Mission: Impossible is a solid thriller. There's a subversive opening, a motivated plot, properly set-up twists, and a steady increase in action. Its set pieces are varied, constructed, and tense. The characters are flat, the MacGuffin is forgettable, and emotions are thin, but the suspense is smart enough to compensate for its minimal drama. Plus, Mission: Impossible is surprisingly controlled with almost no gunplay, an emphasis on espionage puzzles, and an iconic sequence built around stealth. Meanwhile, the acting lacks natural charm but offers some layers, intensity, and physicality. Overall, Mission: Impossible shows how to make energized entertainment without becoming excessive.
Technically, Mission: Impossible has a cohesive paranoid tone. The imagery uses motion, angles, lighting, framing, and split diopters. Its concise editing adds dissolves, cross cuts, pacing, montages, and inserts. The sound utilizes action, voiceovers, split cuts, quiet, and emphasis. Its music gets cheesy but provides suspense, atmosphere, rhythm, restraint, and an iconic theme. The production design is globe-trotting, memorable, diverse, and balanced. Its cast is deep, skilled, against type, and star-making. The effects have aged well with prosthetics, dummies, pyrotechnics, wires, water, stunts, green screen, wind, CGI, and miniatures. Ultimately, Mission: Impossible is well-rounded.
Writing: 6/10
Direction: 8/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Acting: 7/10
Editing: 7/10
Sound: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 9/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 9/10
Effects: 9/10
Overall Score: 7.7/10
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