Tom Cruise is back again as IMF Agent Ethan Hunt in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT, the direct sequel to MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- ROGUE NATION in one of the best and maybe even the best entry in the six films and counting MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE series which manages to weave and respect elements from the various movies. If the series ended on this entry, it is a fine way to go out for the series, but this entry will probably make as much money as previous installments (or maybe even more) and Paramount will be thinking of a seventh movie in the Tom Cruise led series where Tom does all of his own stunts (he broke his ankle in a jump, and the accident and aftermath are even left in the final cut).

Ethan Hunt (Cruise) is haunted by nightmares resulting from his long career and the capture of Solomon Lane two years ago. Lane was the leader of the criminal organization called the Syndicate. As the Syndicate was taken down, many members of that organization formed a new outfit called the Apostles. A botched operation to retrieve stolen plutonium results in Hunt being paired with a brutal CIA agent Walker (Henry Cavill) and Hunt works to recover it before it is sold to the Apostles. He finds out the price is break out Solomon Lane and Hunt is soon put under the frame again. Hunt is out there on the edge again with help from his friends/ co-workers Luther (Ving Rhames) and Benji (Simon Pegg).

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- FALLOUT is a variation of the same plots used in the previous five installments. Christopher McQuarrie returns to write and direct this sequel after delivering the fantastic ROGUE NATION. Many characters from the previous film do return where Jeremy Renner is absent due to other film commitments like breaking his arms in TAG and AVENGERS 4. Various locations enhance the action sequences whether it is Paris, the United Kingdom, and Norway and New Zealand standing in for other locations. The cast interact fantastically as some things go wrong like the face mask machine malfunctioning in one scene. I love seeing Rebecca Ferguson back as disavowed MI-6 Agent Ilsa Faust and her chemistry shines with Cruise's Hunt. It examines the cost all of these missions are having on Ethan Hunt and his relationships. I enjoyed this solid entry in the series as the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE series continues to improve where the last three movies are better than the first three movies. If you're a fan of the movie series or action movies or even the original MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE TV series, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT is a great movie to see and rewatch on physical media like DVD, blu-ray, or 4K UHD.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
DISC 1ONE-
Audio Commentary with Director Christopher McQuarrie and actor Tom Cruise
Audio Commentary with Director Christopher McQuarrie and Editor Eddie Hamilton
Audio commentary with music composer Lorne Balfe
Isolate Score Track

DISC TWO-
BEHIND THE FALLOUT (53:32)- a detailed seven part making-of documentary with cast and crew interviews, behind-the-scenes interviews, and clips from MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- FALLOUT:
LIGHT OF THE FUSE- the beginnings of making the latest movie in the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE film series
TOP OF THE WORLD- a behind-the-scenes look at the Halo jump sequence
THE BIG SWING: DELETED SCENE BREAKDOWN- a look at a part of the halo jump sequence finale cut from the movie
RENDEZVOUS IN PARIS- a behind-the-scenes look at the motorcycle chase in Paris and the challenges faced in getting it in a short amount of time
THE FALL- a look at a stunt where Tom Cruise falls down a rope onto a rock attached to the rope while a helicopter is in the air
THE HUNT IS ON- a look at all the prep and training Tom Cruise went through so he could fly a helicopter through a New Zealand canyon area in addition to all the work they did to prepare for the filming the sequence
CLIFFSIDE CRASH- a detailed look at the challenges that two actors and the crew went through to mount and film a pivotal scene in the movie

Sadly the deleted scenes are a deleted scene montage set to music with an optional audio commentary by Christopher McQuarrie and Editor Eddie Hamilton. I wish they included a complete deleted scenes section instead of this montage. Fans of deleted scenes may feel cheated.
The FOOT CHASE MUSICAL BREAKDOWN is a breakdown to the various musical elements that went into creating the music for this action sequence with commentary by composer Lorne Balfe

THE ULTIMATE MISSION is a quick promotional featurette on the sequel
Storyboards for various sequences: PARIS/ WHAT IF?/ LONDON/ HELICOPTER

Theatrical trailer for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE- FALLOUT

Also included in the combo pack is a digital code to stream/ download the movie, the movie in standard definition on DVD, and a collectible booklet on the stunts of the movie

FINAL ANALYSIS: The sixth film in the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE series I as great as the last one. FALLOUT exceeds or at least equals ROGUE NATION for best film in the franchise. The extras are mostly great except the director and editor could have went with making a full deleted scenes section instead of a montage of deleted material.

This review is ©12-19-2018 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com and look for additional content/ news at http://enterlinemedia.tumblr.com