‘The Final Reckoning’ Was Originally Very Different

Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning took a lot of reckoning with to get to its final version.

In an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, director Christopher McQuarrie shared how significantly the eighth (possibly last) Mission: Impossible film was altered during post-production. To put it simply, there were many changes made to it.

As a dedicated movie critic, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing the creative journey behind the latest installment in the “Mission: Impossible” series, titled “Dead Reckoning Part One“. In response to audience feedback on the previous film, director and co-writer McQuarrie shared that they reconsidered their initial vision for “The Final Reckoning“, choosing instead to dismantle and reimagine it. What emerged was a nonlinear narrative structure – one I’ve been privy to witness firsthand, meticulously designed and filmed to maintain this unconventional storytelling approach. Crucial scenes are strategically placed earlier in the plotline, enhancing the overall viewing experience for fans of the franchise.

Later on, McQuarrie explained, “As soon as we put it together, it was obvious it wasn’t functioning. So Tom suggested, ‘Let’s make it linear.’ I made it linear, but it still didn’t work. And when I made it linear, the reason it didn’t work became clear: every scene you started with was a conversation about the Entity before we knew what the Entity actually was.

Consequently, McQuarrie incorporated a fresh cold opening to re-present the Entity – the rogue AI antagonist from the last two Mission: Impossible movies. Moreover, McQuarrie disclosed that the scene where Ethan Hunt (played by Tom Cruise) faces off with the Entity was filmed just “two days” prior to finalizing the project’s visuals.

Originally planned as a dual film titled “Dead Reckoning” and “The Final Reckoning,” these productions were initially conceived simultaneously. However, due to “Dead Reckoning’s” modest box office performance and the 2023 Hollywood strikes causing delays in the second production, McQuarrie decided to revise the second half into “The Final Reckoning.” As a result, certain scenes destined for the second movie ended up being discarded.

In the movie, I made certain to capture every detail about the questions you might have, such as the complex relationship between Ethan Hunt and Esai Morales’ character, Gabriel – the rogue agent who supposedly took the life of a woman dear to Ethan years ago, sparking his decision to join the Impossible Mission Force.

In the novel Dead Reckoning, there were hints galore about Ethan and Gabriel’s past, but in The Final Reckoning, their history didn’t receive much focus. Director McQuarrie filmed a backstory that offered additional insights into their relationship, but he admitted that it would still feel somewhat unclear and open-ended unless the movie was made. So, they decided to leave things as they were.

Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning is now playing in theaters everywhere.

Every Mission: Impossible Movie, Ranked From Worst to Best

8. Mission: Impossible II (2000)

In a different take,

John Woo produced another operatic action movie after ‘Face/Off’, this time featuring a heroic agent from the government facing off against his sinister counterpart. The film also includes a recurring speech about the tale of Bellerophon and Chimera, symbolizing a powerful virus and its cure in the storyline, emphasizing that every hero necessitates a villain, mirroring Woo’s signature theme where both sides of law enforcement are entangled in an unending, interdependent dance. The characters in this movie, similar to ‘Face/Off’s’ Sean Archer and Castor Troy, have the power to swap faces, deceiving people into believing they are each other’s sworn enemies. This film goes by the title M:I-2. Nowadays, people often comment, “Oh yes, ‘Face/Off’, timeless ’90s masterpiece. ‘Mission: Impossible II’, a regrettable failure!” I don’t understand it! It may be the weakest of the ‘Mission: Impossible’ series, but in any other franchise, it would be a decent, mid-tier entry.

After ‘Face/Off’, John Woo created another movie where a heroic government agent battles his wicked counterpart. This film features a speech about the myth of Bellerophon and Chimera, representing a lethal virus and its antidote in the storyline. The theme is that every hero needs a villain, reflecting Woo’s signature idea that both sides of law enforcement are caught in an endless dance. Characters can switch faces in this movie, just like in ‘Face/Off’. It’s called M:I-2, and while people often say they love ‘Face/Off’ but think ‘Mission: Impossible II’ is terrible, I believe it would be a good movie if it were part of another franchise.

7. Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning

As far as my personal preference goes (and perhaps for no one else on Earth), “Mission: Impossible 2” and “The Final Reckoning” seem remarkably similar in terms of quality, though “Mission: Impossible 2” might be more consistently enjoyable due to its shorter runtime. At 170 minutes, “The Final Reckoning” overstays its welcome, with lengthy sections that devolve into a confusing tangle of plot complications, unresolved subplots, and unnecessary callbacks to earlier, superior “Mission: Impossible” installments.

However, I must acknowledge that the thrilling biplane finale in “The Final Reckoning” is so impressive that it alone justifies its admission cost. It’s the “Mission” with the most exhilarating high points. Yet, I would contend that it also has the greatest low points.

6. Mission: Impossible III (2006)

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, let me share my thoughts on how Mission: Impossible 3 (M:I-3) differed significantly from its predecessors. Instead of the thrilling, high-octane adventures we’ve come to expect from Ethan Hunt, M:I-3 presented a surprising change in pace. Here, Ethan is enjoying a content family life, working as a trainer for the IMF, far removed from the field agent days. However, this peaceful existence is disrupted when he is called back into action to rescue his former student (Keri Russell) and later his wife (Michelle Monaghan).

The plot structure of M:I-3 bears a striking resemblance to director J.J. Abrams’ own pilot for Alias, which might make you question if this Mission: Impossible could still be considered standard genre fare. But what truly sets M:I-3 apart is the chilling performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman as the ruthless Owen Davian. In one particularly memorable scene, Hoffman even dons an IMF mask to impersonate Cruise’s Ethan Hunt, adding a layer of intrigue and suspense that elevates the film beyond its genre constraints.

5. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

The first part of Dead Reckoning, titled as such, seems like a comprehensive recap of the series so far, richly incorporating references to all six preceding films. It also serves as an extension of Tom Cruise’s and director Christopher McQuarrie’s motifs from Top Gun: Maverick, where Cruise portrayed a traditional pilot defying advanced digital technology. In Dead Reckoning, Cruise physically battles an ominous AI, representing a deity-like entity capable of manipulating reality. Despite the film being clearly marked as ‘Part One’, it doesn’t leave viewers feeling cheated, offering several remarkable scenes, such as the jaw-dropping stunt where Cruise rides a motorcycle off a cliff and parachutes into the valley below.

4. Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation (2015)

It could be said that while Rogue Nation made an attempt to surpass Ghost Protocol, it might not have quite reached the mark. However, the thrilling scene where Tom Cruise hangs onto the door of a cargo plane during takeoff certainly tries hard to outdo its predecessor. This film is packed with cool gadgets, but what truly sets it apart is Rebecca Ferguson’s portrayal of Ilsa Faust, a former British agent who finds herself infiltrated within “The Syndicate,” an ominous organization resembling the IMF. There’s an instant chemistry between Ethan and Ilsa, adding a touch of romance to what has previously been a rather modest franchise, with a hint of allure.

3. Mission: Impossible (1996)

In the initial “Mission,” the intricacy wasn’t as grand, but the Ethan Hunt we’d come to know for the next three decades in these films remains unchanged. His first notable action involves disregarding a direct command; shortly after, he attempts to rescue his teammate; and then, he hurls an explosive gumstick at a massive aquarium to evade his IMF superior and prove his innocence by infiltrating the world’s most secure computer system. Consistently throughout the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, Ethan Hunt remains the same: He is more loyal to individuals than institutions, he doesn’t shrink from bending the rules (or laws) for the greater good, and he persistently refuses to accept that any mission is beyond reach.

2. Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol (2011)

I find it hard to decide which “Mission: Impossible” film takes the top spot, but when it comes to standout sequences, there’s no debate – the scene from “Ghost Protocol” where Ethan Hunt and his team execute an intricate deception while Tom Cruise dangles from the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, is undeniably impressive. However, the main drawback of this sequence is that the villain, portrayed by the late Michael Nyqvist, is a typical antagonist with conventional objectives.

1. Mission: Impossible — Fallout (2018)

The Fallout series embodies the most captivating aspects from each Mission: Impossible installment, blending adroit action sequences, sparkling dialogues, jaw-dropping visual effects, unexpected plot turns, ambiguous character alliances, and a touch of romantic turmoil involving Ethan Hunt, Ilsa Faust, and his wife Julia. Tom Cruise performs helicopter flights and HALO jumps, although not necessarily in that sequence. (To be fair, considering it’s Tom Cruise, it’s somewhat surprising he didn’t attempt a HALO jump onto a moving helicopter, then pilot it himself.)

2025-05-28 23:55