In an era dominated by AI images and virtual idols, and with AlphaGo and ChatGPT in play, our friendly 'The Man from Nowhere' still insists on live-action. "Is this really possible?" is the question that comes to mind with 'Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning.'
'Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning' (directed by Christopher McQuarrie, produced/distributed by Lotte Entertainment, abbreviated as Mission Impossible 8) is an action blockbuster where IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his team face a life-threatening crisis that endangers all of humanity, moving toward a single choice with their lives on the line. It is the eighth installment in the 'Mission Impossible' series, which debuted in 1996, and serves as the final chapter that encompasses the 30-year history of the series.
Tom Cruise is a familiar Hollywood superstar to Korean movie fans, having visited for promotional activities of 'Mission Impossible 8' for the 12th time. He even has the nickname 'friendly Tom' drawn from a fairy tale. 'Mission Impossible' is the first film in which Tom Cruise participated as a producer, perfectly solidifying his title as an 'action star.'
Proving this, 'Mission Impossible 8' encompasses all the actions shown in Tom Cruise's filmography, along with the series' representative actions. The action scene of multiple combatants and fast-paced car chases appears almost as a standard, further enhanced by the scale in line with the subtitle 'Final Reckoning.' This includes sea and aerial action taking place near a sunken massive submarine in the Arctic Ocean, as well as stunts from a plane almost resembling an aerial spectacle.
After overcoming the sea, Tom Cruise appears walking on top of an airplane. The aerial action sequence, referred to as 'wing walking,' is accompanied by the term 'unprecedented.' No matter how small the plane, his bare-bodied stunts against aerial antics that easily exceed 210 km/h leave spectators in awe. While Tom Cruise hung from a taking-off plane in the previous work, this time he walks on top of it. His statement during a press conference in Korea that "walking on a flying plane was a dream since I was 6 years old" is no mere fantasy.
In the sea, Tom Cruise resists water, while in the air, he battles against the wind. Although it's not new for him to showcase intense action, it's clear that he has progressed far beyond past scenes where he dangled from a wire, fell in a laboratory, or climbed up skyscrapers while hanging from glass windows. It raises the question of what the 'next' challenge could be for Tom Cruise, who has conquered the ground, skies, and depths.
However, perhaps due to the effort put in, no single cut could easily be trimmed. The 'aesthetics of reduction' are hard to find in 'Mission Impossible 8.' With a running time close to 3 hours that hardly fits in just 2 hours, it leaves the viewers somewhat exhausted. The heart-pounding thrill that leads to exclamations like "Is this even possible?" drains not only the participants but also the audience.
Despite this, the reason for proclaiming it as a 'pass' is simple. It's because of Tom Cruise's romanticism in insisting on live-action in Hollywood of 2025, where easy filming is possible. Born in 1962, at the age of 62, Tom Cruise has now far exceeded his sixties. The playful banter among fans about "wanting to die naturally" reflects why he has maintained the philosophy of live-action through the heritage of 'Mission Impossible' over the past 30 years.
In an era where generative AI led by ChatGPT threatens even film production, Tom Cruise still insists on 'real action.' How could one not respect that romance? A 'theatrical action' movie that doesn't let the thrill diminish despite the overwhelming action. 'Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning,' which cannot retain its flavor on OTT.
The domestic release is on May 17 (North America on May 23), rated for ages 15 and older, with a running time of 169 minutes.
[Photo] Provided by Lotte Entertainment.
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