You’ve probably noticed that we’ve been unapologetically writing quite a lot about Mission: Impossible over the last few days. Well, it’s not just because the latest installment to the evergreen franchise, Rogue Nation, is now in cinemas, but it’s also because Mission: Impossible has blossomed into arguably the coolest series of the modern era. And this is a fact that even the cynical sods over at Honest Trailers can’t argue with, as their clip attempting to poke fun at the films revealed:
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Tom Cruise is an ageless freak. Seriously. There’s no difference between how he looks in Mission: Impossible and Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation. He must be under some kind of spell.
As Honest Trailers point out, the Mission: Impossible films have been around since 1996. In fact, the series was greenlit at the same time as a hoard of other movie adaptations of shows from the 1960s This included updated versions of Lost In Space, The Beverley Hillbillies, The Brady Bunch, and MOD Squad. All of these efforts proved to be utterly, utterly dreadful.
But Mission: Impossible was the complete opposite, as Brian De Palma created a smart, taut, tense and action-packed blockbuster. Still, no one could've imagined that the franchise would grow into what it has become. In fact, it has simply flourished under the guidance of directors John Woo, J.J. Abrams, Brad Bird, and, now with Rogue Nation, Christopher McQuarrie.
The main reason for Mission: Impossible's prolonged success though is clearly all down to one man: Ving Rhames. I kid. Obviously I mean Tom Cruise. Because not only has the actor taken the franchise on his back and shouldered the responsibility of taking it into new areas, but he’s flourished in this capacity, too.
As Honest Trailers points out, with Cruise leading the way and selecting his directors, we’ve been privy to the psycho-drama of Brian De Palma, the shaky-cam of J.J. Abrams, the comic sensibilities of Brad Bird, and the diving sideways while holding two guns amidst a flying flock of doves that John Woo provides. And while, admittedly, Mission: Impossible 2 was a complete waste of everyone’s time and talent, the first, third, fourth and (now) fifth installments have been superb.
That’s even though there are quite a few obvious flaws with the concept. Not only can agents pick if they want to do their cases (What happens if Ethan Hunt says no? Do we all die?), but Cruises’ supporting cast constantly fits the mold of: a guy with a gun and a laptop; foreign-accent man; sexual object; and/or Ving Rhames. But, who are we to complain? Because Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation proves that the franchise continues to only get better with age. Just like its frustratingly handsome leading man.
