The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

A lot more complex and involved than any of its predecessors, the fifth chapter of the long-running franchise whose roots date back to the 60’s, returns to the big screen in an exciting, but not entirely flawless, spy action that offers a decent dose of both thrills and drama.

Written and directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation finds IMF agent, Ethan Hunt (Cruise), in a conflict with CIA boss, Hunley (Baldwin), who thanks to the reckless behaviour of his agents, is eager to shut down the force for good. However, Ethan doesn’t have time to deal with the agency and its slow descent into obscurity, as he’s got bigger fish to fry with the Syndicate; a covert international crime organisation responsible for several big incidents around the globe.

Deciding to go rogue, Ethan, along with the help of fellow agents, Benji (Pegg), Luther (Rhames) and William (Renner), embarks on a globe-trotting expedition in order to track down the Syndicate’s leader, Solomon Lane (Harries), before he makes his next big move, all the while coming across mysterious and intangible British Intelligence Agent, Ilsa Faust (played by the superb Rebecca Fergusson), repeatedly.

The Mission Impossible saga is almost two decades old and while it’s hard to believe that it has managed to hang on for this long, there still seems to be enough gas in the tank for the story to continue.

Opening up with an exciting stunt that sees  the seemingly ageless Tom Cruise hanging on from a real-life plane as it takes off, McQuarrie is eager to get the action rolling and he manages to keep his focus with a series of interesting and intense sequences that follow soon after.

The plot is relatively twisty, but easy to follow, while the dialogue is sharp and filled with enough wit to lighten the Hollywood action load. As far as the performances go, the 53 year-old Cruise – who was allegedly injured six times during the making of the film – is once again pretty reliable and committed as the skilful agent Hunt, although it’s Ferguson that stands out as the mysterious agent who Hunt just can’t seem to work out; she manages to infuse enough intelligence, beauty and sophistication to her role.

Clean and well-constructed, the intensity and the suspense is strong in the beginning, however, the film seems to lose momentum in its final act. Nonetheless, flaws aside, there is still plenty of action – including the sensational Vienna Opera House scene – to warrant Mission; Impossible – Rogue Nation as a solid summer blockbuster.