Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One Review

5 star adrenaline pumping action adventure blockbuster.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is a 2023 American action adventure film. It is the sequel to Mission: Impossible – Fallout and the seventh instalment in the highly successful Mission: Impossible franchise. It sees the return of writer Bruce Geller (Mission Impossible 1 – 6), alongside Erik Jendresen (Ithaca) and Christopher McQuarrie (Top Gun: Maverick, Edge of Tomorrow), who also directs.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is available to Download & Keep on the 11th October and arrives on 4K UHD™ + Blu-ray™ SteelBooks®, 4K UHD™, Blu-ray™, and DVD on 6th November 2023.

“We live and die in the shadows. For those we hold close, and those we never meet.”

Aboard the Russian submarine Sevastopol, we see an next generation A.I. being tested, activated using a two-pieced cruciform key. It is state of the art stealth technology but when the A.I evolves, destroying the submarine, the pieces are scattered.

Word has got out and interested parties the world over want to get their hands on the key. Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise – Jerry Maguire, Oblivion) has been tasked by the IMF to retrieve a half key from MI6 agent Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson – Doctor Sleep, The Greatest Showman), in the Arabian desert.

With the key in his possession, he infiltrates a meeting of the U.S. Intelligence agency, where he learns from Director Kittridge (Henry Czerny – Scream VI, Ready or Not) that the rogue A.I., now known as “The Entity” has the capacity to manipulate the digital world at will. Although they don’t know what the key unlocks, they set up a plan to intercept and track the holder of the second part of the key, to see where they take it.

Along with fellow IMF agents Benji (Simon Pegg – The Terminal, Paul) and Luther (Ving Rhames – Pulp Fiction, Bringing Out the Dead), they head to Abu Dhabi International Airport, where their efforts are hampered by professional thief Grace (Hayley Atwell – Captain America: The First Avenger, Christopher Robin) who pickpockets the half key. Ethan is spooked when he sees his old nemesis Gabriel (Esai Morales – La Bamba, NYPD Blue) and calls off the mission, sparking a desperate chase across the globe to secure the key in order to take down The Entity.

“You can’t blame a girl for trying to make a dishonest living.”

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is a fantastic addition to an already triumphant franchise, setting up brilliantly for a mind blowing finale in the form of Part Two, which can’t come soon enough in my book.

Tom Cruise is as crazy and outrageous in his stunt work as ever, even taking it to a new level with the motorcycle off a cliff scene. This film is packed with action from start to finish, but still manages to fit in plenty of very good storyline. There are the obligatory magnificent car chases featuring cars you wouldn’t even go to the shops in, as well as perilous on-top-of-train sequences and a very effective slow fall off a bridge stunt.

A great watch and a perfect set-up for part eight, roll on Dead Reckoning Part Two. Packed with special features, this is a must own for the action fan in the house.

“Your days of fighting for the so-called greater good are over. This is our chance to control the truth. The concepts of right and wrong for everyone for centuries to come. You’re fighting to save an ideal that doesn’t exist. Never did. You need to pick a side.”

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One is available to Download & Keep on the 11th October and arrives on 4K UHD™ + Blu-ray™ SteelBooks®, 4K UHD™, Blu-ray™, and DVD on 6th November 2023.

Bonus Content:

• Commentary by director Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton—McQuarrie and Hamilton take viewers through each compelling scene with in-depth commentary.
• Abu Dhabi—Explore the exotic filming locations in the desert and at the international airport and discover how each thrilling sequence was shot.
• Rome—Take a behind-the-scenes look at the thrilling car chase through Italy’s historic capital, as Tom Cruise’s driving skills are pushed to the limit while handcuffed to Hayley Atwell!
• Venice—See the breathtaking city of Venice as it’s never been shown on film.  Plus, witness the cast’s dedication and commitment to their training as they prepare to get “Mission Ready.”
• Freefall—An extended behind-the-scenes look at one of the biggest stunts in cinema history.  Watch never-before-seen footage of the rigorous training as Tom launches a motorcycle off a cliff.
• Speed Flying—Join Tom and the crew as they explain the various training techniques involved in pulling off the dangerous speed flying stunts in the film.
• Train—See how the climactic train sequence was captured on film.  From building an actual train from scratch to crashing it using practical effects, you don’t want to miss this!
• Deleted Shots Montage—Director Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton share some of the breathtaking, never-before-seen footage that didn’t make the final film. (Digital* Only)
• Editorial Featurette: The Sevastopol—Director Christopher McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton take viewers through the intense opening scene. (Digital* Only)