Until last week, I never saw an episode of the 1960’s television show “Mission: Impossible.” Four episodes in, I was hooked! Bypassing all of the troupes of modern television crime dramas (excessive subplots and meandering diatribes on moralism), the classic caper delves straight to the case. Each episode immediately begins with the IMF leader (that’s Impossible Missions Force in case you didn’t know) receiving a brief summary of the secret spy mission. (Then the message self destructs, naturally!) I mention this because I can finally appreciate how these newer Mission Impossible films follow the same principles: It cuts the fat.
In this sixth iteration, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is alerted that a secret organization plans to steal three plutonium cores and help a fundamentalist leader cause holocaust and world-wise choas. (You know, the usual plot). Hunt pursues the precious cargo throughout glorious locales of Paris and London along with his ragtag IMF members, including Benji (Simon Pegg) and Luther (Ving Rhames). However, CIA Director, Erica Sloane (Angela Bassett) sees the IMF as ineffective and antiquated and, thus, sends her own operative, August Walker (Henry Cavill) along to keep Hunt and co. in check. Continue reading
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