On a recent long-distance flight I watched the last of the Mission Impossible movies, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning (2005). I had to watch it since I had watched all the previous movies in this franchise, starting with Mission: Impossible (1996) which I still consider the smartest and best.
Wasn’t too impressed by Final Reckoning. There was the usual mix of Ethan Hunt sprinting here and there, Ethan Hunt surviving impossible situations, etc., yawn. Even the villain Gabriel was reduced to a caricature of a bad guy with his evil laughter. There were moments, though. I thought it was cool to get the Rolf Saxon character back from the first movie and to find out how his life had turned out. Of course his appearance only conjured up memories of the first movie and how good it was.
The main villain of the movie was not human. It was the Entity, a sentient AI entity. I suppose it was some kind of commentary on the rise of AI in today’s world, but it wasn’t a real commentary, just an excuse to set up the stage for the action scenes.
What will remain with me from the movie will be the acts of true human heroism. First, it was Luther giving his life to save the city of London. It seems we can’t move too far away from this basic Christological theme. The other scene that moved me deeply was the decision by Jasper Briggs/Jim Phelps Jr., the son of Ethan’s former boss, to forgive Ethan for his involvement in the disgrace and death of his father. Sacrifice, forgiveness — these are two expressions of everyday heroism which are needed more than ever in an increasingly dark world. They are no less difficult than surviving freezing waters.
Wasn’t too impressed by Final Reckoning. There was the usual mix of Ethan Hunt sprinting here and there, Ethan Hunt surviving impossible situations, etc., yawn. Even the villain Gabriel was reduced to a caricature of a bad guy with his evil laughter. There were moments, though. I thought it was cool to get the Rolf Saxon character back from the first movie and to find out how his life had turned out. Of course his appearance only conjured up memories of the first movie and how good it was.
The main villain of the movie was not human. It was the Entity, a sentient AI entity. I suppose it was some kind of commentary on the rise of AI in today’s world, but it wasn’t a real commentary, just an excuse to set up the stage for the action scenes.
What will remain with me from the movie will be the acts of true human heroism. First, it was Luther giving his life to save the city of London. It seems we can’t move too far away from this basic Christological theme. The other scene that moved me deeply was the decision by Jasper Briggs/Jim Phelps Jr., the son of Ethan’s former boss, to forgive Ethan for his involvement in the disgrace and death of his father. Sacrifice, forgiveness — these are two expressions of everyday heroism which are needed more than ever in an increasingly dark world. They are no less difficult than surviving freezing waters.