s. I was only a 6-year-old when the first film came out — watching the final chapter now felt emotional. Eight movies over three decades — truly the end of an era.
Want to revisit how it all began?
Check out 5 Similarities Between Mission: Impossible 1 & Mission: Impossible 6 — a deep dive into the clever callbacks and recurring themes that brought the franchise full circle. Trust us, it’ll make you appreciate Final Reckoning even more!
Action, Emotion, and a Reminder of Human Spirit
The theme of man vs machine is central here. The movie cleverly explores the idea that AI can only predict based on data, but the unpredictability of human emotion can still outsmart it. One line that stayed with me was Ethan telling the American president that “AI assumes we will always act predictably” — a powerful and relevant message.
Tom Cruise delivers another brilliant performance, despite visible signs of aging — which, to be fair, applies to others like Simon Pegg and Haley Atwell too. Speaking of Atwell, she fits well in this world of stylish espionage and high-stakes drama. Gabriel, the antagonist, is also well-played — resisting the team’s efforts till the very end.
The background score and traditional Mission: Impossible theme were nostalgic. The aerial fight scene between Ethan and Gabriel stood out as one of the best choreographed action moments. While I won’t say this is the best of the eight films — for me, Mission: Impossible 2 still takes that crown — this final installment is still a solid entry.
Final Verdict:
Despite the criticism from others, I found Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning to be a great tribute to an iconic franchise. It’s not perfect, but it closes the chapter with honor and emotion. I give it a 9 out of 10 — not flawless, but well worth watching, especially for longtime fans of Tom Cruise and the series.
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