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Showing posts with the label Ving Rhames

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

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UK Release Date:  10 July 2023 Certification:  12A Director:  Christopher McQuarrie Cast:  Hayley Atwell,  Tom Cruise, Henry Czerny, Cary Elwes, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, Esai Morales, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames Rating:   66% Review: Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One released last week to nothing but positive reviews and opened to $310 million worldwide. The troubled production was well documented with filming halting several times as a result of COVID-19. An infamous rant from Tom Cruise leaked online due to the frustration. Criticised for his aggressive approach but praised for his attitude towards following the strict guidelines.  However, despite the controversy that surrounds him, it can't be denied that Tom Cruise is the last of a dying age of cinema, the last true movie star. He's a great actor - demonstrating that early on in his career as he worked with the likes of Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick and Paul Th...

Mission: Impossible - Fallout

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UK Release Date:  25 July 2018 Certification:  12A Director:  Christopher McQuarrie Cast:  Alec Baldwin, Angela Bassett, Henry Cavill,  Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, Vanessa Kirby, Michelle Monaghan, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames Rating:   86% Review: This is how you do an action film. Not many are able to hold up against the fierce entertainment of Mission: Impossible - Fallout . A well executed plot, paced with expert precision leads to easily the best entry into the franchise.  Stunt work is absolutely mystifying. Each sequence appears to be more death-defying than the last as Cruise and co attempt to up the ante. Tom Cruise became the first actor to ever perform a military HALO jump (High Altitude, Low Open) after arduous training spanning the course of a year. The way in which it is shot is spectacular - a cameraman skydiving alongside Cruise with a Red Weapon 6K camera strapped to his head. It's followed up by an impressive bathroom brawl ...

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

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UK Release Date:  31 July 2015 Certification:  12A Director:  Christopher McQuarrie Cast: Alec Baldwin,  Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Sean Harris, Tom Hollander, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Ving Rhames Rating:   76% Review: For the majority of the Mission: Impossible franchise the films continue to improve in quality, a testament to the  enthusiasm and passion from everyone involved in each entry. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation is no different. It's bolder, it's increasingly demanding but yet the film somehow retains a strong sense of originality.  Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation  unexpectedly ups the ante from Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol . Tom Cruise may have dangled off the Burj Khalifa in the previous addition, a commendable feat unlike anything seen before, but that's next to nothing compared to what Cruise puts himself through in this film. He hung onto the outside of a plane during takeoff, learnt to hold his...

Mission: Impossible III

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UK Release Date:  04 May 2006 Certification:  12A Director:  J.J. Abrams Cast: Billy Crudup,  Tom Cruise, Laurence Fishburne, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Michelle Monaghan, Simon Pegg, Maggie Q, Ving Rhames  Rating:   62% Review: Mission: Impossible III saw a return to form for the action franchise after the mishap of Mission: Impossible II . With a whole host of fresh faces both in front of and behind the camera,  a new breath of life helped Ethan Hunt's story stand out from his previous outings. Firstly, rest in peace Phillip Seymour Hoffman. That man could act. It is by far the best performance within the series. Convincingly menacing with every action, Owen Davian poses a realistic threat to Ethan's morals and ideals. His relentless nature for suffering is frightening. He is never challenged, more feeling bothered and inconvenienced by it all. The new additions to Ethan's crew are entertaining. Really enjoy both Jonathan Rhys Mey...

Mission: Impossible II

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UK Release Date:  07 July 2000 Certification:  15 Director:  John Woo Cast:  Tom Cruise, Brendan Gleeson, Anthony Hopkins, Thandie Newton, John Polson, Ving Rhames, Richard Roxburgh, Dougray Scott Rating:   29% Review: Mission: Impossible II is the only mis fire of the whole franchise. Brian De Palma choose not to return to direct the sequel - quoting, "One of these is enough." In the case of this film that statement would be correct, a massive step down in quality from its predecessor.  With a whole new team of writers behind the development of Mission: Impossible II (bar one)  the film   completely mischaracterises Ethan Hunt. In the first, Hunt is a little cocky but he has an undeniable charm surrounding his persona. Whereas, with this outing he's unbearable. Jealous throughout, rude to his crew and making frequent bad decisions that result in life-threatening consequences.  Thandie Newton and Dougray Scott give two of the worst act...

Mission: Impossible

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UK Release Date:  05 July 1996 Certification:  PG Director:  Brian De Palma Cast:  Emmanuelle Béart, Tom Cruise, Henry Czerny, Vanessa Redgrave, Jean Reno, Ving Rhames, Kristen Scott Thomas, Jon Voight Rating:   68% Review: Quintessential 90s cinema. A film that kickstarted a continuous action franchise that has since grown in ambition, stature and quality. Based on a TV series of the same name that first aired in 1966, Mission: Impossible released 30 years later to, at the time, record breaking commercial success.  Tom Cruise is Ethan Hunt. There is near to no separation from actor and character. Although the stunts get more extravagant and death-defying as the franchise progresses, his dedication at this early stage is unreal during his first real delve into the action genre. Deciding to hang on top of a moving train for the benefit of the film.  Even from the first entry, Cruise was involved in the making of Mission: Impossible as a...