Tonally the first 3 are very different, both from each other and from the ones starting with the McQuarrie era with MI4: Rogue Nation. The series, despite being almost 30(?!?!) years running, has a lot of call backs and references, as well as a recurring cast of sidekicks, so watching them all is probably worthwhile, though you could probably realistically start with 4 and be fine. Then again, Kittridge is in Dead Reckoning and he was in the first film so I bet those first 3 will be relevant for some easter eggs at least in the final(?) film.
Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning Trailer (Releases May 23, 2025)
- Thread starter kittoo
- Start date
chokotoureiki
Member
Wow 30 yrs running. Yeah, I've known about MI since I was a kid from the old TV commercials. Idk, just never compelled me to watch. My dad has seen a few of them however. He's a bigger action flick junkie than me. Appreciate the overview man.
There is a lot of brouhaha over "Bond Girls" but DAMN if the M:I series didn't have equal or even superior babes. I didn't think they could top Rebecca Ferguson but Hayley Atwell did it
But Thandie Newton, Michelle Monaghan, Keri Russel, Maggie Q, Paula Patton, Vanessa Kirby, and the only crossover with Bond in Lea Sedoux, that casting director is ON POINT!
Doom85
Member
3 is kind of relevant too as Michelle Monoghan's character is significant to 4 and one of the films after 4 (not specifying as that one is somewhat of a surprise in terms of her involvement IIRC). Plus, it has Philip Seymour Hoffman as the villain, so absolutely not skippable in my book. Not to mention 3 is the first appearance of Benji (Simon Pegg) who gradually becomes Ethan's closest friend alongside Luther over the course of the films.
Honestly, 2 is the one true filler film. IIRC, one of the characters in a later film talks about the number of women that Ethan fell in love with, and the number they gave meant either they're ignoring 2 in terms of canon, or they just dismissed the main girl of 2 as Ethan not actually having feelings for despite his actions in 2 suggesting otherwise.
Regardless, I would say 2 is the only one that can be easily skipped in terms of the story and characters, and IMHO a new viewer wouldn't be missing much as the first 2/3 of the film are mostly dull and only the final act is entertaining but in a nonsensical, over the top way. And really, if one wants a more consistent John Woo directed American film that is over the top and ridiculous all the way through but also entertaining the whole time, Face/Off is a far superior choice over M:I-2.
INC
Member
Legit one of the best action series ever made, mission impossible 2 being the only real average film
Last edited:
LordofAllThatIsEvil
Member
Men_in_Boxes
Snake Oil Salesman
Mission: Inevitable
Tams
Member
Pretty much, yeah. Even with a bland film, there's really been no competition for over a decade.
Bond went too serious, even if Casino Royale was fantastic and Skyfall was great and promising.
Kingsman is sort of up there and has done well, but there's no one central star.
There was The Man From U.N.C.L.E., but sadly it performed poorly.
Last edited:
Tiago Rodrigues
Member
Say what you want about Tom and his cult...he is on of the last movie stars and every time i watch one of these i feel like i need to do so in a movie theater. This will be no exception.
Shaki12345
Member
Tom Cruise IS the last moviestar. You go to the movies for HIM.
Nobody today has that power.
Nobody today has that power.
Last edited:
Windle Poons
Made a crappy phPBB forum once ... once.
Day One - already pre-ordered.
Since a big part of the plot is (I believe) going after the original AI source code that was sunk in the russian sub, I'm guessing he is either arctic free diving to build stamina or just escaped from a ship and is making himself hypothermic so his body can be retrieved and resuscitated later, Abyss style.Cool trailer.
What's going on here?
EverydayBeast
ChatGPT 0.001
Mission impossible works for me, good clean action. Still have Bourne ranking over it.
Tams
Member
Bourne is so gloomy and depressing.