Just got home. We watched in IMAX.

Full disclaimer here: I love all the MI films.

I think the last 2 films have lost some of the espionage feel the previous 6 films had. This had a different vibe that worked too.

That said; I enjoyed this. Could have shaved off a little here & there.

Oh my sold out IMAX crowd clapped at the end. Pretty cool.
Solid 8/10.

Oh I hope so!

asmith96 said:

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....but, why a bi-plane? In my younger years, I could just turn my brain off and enjoy. Not anymore, by choice! If we keep paying for these kind of films, it's all we'll get eventually.

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More insanely awesome stunts done practically?

Sign me up.

Good Lord dude, chill. You sound manic.

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Another voice of reason about this film. It will not age well, everyone in this forum is high on the hype and "stunts".
I agree with TCTTS on 96% of his comments here, but he is dead wrong with his last comment.
TC- You literally take a whole paragraph admitting and outlining all the flaws with this film...and there are MANY reason to not like it.

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I said those were my problems with the FIRST HALF of the film. Not the second half. And that even those first half problems didn't take away from my overall enjoyment. That, and at least its problems were in service of the story. If I had to pick between zero context and too much context, I'd choose the latter every time. Too much exposition/nostalgia is a minor complaint in the grand scheme of things.

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The next thing you say is "but, it's a fun time and you're dead inside if you didn't love it". I mean....come on, really?? The two BEST action scenes ever put to film. Don't be ridiculous. That may be the craziest thing you've said in a long while. Great stunt- YES. How they filmed it- super impressive. Maybe the most daring and dangerous ever done, no doubt...but, neither of them were good scenes. You have to care and understand what's happening and have 'some' small doubt about how it will end for it to be a great action scene. You all are saying that you were on the edge of your seat. Why? Where was the suspense?

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I stand by my statement 100%. Which, oddly enough, you basically confirm yourself, seeing as I'm speaking mainly in terms of the technical achievement aspect. They were both bonkers-insane, never-before-attempted stunts, and yes, absolutely, beyond a shadow of a doubt, two of the most impressive stunts/action scenes I've ever seen put to film. A LOT of people are saying the same thing too. You're in the minority there, buddy.

Regardless, whether they were "good scenes" or not is a subjective opinion. *I* thought they were. IMO, they each had crystal clear objectives, crystal clear stakes, I absolutely cared what was going to happen, and I was on the edge of my seat as to how Ethan was going to manage his way out.

I honestly don't understand how you didn't find them suspenseful. Out of all eight movies, this is the only one where there's any chance of Ethan actually dying. Yet for some reason you're complaining about these two action scenes and not every other action sequence in every other Mission: Impossible movie, where there was ZERO chance he was going to die. This complaint makes no sense to me in that regard.

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Ethan Hunt has the thickest and most unbelievable plot armor of ANY character, EVER.

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That's what's so fun about it!

Ethan-as-plot-armor IS the franchise.

95% of the time the suspense is in HOW he's going to get out of this mess, not IF he's going to get out of this mess. It's about HOW he's going to pull off the impossible, KNOWING he's going to pull off the impossible.

That's the whole conceit.

To the point where it's *in* the damn movie title.

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Rolling subs on the ocean floor....bi-planes?? I mean, so silly. I still don't understand how or why there would be bi-planes sitting around...I even googled "are there still a lot of bi-planes in Africa" after I saw the movie. The answer is no.

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Gabriel literally explained this, word for word. He said he brought bi-planes because they're analogue and therefore can't be hacked or traced by the entity. An explanation that made perfect sense, though you clearly missed it due to what I can only assume was your performative guffawing.

Not to mention, it was an homage to "wing walking," which is an old thing stunt performers used to do back in the day on biplanes. In other words, with their very last franchise stunt together, Cruise and McQuarrie decided to pay homage to their stunt-man roots, in a fun way that they actually managed to tie in to the plot. I'm sorry, but that's a really cool wink and a nod and speaks directly to the whole "joyless" thing I was talking about. No one is asking you to turn your brain off completely, but when it comes to stuff like this just try to appreciate the thought, care, effort, and symbolism that went into it, rather than ****ting all over it, especially when it's obvious that said ****ting is at least partly do to you missing key information.

Did someone say bi-planes in Africa?

I must admit I had flashbacks to The Great Waldo Pepper during the biplane scene.

They went a bit overboard on the flashbacks.

Things like handing the secure room knife back to Ethan would have hit harder if they hadn't flashed back to it half a dozen times.

Biplanes are typically smaller aircraft and are far easier to maintain. Very few electrical components, fewer instruments, cloth or linen wings typically although these in the film probably had aluminum wings with cloth control surfaces. Just because they are an old design does not mean they are not still used.

If you're walking away from this movie hating on it because of biplanes, wow. I can think of a few more meaningful reasons to dislike the movie, things I noticed but shrugged away because overall, the movie was a fun one and I was entertained for 2, er, 3 hours.

failed to mention this...I did miss the MI theme in this movie...in others the music would start that famous MI theme in certain moments and was just awesome with what was going on the screen with our Hero. That alone brings some fun into it.

Wished this entry had more of that.

Also, no masks in this one!

Aggies76 said:

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Also, no masks in this one!

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Incorrect! Involved a prison scene

I missed/forgot it! Another good reason to see it again.

Aggies76 said:

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I missed/forgot it! Another good reason to see it again.

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I did see it twice!

I didn't tell you that you had to hate this film. I'm not going to say you are manic or empty inside or horrible to be around because you liked it. I am 51, work in the industry, and have been a film geek since I could breathe. In my opinion this movie is trash. I didn't care at all by the time the action rolled around. No insults from you will change my mind. That's what is great about opinions...they don't all have to be the same. I judge a film between it's run time, period. Every movie is hard to make and takes a lot of skilled people to get it done, good or bad. For me, that hard work doesn't override a bad end product. You are not the end all, be all, of correct opinions on this broad, man. You take everything so personal and I 100% don't mind being in the "minority". Are you never not in the majority with your film opinions? Yikes, sounds really boring, if so. Can we just agree to disagree? I've seen you go on for pages brow-beating people on the forum... I'm not going to be one of them. I enjoy and I'm thankful for what you add to this forum...but, I must say, Good Day, sir! lol

If you have an opinion that differs from Oz he will attack you. He does it every time.

I agree with a good amount of your criticisms of the film, though I did still enjoy it overall.
I think you lost your way when you decided to focus on bi-planes so much, which makes everyone think you werent really paying attention to the movie.

I can see that.
From my point of view, I had already put in almost 2 hours before the first true set piece and been driven to complete frustration and disappointment by the first half, that I could not get back into the film. It was a bridge too far...for me. The second half seemed ridiculous at that point. I had, maybe, 5% buy in at that point. I'll watch that plane stunt a few times when it hits you tube and marvel at the magic of movies...but, I'll never like this film.

edited to add this: the varied and rich story telling that is happening on the many streaming/tv services has raised the bar for the films being made today. the at home services are offering tons of quality right now. I don't want re-treads.

I went into this movie with the understanding that the first hour was going to be a disjointed slog, and it still was worse than I thought. Loved the two big stunts, and the inclusion of the one guy from the beginning of the series with the team, but the lead up was enough of a mess that it distracted from it a bit. And way too much Tom Cruise savior complex mixed in, and maybe just too much Cruise in general.

I also thought the bad guy and its rep weren't nearly as effective as villains or well-presented as the last one. Plus every conf room scene was a waste.

There's a much, much better movie in there with a couple different decisions and a lot tighter editing.

Worth watching, and on a big screen, but it's bottom 3 for MI movies for sure. They just tried to cram way, way too much in there. A bit of a disappointing ending (?) to one of the best movie franchises ever.

asmith96 said:

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I didn't tell you that you had to hate this film. I'm not going to say you are manic or empty inside or horrible to be around because you liked it. I am 51, work in the industry, and have been a film geek since I could breathe. In my opinion this movie is trash. I didn't care at all by the time the action rolled around. No insults from you will change my mind. That's what is great about opinions...they don't all have to be the same. I judge a film between it's run time, period. Every movie is hard to make and takes a lot of skilled people to get it done, good or bad. For me, that hard work doesn't override a bad end product. You are not the end all, be all, of correct opinions on this broad, man. You take everything so personal and I 100% don't mind being in the "minority". Are you never not in the majority with your film opinions? Yikes, sounds really boring, if so. Can we just agree to disagree? I've seen you go on for pages brow-beating people on the forum... I'm not going to be one of them. I enjoy and I'm thankful for what you add to this forum...but, I must say, Good Day, sir! lol

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To my initial, clearly-tongue-in-cheek reaction to the movie (jokingly ribbing people who didn't like it), you then actively chose to respond to me (meaning I didn't single you out in a way prior) by calling my opinions "ridiculous" and "crazy" and expressing a generally flabbergasted/manic attitude toward me and anyone who dared liked the movie.

I then simply doubled downed on my opinion in response to you, while never once saying that my opinion was the end-all be-all of opinions, or that you had to bend to my will or whatever other nonsense you're implying. I even underlined the fact that you had your option and I had my mine.

And now?

You're resorting to the same, sad, tired, cliched bull**** that a handful of others here always do by saying things like, "You are not the end all, be all, of correct opinions on this broad, man," when, AGAIN, I never said anything of the sort. On top of that, you're acting like you didn't "insult" my opinions first.

This happens time and time and time again on this board.

I state my opinion.

Someone else states their opposite opinion.

I then explain my opinion in greater detail.

At which point the arguer (and those of the same mind) start accusing me of thinking it's my way or the highway or that I'm "Oz" or whatever other stupid bull*****

When YOU'RE the one who stated, IN DEFINITIVE FASHION, than the stunts weren't good. As if that were fact and no one is allowed to disagree with you. I then simply said, "Actually, I think they were good," explicitly acknowledging that was my OPINION. Yet here you are now, coming at me as if the opposite had just happened, having the gaul to end your post with "Can we just agree to disagree?" As if I didn't already say essentially that.

JFC.

That is not at all factual at how this started. My first comment said I hated the movie and it was just an opinion .. Go back and read, TC. You said I must be a joyless, soul person for my opinion.
You said:
Joking

Kind of ...

You attacked me first (like you always do here) and started this...now you want to play the victim(like you always do). Kindly leave me alone...the WORST thing in said about anyone was that they were caught up in the hyper. Ew.

I mean to be fair, you did post your review as more of a fact than an opinion.

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It will not age well, everyone in this forum is high on the hype and "stunts".
I agree with TCTTS on 96% of his comments here, but he is dead wrong with his last comment.

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Not to mention stating that the two best action scenes of the movie were "not good" because you decreed them as such.

Nevermind the fact that most of the good reviews on this thread have laid out all the weaknesses of the movie, which is far from perfect. Nobody has acted like it's a perfect movie that is one for the ages.

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That's what is great about opinions...they don't all have to be the same.

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You must be new to this board. Just try suggesting that the Star Wars prequels are not bad movies. And wait for the fireworks. ftr, I think the prequels are great.

My exact words: "Great stunt- YES. How they filmed it- super impressive. Maybe the most daring and dangerous ever done, no doubt...but, neither of them were good scenes. You have to care and understand what's happening and have 'some' small doubt about how it will end for it to be a great action scene."
TC said it was one of the best action scenes ever put to film, it's not even in my top 20...did I insult anyone to make that opinion known?

I never addressed anyone directly but TC...other than the blanket statement of being caught up in the hype. Was that offensive to anyone? Apologies, if so.

I'm just pointing out that you stated it as a fact, not as an opinion.

I myself did care about both scenes, even though you obviously know the main character isn't going to die. That's an illogical criteria to me since your main character doesn't die in 99% of action scenes.

John Wick 4 has some of the best action scenes ever put to film. And yes, we know our main character is essentially a superhero who isn't dying in the middle of the movie.

asmith96 said:

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That is not at all factual at how this started. My first comment said I hated the movie and it was just an opinion .. Go back and read, TC. You said I must be a joyless, soul person for my opinion.
You said:
Joking

Kind of ...

You attacked me first (like you always do here) and started this...now you want to play the victim(like you always do). Kindly leave me alone...the WORST thing in said about anyone was that they were caught up in the hyper. Ew.

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Kindly leave you alone???

I wasn't even talking to you.

YOU started talking to ME.

My initial reaction post didn't tag you or respond to you in any way. I don't even remember reading whatever the hell you wrote and, frankly, I have no recollection of ever once noticing your handle until you interjected. I have no idea who you are. Instead, I was mainly ribbing the moron who called the movie "woke." THAT'S who my comment was clearly intended for, seeing as I had *just* echoed Tobias' sentiment one post prior.

And people accuse ME of taking things personally.

Good Lord.

Yall give it a rest

FWIW - I'm with TC and of all posters, let's not insult him as he's one of 2 posters on this board that brings actual information to us

nosoupforyou said:

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Yall give it a read

FWIW - I'm with TC and of all posters, let's not insult him as he's one of 2 posters on this board that brings actual information to us

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Which is what we need, but you can't ignore how insulting he is when he doesn't like someone else's view. He loses objectivity of the film being discussed and goes after the person, not the opinion.

Seeing this tonight. Have seen/heard mixed reviews. Looking forward to it.

Everything anyone says here about art is an opinion. Is it proper etiquette to say "In my opinion" before each thing? I clearly stated at the end of my first post that everything I said was "just an opinion". How did I say it as fact? You know, never mind. You don't have to answer that. I clearly made a mistake participating in this forum of people's opinions on film and such. You guys have got it handled, apologies. Gig'em.

OK, man...I'm out. I'll go back to being a lurker...I mean the great TC didn't even notice my handle or know who I was(therefore, obviously, invalidating my opinion). I wasn't even important enough to read what I wrote before commenting back about it. Heard.

This board is full of people who endlessly insult me and others anytime we dare defend "Hollywood" or don't fall in line with traditionally conservative views.

Funny how you never call them out.

Yet you can't help but get your panties in a wad when I clearly, jokingly rib some folks who didn't have fun with this movie.

You were not "clearly joking", you were condescending...at best. In my opinion.

Do you ever ask yourself why YOU are always involved in these type of conversations with all different kinds of folks?

You can't help yourself can you?

Can't not play the drama queen.

I merely meant that I can't possible memorize every handle and every opinion that goes along with them.

Among mostly good reactions in this thread, I noticed a few negative ones, without paying much attention to who posted them, only for the "woke" one to be the one that ultimately stood out. So I jokingly said what I said and now all the sudden you're coming at me like I singled you out specifically when I did nothing of the sort.

asmith96 said:

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You were not "clearly joking", you were condescending...at best. In my opinion.

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Even if I was, you expressed FAR more incredulity with others when expressing your opinion than I did when expressing mine. Yet somehow you're immune. Got it.