The final chapter in the 3 decade long Mission Impossible saga is here, but is it a satisfying conclusion?

In short, yes it is.

It's impossible to talk about this film, and the franchise as a whole without first discussing Tom Cruise's dedication to the silver screen. Cruise has always been a main staple in the cinema industry, but it was only recently that he was unofficially dubbed the Saviour Of Cinema. Would these films still exist without him? It's not impossible. Would they be anywhere near as good? Definitely not.

This takes us back to THE FINAL RECKONING, the eighth (and possibly last) entry in the Mission Impossible franchise, where Cruise's dedication elevates every action scene. To reiterate, this is action cinema at it's very best. While other franchises solely rely on CGI, this franchise has become well known for it's incredible practical set pieces. You only need to take a look at the previous film in which Cruise drives a motorbike off a cliff before bailing and parachuting down for proof.

This brings me nicely onto the plane stunt in this film. Never before have I felt genuinely sick by watching any of these films, but the image of Cruise barely hanging on to a yellow biplane is enough to make anyone queasy. It reminded me in many ways of Buster Keaton or Harold Lloyd and their equally death defying stunts. Hell, I would even go as far as to say this is the greatest action set piece of the 21st century. In Director Christopher McQuarrie's own words:

“There was a moment where Tom had pushed himself to the point that he was so physically exhausted, he couldn’t get back up off the wing. He was lying on the wing of the plane, his arms were hanging over the front. We could not tell if he was conscious or not.”

To take a look at the behind the scenes of this insane stunt, click HERE.

But how is the film outside of Cruise and the biplane?

Again, really good. It's an incredible choice to make an anti-AI film in this current climate (you just need to take a look at last years acting and writing strikes to understand how serious the issue is). The choice to throw it in AI's face by doing nearly everything practically is just genius. Christopher McQuarrie's writing has always been a highlight of this franchise, he really understands what works with these films and what doesn't. The ing cast are all great, with the standout for me being Ving Rhames as Luther who is given a layer of development that we have never seen from him before.

For die hard fans of the franchise, this is a must watch, it has not only some of the best set pieces from all 8 missions, but also some of the most emotional scenes as well. Even if you're just a casual fan of the series (or if this is your first outing with the IMF) there will be something for you to enjoy. Either way, this is a film that must be watched on the big screen.

Buy your tickets for MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - THE FINAL RECKONING at The Riverside HERE.