The franchise Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One, Limited Edition SteelBook (Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment, rated PG-13, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, 163 minutes, $44.99) continues with Tom Cruise reprising his role as super-agent Ethan Hunt of the Impossible Mission Force (IMF). He is on a mission to stop a sentient computer program from controlling humanity.
Ethan teams up with members of the IMF and tech specialists to battle an assassin chosen by the entity. The movie features director Christopher McQuarrie’s action scenes, such as a car chase in Rome, a ride on the Orient Express, close quarters combat in the Austrian Alps, an alleyway brawl, and a skydiving cliff jump from a motorcycle.
One shortcoming of the film is its lack of resolution. Viewers will have to wait until 2025 for answers. Additionally, the long run time includes extended dialogue scenes that disrupt the pacing expected in a “Mission Impossible” film.
4K in action: The visual presentation in 2160p takes viewers around the world with stunning colors and detail. However, the film lacks IMAX-sized screen-filling moments tied to the bigger action scenes, maintaining a widescreen aspect ratio throughout.
Best extras: The 4K and Blu-ray disc offers an optional commentary track with Mr. McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton. Additionally, a second Blu-ray disc includes featurettes briefly covering scenes and stunts, and the steel packaging offers a glossy, orangish-red background with black lettering and illustrations of the hero in action.
Overall, the movie offers an immersive viewing experience for fans of the franchise, despite some drawbacks.
