The mission continues with part 2 of our ranking of the Mission: Impossible movies.
4. Mission: Impossible (1996)
Director: Brian De Palma Writing Credits; Bruce Geller (television series) Story;David Koepp,Steven Zaillian Screenplay: David Koepp,Robert Towne Stars: Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Béart
When U.S. government operative, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his mentor, Jim Phelps (Jon Voight), go on a covert assignment, it takes a disastrous turn; Jim is killed and Ethan becomes the prime murder suspect. Now a fugitive, Hunt recruits brilliant hacker Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and maverick pilot Franz Krieger (Jean Reno) to help him sneak into a heavily guarded CIA building to retrieve a confidential computer file that will prove his innocence.
Although there are some action sequences, M: IV plays out more like an old-fashioned thriller. Director Brian De Palma is in fine form; delivering nail-biting, tension filled thriller through the use of tight focused dialogue.
3. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015)
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie Screenplay: Christopher McQuarrie Story: Christopher McQuarrie, Drew Pearce Writing Credits; Bruce Geller (television series) Stars: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner
With the IMF now disbanded and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) out in the cold, a new threat -- called the Syndicate -- soon emerges. The Syndicate is a network of highly skilled operatives who are dedicated to establishing a new world order via an escalating series of terrorist attacks. Ethan gathers his team and joins forces with Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), a disavowed British agent who may or may not be a member of this deadly rogue nation.
One of the rare sequels that does not come off as exhausted, M: IV looks like it’s just getting started. With Rogue Nation, the formula really takes shape; delivering a movie that manages to merge jaw-dropping action sequences with the suave cool world of espionage.
Hats off to writers McQuarrie and Pearce for delivering one the best femme fatales ever, in an action franchise. Rebecca Ferguson plays Ilsa Faust, a rogue MI6 agent who gives Hunt a run for his money throughout most the film.