In Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, Tom Cruise shows off his Jesus complex

Mission: Impossible has been a staple in the action movie genre for nearly 30 years, and despite a slightly disappointing box-office performance in its last outing, the franchise continues to captivate audiences with its international buffet of action and locales. The latest installment, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, is the eighth film in Tom Cruise’s spy-thriller series, and while it may not be the best in the franchise, it delivers on the high-octane action and death-defying stunts that fans have come to expect.

At the heart of the Mission: Impossible franchise is Cruise’s iconic character, Ethan Hunt. Hunt is the epitome of a last action hero, a man known for his willpower, breath-taking stunts, and propensity for gunfights. Over the years, Hunt has become a larger-than-life figure in popular culture, with each new film serving as a media touchstone for audiences eagerly awaiting to see how he will risk his life next.

However, as with many long-running franchises, there is a danger of characters becoming caricatures of themselves. Hunt’s evolution from a field agent on the outs to a near-mythical figure capable of saving the world has led to some criticism that the character has been overemphasized and simplified. This phenomenon is not unique to Mission: Impossible, with other action franchises like Fast & Furious and James Bond also facing similar challenges.

In The Final Reckoning, Hunt is faced with his most dangerous mission yet: to stop an AI entity from triggering a global nuclear apocalypse. As Hunt races against time to acquire the entity’s source code, he is reminded at every turn that he is the only one who can save humanity. The film is filled with team-ups, action sequences, and new characters that add depth to the story.

As the plot unfolds and past events from previous films are interwoven into the narrative, the line between Hunt and Cruise becomes blurred. Cruise’s career resurgence in recent years, coupled with his portrayal of Hunt as a savior figure, has led to speculation about the actor’s own motives in crafting the character. The film’s relentless focus on Hunt as the one true hero capable of saving the world can be seen as both an effective marketing strategy and a subtle commentary on Cruise’s own career trajectory.

Ultimately, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning is a thrilling and action-packed addition to the franchise, showcasing Cruise’s enduring star power and the enduring appeal of the character of Ethan Hunt. As audiences gear up for what may be the final chapter in this long-running series, the film serves as a fitting tribute to both Hunt and Cruise, solidifying their places in the pantheon of action movie legends.