The seventh Mission: Impossible movie has arrived on 4K Ultra HD, and it’s worth snagging even if you missed it in theaters.
Based on the box office results (which came as a surprise to many given the previous film’s reception), it seems like a lot of you missed out on Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1 in theaters. In a Summer that was packed to the gills with big movies, it’s understandable that a few things slipped through the cracks. It happens! With the release of the film on physical media, however, it’s time to rectify that.
The Film
Generally speaking, I haven’t talked much about the Mission: Impossible franchise here on the site. Namely, I don’t care for Tom Cruise (on a personal level), and even skipped out on watching Fallout until years after its release. That said, there’s no denying the awesomeness of the franchise and it’s ability to weave together a story that keeps you on your toes along with impressive action set pieces.
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One 4K Ultra HD
Directed By: Christopher McQuarrie
Written By: Christopher McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Esai Morales, Vanessa Kirby
Release Date: October 31, 2023
Purchase [Affiliate]: https://amzn.to/3tXt17g
Dead Reckoning Part One (which might just be Dead Reckoning at this point as they consider a name change for the sequel), is no different. Clocking in at the longest film in the series to date, it picks up the story of Ethan Hunt and his IMF team as they must confront a deadly new enemy that not only has ties to the Ethan’s past, but could ultimately control the fate of everyone on the planet.
You know, pretty typical workday stuff for the IMF!
On top of bringing back several familiar faces, which tie together ALL of the films in some fun ways, there are plenty of new characters to enjoy as well. Despite the impressive cast of characters, no one feels underused. Of course, the expanded runtime helps with this, but the flow of the story and overall pacing ensures everyone has a distinct feel/personality to them. Haley Atwell’s addition is almost instantly likable and the way she gels with the story and established team is impressive.
The new—human—villain, Gabriel (Esai Morales) stood out to me in particular, however. From the outset he feels like a legitimate, and terrifying, threat. And despite the fact he hasn’t factored into any of the previous films, it feels like he’s always been a part of it. Seriously, after finishing the film in theaters, I went home to look up stuff thinking I had forgotten his character in earlier films. Sure, a factor in that feeling is how the story establishes him, but the sheer presence he brings to every scene (and how the characters play off of him) is powerful.
Combine that with a twisting story that hits the right notes with insane action pieces, and Dead Reckoning is easily one of the best films in the series. More than an engaging spy-thriller, it’s a phenomenal action movie to boot. The combination ensures that, even as the film’s runtime can be felt, you’re never once bored. Yes it’s long, but thinking back on the film (especially watching it a second time for the 4K release), I can’t think of a thing to cut out that wouldn’t negatively impact the overall story.
Sight & Sound
Dead Reckoning in 4K looks absolutely stunning. As the film traverses different parts of the world, every locale pops with vibrant colors and a crisp image. Blacks are deep, which makes the darker action scenes (including my favorite moment with the fight in the alley), easy to see with nothing blurring.
The sound is similarly well handled, with immersive surround sound that puts you in the middle of all the action. Even with bullets flying and things exploding, the dialog is still given proper priority. From a technical standpoint, it’s a very solid 4K transfer.
The Bonus Features
The Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One 4K Ultra HD includes a digital copy insert, the film on Blu-Ray, along with these special features:
Commentary by director Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton—McQuarrie and Hamilton take viewers through each compelling scene with in-depth commentary.
Abu Dhabi—Explore the exotic filming locations in the desert and at the international airport and discover how each thrilling sequence was shot.
Rome—Take a behind-the-scenes look at the thrilling car chase through Italy’s historic capital, as Tom Cruise’s driving skills are pushed to the limit while handcuffed to Hayley Atwell!
Venice—See the breathtaking city of Venice as it’s never been shown on film. Plus, witness the cast’s dedication and commitment to their training as they prepare to get “Mission Ready.”
Freefall—An extended behind-the-scenes look at one of the biggest stunts in cinema history. Watch never-before-seen footage of the rigorous training as Tom launches a motorcycle off a cliff.
Speed Flying—Join Tom and the crew as they explain the various training techniques involved in pulling off the dangerous speed flying stunts in the film.
Train—See how the climactic train sequence was captured on film. From building an actual train from scratch to crashing it using practical effects, you don’t want to miss this!
Deleted Shots Montage—Director Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton share some of the breathtaking, never-before-seen footage that didn’t make the final film.
Editorial Featurette: The Sevastopol—Director Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton take viewers through the intense opening scene.
All in all, the bonus features are pretty standard. Nothing in particular stands out here, and the featurettes on the vfx/stunt work are so short, it feels like they’re just getting to the meat of the interesting stuff right before it’s over. They aren’t bad, per se, but these extras aren’t the reason to buy this one.
Go ahead and buy Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning on 4K. It’s a fantastic movie and looks great. There’s definitely no reason to skip out on this film and treat yourself to what you may have missed in theaters.
