The fifth (and best if you read our theatrical Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation review) Mission Impossible 5 has stormed its way onto home video. The DVD, Blu-Ray and On Demand release not only includes the blockbuster hit that made $650-plus million, but also a bevy of bonus features that takes fans behind-the-scenes of the smash action film.
Sure, this is a film that you will want to watch over and over. So, for that reason alone it is worth picking up Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation. But, given the fact this flick is littered with jaw-dropping stunts involving our hero, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and many of those stunts from the Christopher McQuarrie written and directed film were done by Cruise himself, you’ll want answer to the question, “How on earth did they do that?”
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation does not waste any time in that department. The film begins with Simon Pegg’s Benji Dunn crouched in a field in camo, talking with Hunt over the radio without being quite sure exactly where he is. Suddenly, he appears running across the wing of a cargo plane that is rapidly speeding down a runway towards take-off. Dunn needs to open the hatch door via remote, but that is taking a little too long. The plane starts to take off. What’s Hunt to do… hang on! The stunt is mind blowing and starts our story off on a bang.
Hunt and his IMF team are doing their best to infiltrate and stop the Syndicate. Their most lethal of adversaries who mirror what IMF does on every level. Meanwhile, the Syndicate is on a mission themselves, to see to the destruction or even the defunding of IMF so they can get on with their nefarious ways.
Causing issues for our heroes is Alec Baldwin’s IMF head Alan Hunley. Back in the fold is an old IMF favorite, Ving Rhames’ Luther Stickell. The wild card here is a woman named Ilsa Faust (played by scene stealer Rebecca Ferguson) who is a British agent, who may just be playing both sides. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation is the ultimate cat and mouse espionage thriller and has us looking forward to the sixth installment to come sooner than later.
When it comes to those extras, we were teased the how-to on that Tom Cruise from this behind-the-scenes Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation clip that arrived earlier this year with the film itself. But, that is just the tip of the iceberg in how that stunt was accomplished.
That is explained and showcased in full effect in Cruising Altitude. This is the ultimate behind-the-scenes bonus feature as it explore the set piece of the entire film that lays the groundwork for the audience and informs them exactly what kind of epic they are about to enjoy.
We also cherished the featurette Cruise Control, which takes a closer look at how Cruise also serves as producer on these Mission Impossible films and how they are as much his baby as anyone’s and it could not be an endeavor that he could take more seriously.
Lighting the Fuse is also quite enjoyable in its look at the filmmaking team and their inspirations. When you hear McQuarrie and his cohorts discuss their favorite spy moments on film, it’s easy to see those shadowy classics in every frame of Rogue Nation.
One of the reasons we adore the Mission Impossible movies is it is not just about Cruise’s Hunt. He is part of a team that works brilliantly together and almost feels like a family. Mission: Immersible spotlights why that has been so important to the series and how that comraderie is not just on the surface. This acting ensemble is as close as they can be and that permeates the shooting of the film, and comes through witnessing the movie itself.
As we stated, that opening action sequence is just the beginning. One of the most astounding of the action set pieces is the motorcycle chases sequence that features Cruise racing at mind-numbing speeds. Wonder how that was done? Watch Sand Theft Auto and that is explored in the most fascinating of ways… and they also explore that BMW chase scene as well.
For fans of the entire series, you don’t want to miss The Missions Continue. Cruise and his filmmaking friends look back at where the series has gone, and always keep an eye on where it’s going. Like we said… cannot wait for a sixth Mission. They keep getting better with age.
Movie Itself: A
Bonus Features: A+