Why MI: Dead Reckoning Part II Works and Fast XI Does Not

The seventh film of the series, ‘Mission Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One,’ is the summer blockbuster everyone should see. The film follows Ethan Hunt and his IMF team tracking down a dangerous weapon before it could ruin the human race. MI7 stars Tom Cruise and is directed by Christopher McQuarrie.

There is a particular formula in action films like this one, ‘James Bond’, or the ‘Bourne’ franchise, and it has an original simple story, bringing in different exciting villains and wasting no time in bringing the audience in on what the situation is and taking everyone for a ride until the last shot.

If you have to use the bathroom during the film, don’t. At least wait until after the iconic Mission Impossible ‘Burning Fuse’ introduction a few minutes into the movie.

Rising star Hayley Atwell steals the screen as the pickpocketing thief that plays a massive role in the storyline. She steals the screen with her innocence and fragility, going toe to toe with Tom Cruise. Wouldn’t be surprised to see her shift from the Marvel Universe as ‘Peggy Carter’ to hopefully more mainstream roles in these blockbuster hits.

The action is more samurai sword style and had me squirming in my seat at the characters’ attempts to strike one another. Pom Klementieff, who plays ‘Paris’ is a memorable villain in the Mission Impossible franchise. She brings a specific chaotic, evil energy to the screen audience’s fear.

‘Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part Two’ will be released on June 28th, 2024. If you are new to these great movies, you have time to catch up with the past seven. Or you can wait until 2030 for Mission Impossible 12, which will occur in space (Not Serious).

But in the time the movie industry is in now, the future looks like nothing but sequels and remakes. This is totally okay for the Mission Impossible franchise because they are the perfect popcorn movies that bring people to the movie theatres and provide the whole theatre experience.

But when you look at a movie like ‘Fast X,’ we are all tired of it.

And again, you can count on having the next couple of ‘Fast & Furious movies take place on Mars or underwater; the possibilities are endless when you have ‘Family.’

Of course, I bought a ticket to watch it as I was excited to see how they would end the long successful franchise that I have grown up with and significantly impacted my love for movies. Jason Mamoa was introduced as the new villain, John Cena played a loveable character, and director Justin Lin shocked audiences again with new action with motor vehicles. But the whole time, I sat in the theatre wondering how street racing criminals from Los Angeles came to save the world from nuclear warfare and flying muscle cars.

It’s been two months since the movie came out, so spoiler alert, there will be a part two to ‘Fast X’ as the recent film left everyone on a cliffhanger with Dom, his team, and his family still in danger. So when should the Fast & Furious franchise come to an end?

It may never end, as I jokingly said, but part of me was half serious. Why would studios stop doing these money-making projects for the actors? You can argue that these movies and the Marvel Franchise are not considered ‘art’; of course, they aren’t — this is a business. Do you think Vin Diesel will sign on to a Wes Anderson flick where you only make $4,200? Of course not.

He will continue to make ten more ‘XXX’ and continue the ‘Chronicles of Riddick’ because audiences do not have the attention span to follow a character-driven movie anymore — maybe that will change, but that is a whole other conversation.