Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One is everything expected. It has flat protagonists, a convoluted plot, MacGuffins, constant exposition, cheesy dialogue, cliches, simplistic villains, conveniences, and superficial emotions. Conversely, the moral complexities of the conflict are addressed, a side character arcs, and there's some conclusion despite the unfinished ending. Its acting continues to lack raw vulnerability or charisma, but there's fair intensity and supporters show decent range. Ultimately, Dead Reckoning One compensates for its missing depth and cleverness with an excessive plot. It's tiring but at least it's more focused on the story than stroking Cruise's ego.
Technically, Dead Reckoning One is big yet unrefined. Its direction offers varied set pieces but artificial tones. Its music uses the typical morphing of the original theme song. The imagery adds movement, angles, and depth, yet thin composition. The production design has the usual globe-trotting, wealth, and military aspects. Its editing utilizes inserts, pacing, dissolves, and cross cuts, but is definitely bloated. The sound is dense with voiceovers, emphasis, ringing, split cuts, atmosphere, muting, intimacy, combat, and smash cuts. Lastly, the world-class stunts offset some spotty digital effects. Overall, Dead Reckoning One is a bit much but delivers the action that the fans want.
Writing: 3/10
Direction: 7/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Acting: 6/10
Editing: 6/10
Sound: 9/10
Score/Soundtrack: 8/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 8/10
Effects: 10/10
Overall Score: 7.2/10
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