Mission: Impossible - Fallout [Includes Digital Copy] [4K Ultra HD Blu-rayBlu-ray] [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray] [2018]

NOTE: THIS REVIEW IS SPOILER-FREE Hi there, Jason here from the Kleeberg Family Blog. The Mission Impossible series did what no other movie franchise can seem to do - improve exponentially with each installment. Fallout is the sixth in the series and it’s the most ambitious by a long shot. This movie is not only my favorite in the franchise, but it might be in my top five action movies of all time. This was my second time seeing it and I’m already looking forward to watching it again. The story is a direct continuation from the 5th movie in the series, Rogue Nation - so it’s probably a good idea to see that first if you haven’t already. In fact, each movie is referenced here, so do yourself a favor and just see the entire series all over again. In text, the plot seems very similar to spy movies you’ve watched for years - Ethan Hunt and his team are tasked with bringing in plutonium that terrorists are interested in using for three nuclear bombs. Fortunately, the story gets a lot more personal, which I think always makes a movie better. As per usual with Mission Impossible movies, there are a lot of twists and turns. The action is absolutely insane. Fallout corrects the one complaint a lot of people had about the previous films - they save the best scene for last. In the past, the climax never really lived up to the biggest set piece in the film (climbing the Burj Khalifa in Mission Impossible 4, for example), but Fallout delivers. The very moment you don’t think it can get better and more impressive, it does. Even upon the second viewing, I was on the edge of my seat. A lot of this is due to the franchise’s star, Tom Cruise. He’s known for doing his own insane stunts, and some of the stuff he did for this film was crazy. It makes a huge difference seeing Cruise instead of cutaways and stunt doubles. The 4K Blu-Ray looks fantastic, as expected. The limited edition Steelbook is impressive and comes with a small booklet outlining Cruise’s stunts. If you’re like me, you’ll want to ignore this booklet until you’ve seen the movie as not to spoil anything you’re about to see. It includes three ways to watch the film - 4K Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, and digital. I watched the Blu-Ray for my main viewing because of the sound system I have with my projector setup. It looked fantastic in 1080p. I picked a few scenes and played them on my Sony OLED just for reference and it’s a flawless picture. The blacks are true and the colors really pop. My system is a beefy 5.1 and the disc really took advantage of it - the vocals were nice and clear (whether from the center or surrounds) and the explosive action sounded made it sound like I was in a theater. It’s coded in Dolby Atmos, so if you’re lucky enough to have an Atmos setup, this will take advantage of it. The score is my favorite of any Mission Impossible movie. There are plenty of extras here. Making of, stunt explanations, story boards, deleted scenes, and the extras I’m most looking forward to digging into - the commentary tracks. There are a few commentary tracks here - Tom Cruise and director Chris McQuarrie, McQuarrie and editor Eddie Hamilton, and the composer Lorne Balfe to talk about the score. This is my favorite film of 2018, and I highly recommend it. Get the best resolution your system will handle, crank this sucker up, and enjoy.

A really exceptional action movie, Great direction, thoughtful acting, editing, exhilarating soundtrack and amazing action sequences make this movie a great addition to my collection. The action and overall feel is a little grittier than some previous versions of the M:I franchise and along with efforts of Tom Cruise and the filmmaking team in completing the stunts makes this an exhilarating, edge-of-your-seat ride for much of it's 2 1/2 hour play time. The 3-disc Steel Book Edition has a satisfying amount of added features highlighting the unique action scenes, deleted scenes and also includes additional commentary tracks by director, music composer, editor, and of course Tom Cruise. There is also and isolated music track to get an appreciation for the engaging score and how it contributes to the emotional feeling as the mood evolves amidst the onscreen drama and action. It was this movie, in fact, which inspired me to finally invest in a Sony 4k player (UBP X700) and this movie, my first on 4k Blu-ray so I could feel confident I was watching it at an optimal quality level. Though I have no other 4k experience to compare M:I Fallout to, detail is improved from standard Blu-ray and especially noticeable as the action winds its way through the city scapes, bringing the Paris and London locales to life with color and increased tonal range. Film grain is quite apparent, however, in some of the darker alleyway scenes on brief occasions, which I view as an acceptable side-effect of film when lighting and mood are a bit darker. It's Ethan Hunt and his team against the world in what I consider to be the best M:I in the film's series.

This move is just WOW! I've always been an average fan of the MI series but this installment has to be the best one and the only one that I had to buy. Story is very captivating and complex without being to complex and full of holes. Previous movies are not a required watch to follow the events of this one but will add to your enjoyment and motivation of certain characters, especially the threads started with the 3rd film onward. I'm not the biggest Tom Cruise fan but man did he just kill it in this movie. Watching the bonus features and seeing that he did the majority of his own stunts just adds to the level of realism. He became a licensed helicopter pilot and did his own HALO jumps for certain scenes which could of easily been filled in by cgi or a stunt performer, but no not Tom, and let me tell you it shows in the performance. Highly recommended as on of top picks of 2018! As far as the 4k master itself you are in for a treat! With many of the set piece scenes filmed in IMAX you can feel like you are looking through a window into the action. Audio works great for 5.1 setups as well. Bonus features are of the usual sort but the standout is the making of docs. Just watching Tom Cruise do the things that you convinced yourself is cgi or a stunt double is mind blowing that the only thing that happened to him on set was a broken leg. You know what, just stop reading this review and go watch this film already!

Tom Cruise should get a oscar for stunts alone. Or a career oscar for his utter dedication to entertaining us. The man will do everything and anything to stun and amaze us, his audience. You should know, from the very start, that every one of his stunts are REAL and shot on location. No stunt doubles or CGI. He rides the motorcycle against traffic; he flies the helicopter to the ground, spinning wildly; he jumped over tall buildings and almost didn't make it- he broke his foot in one scene which was used in the film and actually falls out of the helicopter while flying high over mountains- just nuts! He is a true entertainer and has dedicated his life and safety to ensuring that we have a great time watching his films. He's the Houdini of modern day actors. This film is a nail biter from the first millisecond to the final. I didn't realize I was clenching my teeth until the credits began to roll! The storyline, like all Mission Impossible movies, isn't the most complex- but that's not why we watch them. Mission Impossible is all about international intrigue, machismo, stunts, clear cut good vs. evil, sensuality and romance. Good always win- even though it always seems that evil comes oh, so close. But that's what makes these films fun, right? If you've enjoyed Mission Impossible in the past, you will be BLOWN AWAY by Ethan's stunts this time. They are eye popping.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout is great entertainment. It's smart, exciting, and doesn't compromise on story, visuals, or performances. Even if some of the action scenes, such car chases through dense city streets, or plot mechanics, like the frantic attempt to defuse a bomb (or a pair of bombs in this case) before time runs out, are not at all novel, the film nevertheless plays remarkably fresh and invigorates a genre it has already mastered years ago. The evolution of story and increase in delivery continues to keep the franchise at the top, and that Cruise, who seems to only grow more confident and capable with each new film, remains willing to pull off the impossible for the sake of the movie ensures a level of intensity and immersion other films cannot match. Cruise and McQuarrie have nailed down what it means, and what it takes, to make an A-list Action movie. Fallout isn't just the best in the series, it's one of the best Action films out there. Paramount's UHD release delivers a complete package: great movie, high quality and finely filmic 4K/Dolby Vision video, a terrific Atmos soundtrack, and tons of extra content. This is one of the better releases of the year.

As with any long-running film series, there's a point where it really needs to either get better or come to end. After sitting out of a few of the last MI films, I returned with Fallout and I was left wondering why was this movie made other than for Tom Cruise to take on some more jaw-dropping stunts. He's a thrill seeker and that's great, as it has served him well in previous films, not limited to the MI series. However, I'm at the point where I feel I've seen the film or already knew the story even before watching it. A couple of explosions, some helicopters, previously defeated bad guys, and Ving Rhames (doing the same thing) with a computer has been done one time too often. I used to feel that MI was different version of Bond and that's what made it enjoyable for me, but if Bond were to suddenly bring back a previous "baddie" to be the "baddie" that needed to be stopped again then my enthusiasm diminishes exponentially. I feel this film is worth watching if you can borrow it from a friend, when it arrives on rotation on broadcast TV, or "free-with-service" streaming, however I recommend holding off on purchasing until you have seen it once or twice and then decided it was something you need in your collection.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout is an excellent action movie and ranks very highly in the MI series for me. MI 4, 5, and 6 are my favorites in the series, but I think this one may just be the best of them all. Director Christopher McQuarrie has interestingly chosen a different tone with this one compared to his last film Rogue Nation which works very well. His direction here is great, Rob Hardy's cinematography is beautiful especially in the IMAX scenes, and Lorne Balfe's music score is awesome and reminiscent of Hans Zimmer's score for The Dark Knight and Man of Steel in certain spots giving the film an epic feel. Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, and the rest of the cast are a joy to watch also. What really stands out is Tom Cruise's commitment to doing his own stunts and the great, practical action in this movie as well as the fight choreography. At the end of the day, it's just a well made film. If you enjoyed this movie in theaters or you just like a great action film, then pick this up on 4K. It is the best way to watch this at home. The Steelbook is also a nice touch for those who like interesting packaging. Highly Recommended.

Tom Cruise keeps it up in this next installment for Mission Impossible. While there’s a little less character development for the returning actors and actresses, there’s enough that it ties together strings from the previous movies that helps the plot point for this movie. You don’t necessarily have to have watched the previous movies to understand what’s going on in this one since the action is constantly happening in most parts of the movie and you can’t wait to see what happens next. For someone who’s in the 50’s, Tom Cruise is amazing in doing most of his own stunts in the film and then being able to keep up the image the agent Ethan Hunt as a hard driving, live-on-the-heels-of-death-and-excitement super spy. Returning Supporting actors and actress Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Alec Baldwin, Sean Harris and Rebecca Ferguson do an excellent job of playing their roles while newcomers Henry Cavill, Vanessa Kirby and Angela Bassett have their own flavors to add to the film. Recommended.