Mission Impossible: the one best scene

Well, I bought into the hype – not always a bad thing – and took myself on a bright sunny afternoon to Devonshire Cineplex to catch the latest Tom Cruise Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part I.” As per my last post I decided to buy an IMAX ticket. I’m a “senior” so with tax the charge was $19.20. It had been years since I went to an IMAX film but with all the dare devil acts reportedly in this I thought this larger-than-life technical medium would deliver the, well, full impact. First, what’s the big diff? I really didn’t notice any discernible difference in watching the movie compared to a normal screen. In fact, I wondered if I was missing something – perhaps you needed those special glasses. I walked out and asked. Nope. If there was any difference it might have been that the characters and scenes appeared closer and the overall experience more intense. But it still seemed hard to tell. Now, the film itself. The whole experience seemed like James Bond on steroids. You have the exotic locales (Venice, Rome, Abu Dhabi (the airport anyway), the Austrian Alps. There are the beautiful women (Rebecca Ferguson, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Vanessa Kirby). And there’s the over-the-top ridiculous plot, where Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt) and the MI crew seek to get their hands on a “cruciform” key that unlocks a powerful weapon that can doom man - whoops, human - kind. The writers must have had a lot of fun with this, coming up with the dastardly “The Entity” as the ultimate evil culprit. Hell, I could have come up with that! And the dialogue is so spy movie grim and serious the actors must have cracked up after each take. What about the daring-dos?  There are several – in the airport, Rome’s streets just outside the Coliseum (don't scratch your name), a Venice bridge, Ethan’s motorcycle sky jump (practiced hundreds of times) and onboard the Orient Express. Without giving much away the Orient Express series of scenes were the most spine-tingling and creative of all. The movie clocks in at two hours and 43 minutes. It wasn’t really boring but I did look at my watch once, about three-quarters of the way through. And after all this, there’s still a second – and more? – parts to come. Did I get my IMAX money’s worth? Not particularly. Despite the enjoyable stunts and huge escapism the experience had the feel of having eaten cotton candy.     

Film clips: From baby strollers to Tom Cruise

Two movies have been preoccupying my mind of late. One of them is Barbie and the other Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One. I have no interest in Barbie dolls (honestly) but there’s something about this movie that’s captivating. Maybe it’s the fact it’s awash in pink. Maybe – surprise – it’s because one of my favourite  and edgy contemporary actors Greta Gerwig directs. I don’t plan to see it. But I have a few questions. It seems that the whole concept of Barbie has been resurrected as a politically correct image of feminism. I almost have to choke. Wasn’t this the doll that, for decades, feminists told us – or females anyway – to hate simply because of the doll’s phony and unachievable female look and superficial symbolism? And Gerwig, liberal as she is, directing it! But of course, “Barbie” has been reborn as Power Barbie, businesswoman, adventurer, a woman – er, doll - that can do everything!

Now for Mission Impossible. As a kid I loved the TV show. But as an adult never cottoned on to the movies, largely because I’m a snobbish anti-action movie fan. And Tom Cruise never particularly set my heart, or mind, on fire. But there’s something about this edition of the series that rings special – primarily it’s over the top stunts which of course Cruise performs himself. Hey, if I go to see OO7 movies I can go and see this. For the stunt on a motorbike off a cliff in Norway alone Cruise did more than 13,000 training jumps and 500 skydives. And then there’s the frantic scene atop the Orient Express. I’m all in. In fact, I may just book a seat at the IMAX screening. 

Recently at Cineplex I saw a poster for Stars and Strollers, Bring Naptime to Showtime (photo), showing a pic of a mother and her baby. The slogan: “No sitter? No problem. Enjoy new releases in a baby-friendly theatre!” The special cinema has reduced volume, soft lighting, even changing tables & bottle warmers, just for moms and babies. I’m trying to get an interview with Cineplex for my associated website WindsorOntarioNews.com. This is fascinating and innovative – creating a theatre space for an otherwise neglected sub-market of young moms.