Mission: Impossible-Fallout is my favorite pure action flick that I’ve seen in quite some time.

  While not being vastly groundbreaking or exploring untouched areas in the genre, Fallout takes the traditional action archetypes and delivers on them at the highest level.

  With no shortage of chaotic gunfights, heart pounding car chases, shocking backstabs, and well-choreographed fist fights, Fallout doesn’t disappoint viewers coming to sit back and allow themselves to be washed over by ridiculous and improbable action.

  Tom Cruise is at his best in this film, my new favorite of the Mission: Impossible series. From the very first major action sequence in the film, Fallout quickly ascended into my pantheon of favorite Tom Cruise films along with Top Gun, Rain Man, and his short but hilarious performance in Tropic Thunder.

  Cruise, at age 56, looks and acts like he’s still in his 30’s–performing shocking stunts that on occasion left my mouth gaping. Cruise’s mind bending stunts are part of what separates this movie from others released in recent years.

  One scene that has stuck with me leaves Cruise, as Ethan Hunt–an agent of the fabricated IMF, hanging precariously from a helicopter. Rather than zooming out or switching angles, the camera stays locked on Cruise, assuring the audience that–yes–that really is a $570 million man hanging from a helicopter.

  The risks that Cruise puts himself under raise the viewer’s anxiety level, but also increase one’s satisfaction when the sequence is pulled off flawlessly.

  Despite Cruise’s massive influence on the film, there are certain surprising aspects that make the film worth a watch.

  Cruise’s lovable team has grown considerably over the years to now include Simon Pegg, Alec Baldwin and Ving Rhames. All three deliver above par performances, but Rhames was the shocker of the bunch. Even as a background character, Rhames’ gripping performance imbues the film with an unexpected sense of realism.

  A host of new and compelling villains are introduced with some reliable oldies thrown in the mix for good measure. The villains are relatively black and white, but that’s made up for by their ambitious goals that, while not particularly original, permeate the film with a healthy amount of drama.

     The film’s setting is dynamic and constantly changing from beautiful French Chateaus all the way to monolithic Himalayan mountains.

  Another surprise of the film is the high quality cinematography. The camera work does a superb job of balancing engaging fight scenes with panoramic views of whatever scenic location the film is in at the moment.

  At the end of the day, the film delivers best on what any Mission: Impossible film promises. There are extremely impressive car chase scenes, fight scenes that were surprisingly brutal, unforgettable stunts and of course, some trademark face swapping.

  Does the film have anything to say anything about the world? Probably not. But who cares? You’re not there to ponder philosophical questions. You’re there to forget about your problems for two and a half hours and watch Tom Cruise beat some bad guys senseless. So, sit back and enjoy an action film executed just about as well as one can be.