Magic Marmalade 12th Nov 2023
| | Rated 8/10Great movie...
...Tom Cruise knows how to entertain, and make the kind of action / intrigue movies people want to see.
Although a little long, mainly because it's a mite draggy in spots, it otherwise just goes and goes like a runaway train :), from the off, until it's done.
A lot was made of the "big jump" off a cliff on a motorbike that Tom did for real (ish) in the promotion for this, I actually thought there were a couple of sequences more noteworthy even than this, and should probably be regarded as just as memorable:
Firstly, the Car chase through Rome in the little yellow super car is hilarious, as well as thrilling - making a usually intense and frowny - serious action sequence that you often find in movies with car chases, underscored by an inspired comedic element in the shape of this tiny little super bug of a car is just brilliant!
...And secondly, the sequence in Venice as brilliantly shot and executed, giving a real atmospheric, modern take on the kind of: "The Third Man" style, film noir espionage movie.
The central plank of the story, of an all pervading rogue super AI is not a new idea, for although this has long been a fear of those speculating about the future of technological progress, it of course, is increasingly in the public consciousness as a topic of debate, as it is seemingly now on our doorstep, not in some dim and distant future, usually the in the realms of outlandish sci-fi...
...However, this rather nebulous concept of a villain would make it difficult, on it's own to sell, but sensibly, they have put a human villain in the story (brilliantly portrayed) to be the physical expression, focus, and repository of our fears about this "Entity" - here he is the Entity's acolyte, and minion, as well as the object of Cruise's ire.
The moments where it does slow down a notch, are where it feels laggy, by way of contrast tot he full on pace until those points - especially in the night-club scene, which, while given very strong John Wick vibes (I kept expecting to see Keanu creaming the henchmen in the background! :) - it lingers a llittle too long I think.
And also, the final scenes, and climax with the train has a repetitive quality about it, due to the same moment of jeopardy happening again and again... and again, which does slightly kill the impact of it.
But overall, a proper piece of solid, dependable entertainment, perfect for a Saturday night's night in with snacks and such.
With films this good in this genre now, can someone explain to me why we still need the flaccid, and stately James Bond movies?
(They feel antiquated by comparison).
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