Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – Review

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning – Budget of $300 – 400 million – 2 hours and 50 minutes

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IMF agent Ethan Hunt sits in a private bunker when he gets a VHS tape directly from President Erika Sloane (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Since Ethan did not return the cruciform key in his last mission, the Entity has roamed free on the internet. It alters images to create mistrust all over the world and has taken over nuclear bases. Without intervention, it will have the world’s deadliest forces under its control. Now, devotees of the Entity have infiltrated police forces, military ranks, and the highest forms of government. The world has two choices. They can become a slave to the Entity or shut down the internet. However, the latter would ensure worldwide chaos. President Sloane gently demands that Ethan turn himself and the key over to her.

With Paris’s tip, Ethan and Grace travel to London to find Gabriel. Gabriel gets the drop on them, and they wake up bound. Gabriel admits that the Rabbit’s Foot wasn’t a biological weapon (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). It was a device that could give him control over the Entity. The Entity disavowed Gabriel after he lost the key in the last mission. Now, Gabriel wants revenge. Ethan and Grace escape and meet with Luther and Benji. Luther hands Ethan a device with malware. If Ethan attaches the device to the Entity’s source code, it will infect the Entity, and they can trap it.

Later, Ethan meets with Paris. The Entity is onto his plan. Paris takes Ethan to a capsule that Gabriel used to communicate with the Entity. Ethan lets the Entity into his mind, and it discovers a plan of attack. However, Ethan sees the plan, too. The Entity plans to escape to the Doomsday Vault in South Africa. Ethan must find the drive to attach Luther’s malware and capture the Entity in South Africa. However, he needs military resources and unquestionable loyalty to accomplish his plan.

Ethan finally falls in line and turns himself over to the President. However, he urges President Sloane not to arrest him because the Entity knows Ethan is the only one with the power to stop it. President Sloane slips quietly in the background as Ethan argues with the heads of state about past missions. She writes a note, seals it, grabs the key, and slips it to the guard. She demands that the guards take Ethan to his cell. The guards take him to an awaiting helicopter and give him the key and the note. Now, Ethan must find the location of the source code, retrieve it, and capture the Entity in South Africa. If not, the Entity will fire the world’s nuclear weapons. Can Ethan move in the shadows one more time and save the world?

This eighth installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise delivers a heart-pounding thrill ride with unthinkable missions, setbacks, heartbreak, and breathtaking action (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Don’t let the film’s run time discourage you from seeing it in IMAX. The stunts and graphics are smooth and don’t distract from the plot. The large screen allows you to fully immerse yourself in Ethan’s world while enjoying the details of his high-stakes tasks. The film doesn’t rely heavily on humor because it focuses on the emotional aspect. It does use a similar setup for two scenes. However, they don’t feel redundant. One is sentimental, while the other plays in the background during another tense scene. Unlike other films, this picture has three nerve-racking moments running simultaneously. Don’t be surprised if you hold your breath. And the writers respected the fans and pulled moments from several movies in the franchise. They didn’t rewrite history but expanded on it. It is one of the best Mission: Impossible films of the series.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars

Keep telling yourself it’s only pain – Ethan

Sorry about the decor. The Ritz was booked solid – Luther

You are the best of men in the worst of times – President Sloane

It will change you – Paris

Tell Ethan I’ll be waiting for him – Gabriel

We’ll figure it out – Benji

Oh, thank God – Grace

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Lilo & Stitch – Review

Lilo & Stitch – Budget of $100 million – 1 hour and 48 minutes

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The Grand Councilwoman called an emergency meeting of the United Galactic Federation. Scientist Dr. Jumba Jookiba created an alien he calls Experiment 626. It’s bright, indestructible, and can evade capture. The Councilwoman asks 626 to prove he has an ounce of goodness. 626 speaks and insults everyone. The Councilwoman arrests Dr. Jumba and orders her troops to eliminate 626. Dr. Jumba laughs because nothing can terminate the creature. Instead, Councilwoman imprisons 626. 626 escapes before the Councilwoman makes it to the ship’s deck. His pod will land on a tiny planet called Earth. Grand Councilwoman doesn’t care because the planet is mostly water, causing 626 to drown. However, he lands in Honolulu, Hawaii. She plans to vaporize the planet until Agent Wendell Pleakley stops her. Earth is a habitat for the endangered mosquito species. Grand Councilwoman tells Wendell and Dr. Jumba to travel to Earth and capture 626 before he wreaks havoc on the planet.

Lilo arrives at her hula recital late and jumps in place. She looks at the crowd and sees that her sister, Nani, isn’t there. Another dancer, Myrtle, teases Lilo during the performance, so Lilo pushes Myrtle off the stage. When Nani arrives, Lilo is gone. Nani rushes home to apologize, but Lilo locks Nani outside. Nani grabs a brick to break a window when their caseworker, Mrs. Kekoa, arrives. Lilo and Nani lost their parents, and Nani must prove to the court that she can care for Lilo. Mrs. Kekoa dislikes the condition Lilo lives in. She gives Nani three tasks to complete in four days, or Nani will lose custody. Nani sits with Lilo and begs Lilo to behave after Mrs. Keko exits. Lilo agrees to be better. Then she sees a shooting star. She pushes Nani out the door and wishes for a best friend.

Lilo’s shooting star was 626’s crash landing. 626 interrupts a wedding before scurrying away. Unfortunately, 626 runs into oncoming traffic. Then, a tour bus knocks him out. The driver assumes 626 is a dog and brings it to the animal shelter. Soon after 626’s arrival, Dr. Jumba and Agent Wendell enter Earth’s atmosphere. They hide their alien identities to blend in with the natives. Dr. Jumba grabs his tools and searches for the creature with Agent Wendell following him. CIA Agent Cobra Bubbles searches the woods to discover who or what left a crater.

Nani’s neighbor, Tūtū, takes Lilo to the animal shelter. Lilo plays with the dogs and finds a cage with bent wires. She looks around, and a blue dog says hi to her. Lilo believes her shooting star wish worked. Lilo has a friend who will never leave and will be kind. She decides to name 626 Stitch. However, Stitch overheard Dr. Jumba and Agent Wendell in the bushes. They were there to catch him. But, they can’t hurt humans. So, Stitch uses Lilo as cover. Lilo’s latest friend will turn her world upside down and test Lilo’s understanding of Ohana.

This live-action remake uses the original as its foundation but adds believable aspects to the film (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Fans of the original can spot the differences. Agent Bubbles and the social worker are two separate characters. Next, Tūtū takes Lilo to the shelter, not Nani. These changes don’t feel like much. However, it changes the direction of the story. The plot centers around Ohana, but the conclusion is more realistic. Nani isn’t a martyr. She is an exhausted teen, trying to keep her family together. Nani dreamed of attending San Diego State University but put it on hold after her parents died. While Lilo’s character is still a cute, perky 6-year-old, Nani has more growth and backstory. The graphics between Stitch and the other animated characters are vivid, life-like, and true to the original. Also, the designers took a lot of time perfecting the moments between Stitch and Lilo. However, Stitch’s interactions with other humans can be disjointed and bothersome. Disney live adaptations have been hit-and-miss in the past, but this film is a gold standard. They don’t change the message for the next generation and provide the touching moments viewers strive to see. There is one mid-credit update scene but no post-credits.

I give it 4 out of 5 stars

What an adorable little psychopath – Grand Councilwoman

You better not be doing any of those tic tac dances – Agent Cobra Bubbles

My name … Stitch. – Stitch

That’s enough imagination for today – Nani

I prefer deranged genius – Dr. Jumba

I’m in town for the convention – Lilo

With every heart in my body, I accept – Agent Wendell

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