Blu-ray Review: Mission Impossible: Fallout

Synopsis: Ethan Hunt and the IMF team join forces with CIA assassin August Walker to prevent a disaster of epic proportions. Arms dealer John Lark and a group of terrorists known as the Apostles plan to use three plutonium cores for a simultaneous nuclear attack on the Vatican, Jerusalem and Mecca, Saudi Arabia. When the weapons go missing, Ethan and his crew find themselves in a desperate race against time to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.

Main Feature: Like Tom Cruise or not, he has reinvigorated the "Mission: Impossible" film series with "Fallout." Top to bottom, this is one splendidly action-packed movie from top to bottom. While I still prefer the predecessor "Rogue Nation" over this, "Fallout" still delivers the dynamite goods. I am not sure the filmmakers could've fit another action scene it without damaging the story. This is what director Christopher McQuarrie--also the "Rogue Nation" helmer--was able to deliver: story and action. He clearly saw where the line was of overdoing and tip-toed up to it without crossing. It is a deft, tricky balance he was able to find and stay steady on. Credit to Cruise on going all-in with the stunts to deliver something--for the lack of a better term--authentic. We want to see Cruise's Ethan Hunt in the thick of it all. You can't pull that off with a stuntman. Learn to fly a helicopter and perform a risky stun flying it? Cruise did it. Hop on a motorcycle and turn a corner at 60+ mph to get the shot despite the faulty safety harness? Check. Jump from one building rooftop to another with the intention to short it while accidentally crushing his ankle in the process but still running off camera as intended? Yep, chalk that one up, too. 

Special Features: Some great commentary with McQuarrie and Cruise, among others, deleted scenes, Cruise interviews gushing over his love of the franchise and a 7-part, 50+ minute total behind the scenes featurette are among the boatload of quality extras this package offers. 

Final Call: "Mission: Impossible: Fallout" is a excellently executed action film with a deft balance of story one might have called IMF for--but Cruise & Co. made it possible. 

Grade: A-