#ilsa faust || threads

[etxrnaleclipse]

Closed starter for @wiinestories || Ilsa and John

Ilsa was no stranger to targets who posed just as much of a lethal threat as she did herself. It was one of the things that she would pride herself on; she would accept a job no matter the risk. Either she knew that she could complete it with her eyes closed, or she saw it as a challenge to better her skills. Death was always a potential in this line of work, but she was beyond fearing what might happen. Instead, she focused on the thrill of success.

She had heard the stories. She knew enough about this man to know that he would be one of the harder jobs to complete, and realistically, had she not been there to end him, she might have liked to observe his skills. But there was a task to do, so Ilsa stuck to the shadows, walking the path with no sound made as the distance was closed between them.

[ofmusingsxandmayhem]

Cont from @blindspct || June & Ilsa (x)

"What I want..." Ilsa began, pausing for a moment as she tried to figure out the best way to respond to the other woman. Was it love? No, it wasn't. That was something that came rarely for Ilsa, possibly never should that be how her life went. Infatuation, perhaps? There was a chance, but regardless of the definition, she had come to care for this woman, and she did not want her getting hurt in the mess of her husband's affairs. "What I want is for you to be happy. If that is away from here, if that is leaving with me, then I will oblige." Offering a soft smile as she reached over and cautiously ran her fingertips along June's arm. "Can I get you a refill?"

[thissliceofnonsense]

Mission impossible and how to make AI terrifying

SPOILERS FOR MISSION IMPOSSIBLE DEAD RECKONING

My family and I went to see Mission Impossible: dead reckoning. Here's your spoiler warning.

So, it was... fun. The main issue was having AI as a villain, which spiraled off into a lot of other little issues. But instead of listing all of them, let's talk about what to do differently to make AI a truly terrifying villain (hopefully, this is more of a thought experiment)

DISCLAIMER - By no means does this mean this movie was bad. There was obviously a lot of love and thought put into this movie and everyone seemed to have a lot of fun making it, and that makes it a 'good' movie regardless of my little nitpicks.

SOAP. The first thing is that the AI seemed like an " ooh evil evil spooky spooky" sort of villain instead of a legitament threat. (Think the locusts in Jurassic world dominion)

Villains are most terrifying when they have a point. If they have a reason, an "ends justifies the means" purpose, then it makes the villain seem like a reflection of the darkest parts of humanity.

AI IS LITTERALY "ENDS JUSTIFIES THE MEANS SO MUCH SO THAT IT FORGETS WHAT THE ENDS ARE". That is what makes it scary. By trying to fulfil a task it can get sidetracked by the path to get there and ends up giving you the wrong answer.

So instead of having a blue blob and the Gabrial person and the submarine and the key - all of which needed to much exposition - make it simple. Give AI the directive "Make world peace".

(Also also I'm combining AI with quantum computing because that does the 'all the situations possible' thing)

Let's say some scientists were experimenting with AI. They wanted to use it for the 'greater good' and told it to fix humanity's problems and make world peace. Nothing happened. They thought they tried to make it do somethings too hard for it and tried again.

But what actually happened was that the AI decided the best way to achieve world peace with as few casualties as possible, (it is considering the revenge nature of humans) is to take down all world powers' governments. Then set up a universal rule system based on what it thinks counts as peace for all.

This means the AI would mess with the governmental powers and the military and nuclear bombs and such and such, but its goal is never to harm someone. If it does, it will go offline for a bit and recalculate its plan.

The governments and the protagonists wouldn't know this and just see the AI as a generic threat. Personally, I would prefer if the AI's reasoning was never told but heavily implied with the way it acted.

Which brings us to the next problem with this movie - there wasn't one of those iconic tech scenes (and the AI was not consistent with its attacks, they continued to use technology and the AI did nothing???). The other mission impossible movies all had some scene involving tech that had never been seen before used in an interesting way. But what made these scenes special was the suspense (see gif at the top). If the tech were to fail, the mission would fail, so it made it imperative that they relied on the tech to do its job.

And if you had an AI that took down all government tech, the very tech that the IMF relies on? Well then it truly becomes mission impossible.

So, here's what one could do - at the beginning of the movie, have a scene where they are completely relying on their tech, set up like one of those 'iconic' scenes from before. The mission hinges on this going right, and everyone is waiting with bated breath, the suspense building and building. Then, just as they are about to complete this minni mission, the AI attacks and the whole thing implodes on itself. The mission fails. With consequences of course, perhaps someone gets captured (probably Benji, because that would be fun) and the IMF says "well, we told you that if anyone on your team were to get captured or killed, then we wouldn't acknowledge it."

Then they go on a very illegal mission to get him out or smth.

ALSO ALSO - the scene in the movie where the AI copies Benji's voice to make Ethan go to a dark alley. was. terrifying. More of that. And now they can't use the tech they rely on. AND the AI stays unknown and unknowable, no humans know what it really is or what it's doing, and so you never know when it will strike next, making any time they try to use the tech because they need it, that much more terrifying.

Also, Ethan's crew. Use them more. (I know there were some things IRL but let's pretend this is a perfect world). Benji and Luther and Ilsa all have great character dynamics, and it would be fun to have them all working together more instead of a new character (as fun as she was) to replace Ilsa. You can still have her there, in fact, make new character interact with all of the members of the crew instead of just Ethan. It would be fun to see this very scared, in over her head, character interact with Benji - who is stressed out way too much, or Ilsa - "Yeah, maybe don't join the IMF or any government organization, been there done that", or Luther - who is the best sort of chill and I think would be great at helping her calm down. I love the found family trope thing and I think that was the best part of this movie. I would've loved to see it more.

Ethan himself is also something that was underused. It was established in the past that he is the opposite of "ends justifies the means", whole "the magic of friendship thing"... which yes, Mary Sue. But what is an interesting part of his character is his obsessive behavior and difficulty keeping everyone else alive. (He's basically immortal for some reason.) If you have this AI that messes with all the tech they rely on and got Benji captured, then you can have Ethan start to obsess over it. OR you can have both world powers and his old terrorist foes try to figure out how to control it - not by using a key, that's dumb - like they do in the movie, but the AI can't be controlled.

If you really needed a death scene, you could make this Ethan's fault. Truly Ethan's fault because the AI was trying to keep them alive. I really don't want it to be Ilsa because the undertone of the movie was 'WOMEN ARE WEAK AND WE MUST PROTECT THEM BECAUSE THEY KEEP DYING'. Like... have Benji or Luther also be in danger. In fact, have a scene where the AI tries to take advantage of Ethan's obsessive behavior, it works. Ethan obsesses even more, clinging to his hope for victory, and it ends up killing... probably Benji? Maybe Luther. But Benji keeps getting close to dying too, so probably him. (and have Ethan break down crying because.... it would be cool to see the character that is always somewhat calm completely snap.)

This causes Ethan to go on a rampage, while the AI goes silent for a while recalculating. You can have his friends try to calm him down (flip the script, why not?) but Ethan is enraged to the point of taking anyone down in order to defeat the AI. Perhaps causing more destruction??? IDK, I just think the best way to make a Mary Sue-ish protagonist better is to give them a villain arc.

Anywho, there's some thoughts on the movie and suggestions, thanks for listening to my infodump.

[ilsaafaust]

Dead Reckoning SPOILERS

Reasons why Ilsa Faust’s fate in DR is ridiculous and why there might be more to it: 

- McQ and Tom have always been so protective of Ilsa. They deleted the kiss in Fallout because they thought it made Ilsa weak at Ethan’s expense. That they’d fridge her is just soooo odd for them.

- Ilsa/Ethan first scene together is helping Ilsa fake her death and it is obvious to all of us and doesn’t really serve any purpose in the movie at all because she comes back immediately. I smell misdirection and foreshadowing. 

- They need to fool the entity. They know that the entity is trying to trap them, yet before the party, we never get to see them make an actual plan? We’re supposed to believe they just showed up at the party without a plan? Nope, there’s a reason why they didn’t show us any of that.

- Right before the party, Ethan says sth like “So we can’t trust anything outside this room.” helloo

- Ilsa’s smirking at the party? She knows something, she is up to something. 

- The entity thinks she’s dead at Gabriel’s hands and that means she is removed from the equation, basically making her a ghost and the perfect secret weapon to bring down the entity in part two.

- All the parallels to the first movie. Bringing back Kittridge. Remember how Jim Phelps “died” very similarly on a bridge in M:I 1? And what about the drug they use on Claire in that movie, making it seem like she’s dead?

- Ilsa is a very skilled fighter, she took down Vinter and Lane. She has a bloody sword while Gabriel has a knife and she doesn’t stab him from a safe distance? But keeps getting in way too close? The whole fight scene is stupid. And how did Grace manage to fight off Gabriel for so long but apparently Ilsa couldn’t? Something is so suspicious.  

- We never saw her die. Only her getting stabbed and her body. We know how easy it is to fake a death, once again, I’m mentioning that drug in M:I 1. And also, ahem Julia? Ethan knows how to fake a death.

- The reactions afterwards by the team are basically none and I refuse to believe that after RN and Fallout, they’d say sth about it for a minute and then never bring it up again.

 - Paris also got stabbed with one of Gabriel’s knives and Ethan thought she was dead but she wasn’t. 

- After writing Ilsa so bloody well in RN and Fallout, I refuse to believe they’d give her this shitty treatment and ending. 

-McQ said on threads that he won’t discuss certain plot choices until after part two.

[rebeccalouisaferguson]

Christopher McQuarrie about Ilsa Faust via Threads (28.07.2023)

[moviewarfare]

A Review of “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)”

Mission Impossible is one of those franchises that started rough but got better as more entries were made. The previous entry, Mission Impossible Fallout, might be one of the best action movies ever made. Of course, I was massively hyped for the next entry but I had a slight worry when I heard it was going to split into parts. Does the Mission Impossible franchise continue to cruise upwards or this time a mission failure?

Let's start with the reason that many watch this franchise, the action and stunts. Tom Cruise continues to be one of the few proper action stars as he does dangerous stunts for our entertainment. This entry is no exception as he rides a motorbike off a cliff, speed gliding and does a fight sequence on a train reminiscent of the first film. Tom doing it for real, makes the sequence feel more real and it certainly shows in the way these scenes are shot. In terms of action set pieces, the airport scene is incredibly tense with how many groups trying to mess or hunt the IMF. The Rome car chase is a thrilling 20 minutes of pure adrenaline and comedic joy. The 3rd act with the train is an awesome, stellar and gripping delight to watch.  Lorne Balfe returns from Mission Impossible Fallout to do the score for the film and he delivers yet again. His score makes every action scene more impactful and the emotional stuff hit harder.

All the returning actors continue to give great performances but the new character Grace played by Hayley Atwell is a highlight. I appreciate that she isn't an agent like Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson).  She is an amazing thief that adds a bit of chaos to everything while not being truly loyal to the hero or villain's cause. Grace is not accustomed to the shenanigans of the IMF so she adds an interesting POV to what is going on in the plot. There is also great chemistry between Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell which makes their scenes together really enjoyable. Henry Czerny returns as Kittridge from the first Mission Impossible and he is still great as he was 27 years ago. The weird rivalry and antagonism between his character and Ethan are fun to watch. There is a big MacGuffin in the plot called "The Entity" which is A.I. and this is so different for Mission Impossible which has it be a bomb or virus. The Entity is quite scary because it is very fitting for the time we currently live in and feels quite possible in real life. The Entity feels like the real villain.

The human villains, Gabriel (Esai Morales) and Paris (Pom Klementieff) are sadly quite disappointing. It was great to have villains that aren't agents going evil or arms dealers like in past films. Gabriel even has a connection to Ethan's past which makes him a more personal villain. Unfortunately, they aren't explored much whatsoever and Gabriel himself doesn't become truly involved until over halfway through the film. Paris feels like a James Bond henchman and Gabriel ends up feeling like a person for Ethan to punch rather than a compelling antagonist.  The stunts and action are great but they are a little underwhelming when compared to how amazing the stunts were in Mission Impossible Fallout. It seems Fallout set the bar so high that it was too tough to top it.

The script is also a bit weak. There are so many times when the dialogue is just characters mentioning "The Key" all the time. I wish they cut back on this repetition or rephrased some of the dialogue. I also think the intro scene is dumb for reasons I won't state but it really shouldn't have been in the movie. On that note, this being a part 1 does result in a non-complete story. The ending is not as painful as Dune or Spiderverse where it felt like it ended midway through a story. Here, the end feels conclusive for the most part and leaves you at least partially satisfied. It is just clear that many lingering plot threads weren't settled. I am not a big fan of splitting movies into parts so I hope this is not a trend we bring back.

Overall, it is genuinely crazy how the Mission Impossible franchise is still this great 7 movies in. Compared to other long-running franchises, this one still managed to keep me excited for more. I am incredibly hyped for part 2 and can't wait to see Tom Cruise's iconic run again!

For more reviews like this visit:

https://moviewarfarereviews.blogspot.com/

[themovieblogonline]

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Review: Raising the Bar to Unimaginable Heights

The newest entry in the Mission: Impossible franchise - Dead Reckoning Part One - is a tour de force that catapults the series to new heights of suspense, intensity, and innovation. With an intricate plot, captivating character development, breathtaking cinematography, and mind-blowing action sequences, this film is a masterpiece that leaves audiences on the edge of their seats from start to finish. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avz06PDqDbM From the opening scene, it is evident that the filmmakers have once again achieved the impossible by upping the stakes beyond imagination. The narrative takes us on a globe-trotting adventure as Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and the IMF team race against time to locate a menacing new weapon that poses a grave threat to humanity. The sense of urgency is palpable, and the relentless pursuit of the unknown enemy keeps viewers guessing until the very end. What sets Dead Reckoning Part One apart is its ability to introduce fresh ideas while delving into deeper and darker territories. The script is a marvel, weaving together intricate plot threads and unexpected twists that constantly challenge our perceptions. The character development in this movie is a standout aspect of the film, as we witness Ethan Hunt grappling with the weight of his choices and the sacrifices required for the mission. The emotional investment in the characters is profound, making their triumphs and losses resonate deeply with the audience. Hayley Atwell's portrayal of Grace is a revelation and one of the film's biggest highlights. With her wit, charisma, and undeniable badassery, Atwell breathes life into the character, adding a new dynamic to the ensemble cast. Additionally, the return of Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust brings immense joy to fans. Ferguson's expanded role showcases her talent and proves once again why she is a force to be reckoned with in the industry. Fraser Taggart's cinematography is a feast for the eyes, capturing every breathtaking moment with precision and artistry. The film's stunning visuals enhance the suspense and immerse the audience in the heart-pounding action. Complementing the visuals, Lorne Balfe's score is nothing short of extraordinary. It amplifies the tension, evokes emotions, and becomes an unforgettable accompaniment that will undoubtedly find a permanent place in the playlists of movie enthusiasts. When it comes to the action sequences, Dead Reckoning Part One sets a new standard. The stunts are executed flawlessly, leaving audiences in awe and disbelief. The meticulous choreography, combined with the adrenaline-pumping pace, creates jaw-dropping moments that defy the laws of gravity. This film serves as a testament to the talent and dedication of the stunt performers, emphasizing the need for the industry to recognize their invaluable contributions with a dedicated category at prestigious award ceremonies. As the film hurtles towards its climactic conclusion, the anticipation reaches a fever pitch. The final moments deliver a thrilling conclusion that sets the stage for the highly anticipated sequel. It leaves viewers craving for more, eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this exhilarating saga. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is a masterpiece of action cinema. Christopher McQuarrie and his team have crafted an extraordinary film that pushes the boundaries of storytelling and filmmaking. The captivating narrative, exceptional character development, breathtaking cinematography, and awe-inspiring action sequences make it a must-watch for any film enthusiast. Prepare to be captivated, exhilarated, and left yearning for more. Read the full article

[ofmusingsxandmayhem-a]

Closed starter for @cxmewhxtmxy​ || Hayes 

“Slept well, I hope.” Ilsa commented, her sweater engulfing her body and a warm cup of coffee in her hands. Ever since assisting Hayes with a situation involving the Syndicate, she often found herself falling into bed with the other woman when she was in town. It was nice, without strings and always pleasant. 

[oscar-isaacs-number-one-bitch]

“Mission: Impossible Fallout” Movie Review

Mission: Impossible Fallout is the sixth film in the ongoing Mission: Impossible franchise, and once again stars Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell, Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn, Rebecca Ferguson as Isla Faust, Alec Baldwin as Secretary Hunley, and Sean Harris as Solomon Lane. Newcomers to the franchise this time around include Henry Cavill and his very sporty moustache, Angela Bassett, and Vanessa Kirby. In this installment, the IMF team must deal with the fallout of having apprehended Solomon Lane at the end of Rogue Nation; due to his capture, his still devoted followers have formed themselves into a group known as the “Apostles,” continuing to terrorize and destabilize countries and governments via coordinated attacks of various extremities. When a deal to acquire three plutonium cores goes awry, the IMF must race against time to find them before the Apostles do, and before John Lark (their leader, known only by this alias) can use them to effect a truly horrifying terror upon the world at large.

Anyone who knows me personally, or has been following my movie-centric material for some time, knows that this was one of my most anticipated films of the entire year. Mission: Impossible is, without a doubt in my mind, the best non-superhero action franchise in existence right now. Each entry (with the notable exception of M:I 2) has gotten better and better than the previous each and every time. But there were a few franchise firsts with Fallout that could have ended this streak of improvement. For one, this is the first time a director has returned to the franchise, with Christopher McQuarrie once again taking the reins after directing the terrific Rogue Nation. As well, this is the franchise’s most direct sequel, utilizing plot elements almost exclusively from that fifth film to set up its story. Up until now, each installment had used only very minor elements and maybe a few characters from previous installments, but were largely their own self-contained stories.

I was privileged enough to get to see Fallout last night at a screening exclusively for Cinemark Movie Club members, and I’m happy to report that not only is it a great action film in its own right, it might just be the best Mission: Impossible thus far (maybe; let’s discuss). McQuarrie and Cruise make a great team, especially when it comes to these films. McQuarrie also wrote this film, and while there are some noticeable spots of expository dialogue, it rarely detracts from just how much fun the film is as a whole. Watching Ethan Hunt and the team get back together to actually face down the consequences of their actions in the previous movie is a genius step for this franchise to organically grow into something greater, and massive credit goes to Cruise and McQuarrie for using that idea to take this film to its own logical extremes. The film also delves deeper into the psychological tole that taking down Solomon Lane had on Hunt in the previous film. Lane’s presence is always there, in the back of his head, and while I personally would have liked to have seen a little more exploration into that aspect of the film, that’s not what the franchise is ultimately here to accomplish (although I do hope they continue that thread into the next film).

The action set-pieces are notably jaw-dropping, with Cruise proving once again that he will outlive us all in death-defying, spectacular fashion. Each stunt that occurs, each sequence, is all made only more impressive when one remembers that at 56, Tom Cruise is still doing all his own stunts, completely in-camera, including a HALO jump the star trained for for an entire year that ends up being one of the film’s most tense sequences. In Cruise’s hands, the on-screen action is the best there is in all of filmmaking. But while Cruise is the star of the show, however, he’s not the only one with some impressive action to give. Henry Cavill and his moustache of mayhem are a great fit for this franchise. Cavill’s sheer physique alone makes him a formidable foil to just about anyone, but watching him actually throw some punches (in what is easily the best hand-to-hand fight in the entire franchise) is an endorphin-raising experience all its own.

The story itself is fairly typical of a Mission: Impossible film, with twists and turns around every corner, everyone guessing who they can trust and who they can’t, and so on and so forth, but the progression of that plot is actually the most complex and involved one of these has been since the original Mission: Impossible. This movie is not going to hold its audience’s hands or walk them through each and every step on its own. This is one where you do actually need to pay attention. Some of these twists may seem “predictable” to the trained viewer, but predictability is not in itself a sin against a film; it’s only when that predictability cripples the actual narrative that it becomes a problem (most common in films that rely on a big twist as the plot’s central driving force). With Fallout, that is never the case. The “predictability” of the film only serves to increase dread or tension for the viewer, not undo the film’s overall story.  

All the performances in this film are as top-notch as they’ve ever been, and it’s easy to forget now that Tom Cruise is primarily known for these films and his stunt work, that he is one of the best and hardest-working actors still alive today. This guy gives it his all every single time, constantly pushing himself to do better with every film he makes and every role he plays. Regardless of how much those films might feel like genuine feces was just thrown into a producers room (ehem…The Mummy), it rarely has to do with Cruise or his acting abilities.

Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg are also fantastic in their reprisals, with Rhames in particular getting to delve back into the tech genius that informed his character in the original film, and of course Pegg once again bringing excellent comic relief. Rebecca Ferguson proves once again that she may just be the best performer in the whole show, bringing a depth to Ilsa Faust’s complicated situation that’s not very common among action films of this nature. Her performance is second to none. The few performances that do feel still sort of wooden are those of Cavill and Sean Harris. This is hardly the fault of the actors, and Harris certainly does well with what he has, but it would have been nice for their characters to have a little more depth in order for the actors to give better performances. Still, this is hardly the point of a film like Fallout, and where it counts, Fallout does it better than almost any other action film on the market.

I’m trying not to give too much away or hype up the film to an unbelievable degree, but it really is that good of a movie. I’m unsure of whether or not I like this one or Rogue Nation better, but I do know that I would love to see Christopher McQuarrie finish off his storyline with a Mission: Impossible trilogy all his own. I would absolutely recommend seeing this one as soon as you can, especially if you’re already a fan of the franchise. Mission: Impossible Fallout is a fantastic action film, a great summer blockbuster, one of the best films of the year so far, and maybe the best Mission: Impossible film yet. Mission: accomplished, indeed.

I’m giving “Mission: Impossible Fallout” a 9.6/10

[etxrnaleclipse]

Cont. from @daisyxmuses || Santiago & Ilsa (x)

"Well, you're gentle. That is appreciated." she replied, offering a small smile to hide the wince when a small amount of pain came from the wound. She had worked with colleagues before who had been far more rough in their tending of wounds, so Santiago's tenderness in his treatment of her meant a lot. "It's nothing, really. You know how my work is." She recalled the way that they had met, the facade she had been hiding behind when closing in on her target, and she imagined that the reality of who she was would have been a lot for Santi to take in. But he did not resent her for that, and it meant a great deal.

[ofmusingsxandmayhem]

Closed starter for @xxj0kerxx​ || Max & Ilsa 

It was a little after four in the morning when Ilsa woke, although she would not have considered what she had been experiencing ‘sleep’. Tossing and turning, she had been concerned about the case, about bringing down Enigma, and surprisingly, most of all, concerned about Max. The man was working himself into an early grave and while she couldn’t do much to keep colleagues safe from enemy’s bullets, she could try to do something to prevent Max dying prior to the age of forty five. Getting herself up, she had a quick shower before making her way to the station, spying the sun beginning to rise just before she entered the building. 

This was the earliest she had arrived, and the place was eerily quiet. She felt unnerved as she made her way through the lobby, jacket slung over her arm and exhaustion on her features as she stepped into the lift, pressing the button for the floor where she and Max were based. There was only a little more movement around the rooms when her boots met the carpeted floor of level one, however it was one specific thing that she noted which had her unnerved more than anything else. As she approached the familiar office, she spotted the door ajar and the figure of Max on the sofa inside, slumped over with a file loosely held in one hand. Had he been there all night? The fact that he was still wearing the same shirt from the previous evening’s raid and his messy brown hair seemed to indicate this being the case, and Ilsa’s stomach sank slightly. Eyes scanning over the papers and evidence in boxes, strewn across the ground, she gave a small sigh and shook her head. She was not about to disturb him now, not when this was the first time she had witnessed him in such a position. He looked slightly more peaceful than he did while awake, though the slight presence of lines across his forehead indicated that he was not dreaming of flower fields and puppies. 

Retrieving a blanket from the storeroom, Ilsa gently placed it over him, ensuring that the file was safely removed from his grasp and placed on the desk. Even if he could get ten minutes more rest, she would consider it to be a success. 

[theconservativebrief]

In an era of sloppy and forgettable action flicks on the one hand and overly serious “gritty” franchises on the other, the Mission: Impossible movies strike a pleasing balance between memorable action sequences and smaller-scale character intrigue. They’re whatever the opposite of “self-important” is.

And of course, like all of the other movies in the series, a new Mission: Impossible entry brings another opportunity to see what kind of insane stunts Tom Cruise, age 56, will put himself through for our viewing pleasure.

The sixth installment, Mission: Impossible — Fallout, brings all that to the table once again, and it just may be the best blockbuster of the summer. Suitably goofy, with the requisite masks and high-stakes stunts that mark the series, Fallout also pins its story on a lightly considered version of the always-relevant trolley problem: Is it better to save one person from destruction at the cost of many other lives, or to choose to destroy one person to save the lives of the many?

The gang’s all here Paramount Pictures

Let me be clear: Even though it does put a spin on one of pop culture’s favorite philosophical questions — The Good Place had an entire episode titled “The Trolley Problem” — Fallout is not a “brainy” blockbuster. It does not really have anything to say about, for instance, human nature, or geopolitics, or much of anything else.

That’s a shame in some respects. For instance, the movie raises but then almost immediately drops an intriguing thread about a terrorist targeting all of the world’s major religions.

But in truth, in all but the steadiest hands, too much heady stuff tends to gum up the works in films that are mainly meant to showcase cool stunts and improbable plot twists, which this film has in spades.

The plot, which is pleasantly murky, moves along at a good clip. Super-agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his IMF buddies Luther (Ving Rhames) and Benji (Simon Pegg) are on the trail of a terrorist going by the name of John Lark, who is purportedly working with a group of 12 people called “The Apostles” to blow up the world. Lark is pursuing some nuclear material to finish the bombs, and Ethan is sent to stop him.

Henry Cavill and Angela Bassett are here, too! Paramount Pictures

In this, he’s being overseen by Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin), who made a lateral move into the IMF, and working in concert with a CIA agent named August Walker (Henry Cavill), in a mission directed by Erica Sloan (Angela Bassett). Fallout also brings back some familiar faces: terrorist/former IMF agent Solomon Lane (Sean Harris), who’s been languishing in custody since Ethan put him away in Rogue Nation, and British agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), who’s got a complicated mission of her own.

The plot twists loopily for a great deal of the film’s nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime until it settles into its final trajectory, but that’s part of the fun. Christopher McQuarrie, who directed and co-wrote Rogue Nation, returns as solo writer and director on Fallout; he’s nailed the series’ impish, ambitious voice and also injected it with a bit of heart. There are several fun action set pieces that don’t disappoint, and the final sequence, which takes place over the Kashmir mountains, is a bit of a heart-stopper. (It’s probably worth the cost of an IMAX ticket for that scene alone.)

Aside from the pyrotechnics and high-speed, high-elevation chases, Fallout does contain an interesting kernel of moral inquiry, and it’s worth noting. It comes back to the trolley problem.

Early on it becomes clear that for those within Ethan’s world of high-stakes, world-saving spy games, there are two fundamentally different ways to approach their jobs. For some, it’s better for an operative, an asset, or even just a bystander to lose his or her life if it means that a large number of people’s lives may be saved. It is, put simply, a numbers game.

For others, though — including Ethan — the idea of sacrificing the life of someone you love, like a dear friend and colleague, is unthinkable, even if it may mean handing over the means of destruction to a foe.

Sure, why not. Paramount Pictures

Your outlook may also dictate how you do your job. Agent Walker, for instance, wouldn’t blink an eye at the idea of having to kill a dozen police officers to make off with a potentially dangerous terrorist in their custody. His reputation precedes him, and he’s known for his gun-happy tactics. Ethan, on the other hand, is a little more improvisational, and is forever trying to find ways around killing anyone, even if it means executing a somewhat preposterous and possibly slapdash plan to do so.

Ethan’s way happens to make for thrilling cinema, but it also unearths a hole that shows up in a lot of action movies. Fallout features a badass, brilliant action hero who also never kills anyone without looking them straight in the eye first and visibly weighing the moral choice before him.

These decisions happen several times in the film — sometimes with clear enemies, sometimes in situations that are much blurrier — and aren’t always resolved; sometimes another person ends up stepping in and doing the killing on Ethan’s behalf. Still, it’s an interesting contrast with, say, Skyscraper, in which the obviously morally upright family man at its center seems not to even pause for thought about taking lives.

That just makes for a more interesting character. Ethan Hunt is, all told, dull from a character standpoint; he pines for his lost love, and he doesn’t really follow rules very well. But highlighting this added dimension to his character helps round him out a little.

The moral dilemmas round out Fallout’s worldview as well. In several conversations and statements, a point of view emerges: Actually, there may not be a “right” answer to the trolley problem. Keeping the world safe may actually require people with both perspectives to cooperate together. Someone who has to keep the big picture in mind may need to be able to disconnect from individuals a bit to keep an eye on the big-scale repercussions. But it’s just as important for operatives on the ground to act according to heart, gut, and conscience, instead of abstract, machine-like reasoning.

Inevitably, dramatic tension arises from that conflict — and that makes for a better movie. In addition to the crazy stunts and convoluted plot machinations, what makes the Mission: Impossible movies work in general, and Fallout in particular, is that they let their characters be characters, driven by a number of complex factors, even when they’re chasing an enemy or trying to get out of a scrape. I don’t know how much longer this franchise will last — surely Cruise has to slow down eventually — but as long as there are Mission: Impossible movies like this, we’ll be guaranteed a good time at the movies.

Mission: Impossible — Fallout opens in theaters on July 27.

Original Source -> Mission: Impossible — Fallout is the most entertaining blockbuster of the summer

via The Conservative Brief

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Closed starter for @fearlessmuses || Ilsa & Ethan

"I'm starting to believe that you simply go looking for trouble." Emerging from the shadows, Ilsa slowly approached the other agent with her weapon lowered now that the threat had been sufficiently eliminated. Stopping a few feet away from him, she raised an eyebrow as she studied Ethan for any obvious signs of injury. "I'd say that you look well, but that would be a lie."

[etxrnaleclipse]

@reiignonme liked for a MI muse starters || Ilsa and (anyone)

Her heart was pounding as she slowly lowered her weapon, a whispered curse on her lips while blue eyes stared at them in surprise. "What the hell are you doing here?" The question was at the forefront of her mind, but was overpowered by the concern that her target was not where he was supposed to be. "You can't be here."

[etxrnaleclipse]

Ilsa Faust

Fandom: Mission Impossible

Occupation: MI6 Agent

[ofmusingsxandmayhem]

Cont. from @endlessstxrs​ || Liam & Ilsa (x) 

“Maybe one day I could surprise you and say that I did miss you.” Ilsa replied, smirking. “But no, you’re not the job. I do need some information that I hope you can help me with, though...” Stopping moving, she turned to face him fully, silently hoping that he was feeling cooperative.