Movies/TV worth watching (or at least discussing)

To say the stunts in Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning are stunning is an understatement. But, sadly, like everything about this movie, they are bloated and needed a little restraint. Though a fun time at the movies, the latest (last?) MI film is still badly flawed. Here is my 100-word review: https://flixchat.blogspot.com/2025/05/jason-evans-100-word-reviews-mission.html

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Frankly, everything about the movie is too long, even the incredible stunt sequences.
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I was disappointed by Dead Reckoning, it just didn't land like the previous two (or three). Then again, Rogue Nation and Fallout are astoundingly great summer action flicks to pump out as the 5th and 6th films in a franchise run.
 
Until Dead Reckoning every sequel was better than the previous movie. That in and of itself was impressive. Dead Reckoning might have continued that streak if the edit was tighter. Seems Final Reckoning might have that same problem. I'll wait until it hits Paramount + is a few months.
 
Kdogg said:
Until Dead Reckoning every sequel was better than the previous movie. That in and of itself was impressive. Dead Reckoning might have continued that streak if the edit was tighter. Seems Final Reckoning might have that same problem. I'll wait until it hits Paramount + is a few months.
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MI:2 better than the original???
 
BrummieDevil said:
I was disappointed by Dead Reckoning, it just didn't land like the previous two (or three). Then again, Rogue Nation and Fallout are astoundingly great summer action flicks to pump out as the 5th and 6th films in a franchise run.
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Kdogg said:
Until Dead Reckoning every sequel was better than the previous movie. That in and of itself was impressive. Dead Reckoning might have continued that streak if the edit was tighter. Seems Final Reckoning might have that same problem. I'll wait until it hits Paramount + is a few months.
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pfrduke said:
MI:2 better than the original???
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I'm close to agreement. I think that the 2nd film is a weak link in the series -- though not outright bad, after a recent rewatch -- and the 7th film (2024's Dead Reckoning) was a significant disappointment. It is too long (2 hours, 43 minutes), and while bringing back Henry Czerny and introducing Esai Morales were excellent casting decisions, I thought their functions in a bad, forgettable plot were perplexing.

You can count on one hand the number of characters who have returned to a Mission: Impossible movie in a non-consecutive appearance. (Ethan and Luther have been in all 7 so far, while Benji has been in 3-7.)

Put-on-the-mask henchman (Andreas Wisniewski): 1st, 4th movies
Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny): 1st, 7th movies
Julia Meade-Hunt (Michelle Monaghan): 3rd, 4th, 6th movies

Did I miss anyone? Rumor is pretty high that a fourth character -- a somewhat obscure but memorable one from the 1st movie -- is in the 8th. (Ethan seemed to be headed in that geographical direction at the end of the 7th movie.)
 
pfrduke said:
MI:2 better than the original???
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Yes. Jim Phelps, mastermind and spy extraordinary, shots his wife instead of Ethan, the only threat? I forgive a lot in movies...i let go of a lot in that movie.. but not that. I have a 29 year argument with a friend about it. Speaking of which, if I lived in Atlanta we'd be closing the loop on the franchise. It would be the only reason I see it in theaters.
 
I probably go...

1. Fallout (6)
2. Ghost Protocol (4)
3. Rogue Nation (5)
4. Mission Impossible 3
5. Mission Impossible 1
6. The Final Reckoning (8)
7. Dead Reckoning (7)
8. Mission Impossible 2

I could be convinced to put 5 ahead of 4... those two are really close in my mind.

I still think JJ's move to show us a scene 5 minutes from the end of the movie at the start of MI3 took such confidence as a director and storyteller. Mad props for that. And PSH was so damn good in 3. When Ethan pretends like he is going to drop him out of the plane and then reels Hoffman back in... and Hoffman uses Ethan's name as a way of showing he now knows about Ethan's identity... holy heck, what a moment! That movie had the best use of the masks too.
 
AGDukesky said:
I’ve been disappointed since episode 2 and pretty much lost interest thru the next three episodes. Might finish eventually…
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I'm two episodes behind as well. I think I've enjoyed it well enough ... but the show through (most of) two seasons has felt almost like an anthology to me - each episode feels too self-contained or distinct for some reason.

I don't know, maybe it's just me getting too used to being able to watch shows all at once, or at least in bunches, from the start.
 
Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15 said:
We have a separate The Last of Us thread but I'd love thoughts from the crowd if you watched.
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I found Season 2 to be a letdown from the brilliant season 1. First, it is too short, only 7 episodes. Doesn’t work for a show that likes to take its time with each scene. Result is we end up feeling like we got half a season worth of material. Plus the character Ellie has gone from lovable plucky survivor to annoying incompetent narcissist. Finale had some good scenes (like when Ellie finds a couple of her “enemies”) but also non-sensical elements (the boat trip plus the tacked-on island excursion).

I give Season 2 a B-.
 
Kdogg said:
Yes. Jim Phelps, mastermind and spy extraordinary, shots his wife instead of Ethan, the only threat? I forgive a lot in movies...i let go of a lot in that movie.. but not that. I have a 29 year argument with a friend about it. Speaking of which, if I lived in Atlanta we'd be closing the loop on the franchise. It would be the only reason I see it in theaters.
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Upon rewatch, I could not get over him contacting the villain by cold emailing max@max.com and having that work out.
 
Kdogg said:
Yes. Jim Phelps, mastermind and spy extraordinary, shots his wife instead of Ethan, the only threat? I forgive a lot in movies...i let go of a lot in that movie.. but not that.
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Well, recall that Jim had set Ethan up to look like the mole/turncoat. That is how Jim was hiding his own crimes, by pinning them on Ethan. If he had killed Ethan then the agency would have eventually figured out that Jim was behind all of this. Plus, Jim needed someone to survive who could verify that Jim had died, thereby removing him from suspicion.

I could make a joke about assassination being cheaper than divorce and men wanting to be free of the ball and chain, but I won't go there.
 
JasonEvans said:
Well, recall that Jim had set Ethan up to look like the mole/turncoat. That is how Jim was hiding his own crimes, by pinning them on Ethan. If he had killed Ethan then the agency would have eventually figured out that Jim was behind all of this. Plus, Jim needed someone to survive who could verify that Jim had died, thereby removing him from suspicion.

I could make a joke about assassination being cheaper than divorce and men wanting to be free of the ball and chain, but I won't go there.
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The agency already knew because of the video glasses broadcasting it live to Kitridge. (Side note: Remember when that was a novel idea). He kills his wife after he is discovered and realizes the plan has gone to pot. After 29 years, my friend and I have run this into the ground. :)

 
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