June is what kind of month? It’s the perfect month to binge-watch the <Mission Impossible> series. You might be wondering what that means, but on June 1st, all six films of the <Mission Impossible> series will be released on Disney+. The six films currently available on Coupang Play and U+ Mobile TV will also be available on Disney+, so for those who only subscribe to that OTT, now is the perfect time to watch the <Mission Impossible> films you haven’t seen or want to see again. If you’re planning to watch the currently released <Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning>, it’s also a good idea to remind yourself with these films before viewing. Anyway, to celebrate the perfect day for watching <Mission Impossible>, I’ve gathered impressive iconic scenes from each film. Please note that I’ve excluded the most representative stunt scenes from each film (only mentioned at the end of each). If you have any iconic scenes you think should be included, please share them in the comments.
<Mission Impossible> - The Opening Scene That Starts with Failure
The start of Tom Cruise's ‘Mission Impossible’, the 1996 film <Mission Impossible>. This film, which gained attention for being a film adaptation of the drama <The Fifth Column> (1966-1974), is now a classic that everyone knows, but at the time, it shocked audiences with its sensational ‘destruction of the original’. From the very beginning of the film, the mission fails due to someone’s interference, resulting in the deaths of most team members. This opening scene creates an incredible immersion with the IMF team’s strong chemistry, the tension of carrying out the mission, and the sudden crises. Additionally, it showcases the ‘mask trick’ that runs through the original <The Fifth Column> and the <Mission Impossible> series, capturing both tradition and the unique direction of this series that subverts it. It’s a scene that serves as a model for a thriller where you can enjoy team chemistry, even though it’s far from action.
MUST SEE - CIA Security Room Infiltration Scene
<Mission Impossible 2> - Motorcycle Action Scene
The film that is the least ‘Mission Impossible’ in style, and therefore the one where we see Ethan Hunt closest to being an ‘action hero’, is <Mission Impossible 2>. Directed by John Woo, the film creates a unique mood with slow motion, which creates a significant synergy with Tom Cruise in a leather jacket during his prime. The moment Ethan Hunt, who fails to escape by helicopter, steals the enemy's motorcycle and begins to flee, it’s like a spicy mala soup that you can’t stop eating even though it’s too spicy, or a dessert that’s so sweet it hurts your teeth but you keep eating. Watching Tom Cruise with long hair, drifting with one hand while holding a gun in the other, creates a mix of tension and excitement. And the sky is so refreshing. Anyway, there was a moment like this, a pictorial moment, for Ethan Hunt, who is always running and rolling in the dirt.
MUST SEE - Rock Climbing Opening
<Mission Impossible 3> - Vatican Infiltration
<Mission Impossible 3> shows the greatest crisis in the series as Ethan Hunt's wife is taken hostage, yet the Vatican infiltration sequence is relatively light-hearted and impressive. Centered around Ethan Hunt, the team consisting of Luther (Ving Rhames), Declan (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), and Jin (Maggie Q) attempts to infiltrate the notoriously secure Vatican. Although it’s a scene filled with tension, the sight of Ethan Hunt and Declan acting as Italians from the start is hilarious, and then there are moments of heart-stopping danger. The veteran team members’ banter and J.J. Abrams’ pacing make for an excellent scene. Plus, with the ever-changing fashion show of Tom Cruise and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, it’s not an exaggeration to call it the essence of entertainment.
MUST SEE - Building-to-Building Swing Jump Sequence
<Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol> - Sandstorm Sequence
Action is better when it’s clearly visible. That’s a given. However, <Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol> shows excellent direction that creates tension by not showing things properly. It’s the scene where Ethan Hunt gets isolated in a sandstorm in Dubai. Ethan must chase Wistrom (Samuli Edelmann) and goes out into the sandstorm that’s wreaking havoc in Dubai. Afterward, visibility is so poor that he can’t see anything, but Ethan chases the target using GPS, while the target ambushes him from an unseen angle, creating a tense situation. The quality of the action is excellent, and the clever use of Dubai as a backdrop stands out. Ethan Hunt runs a lot in other scenes, but this scene is particularly memorable because he struggles in the middle of a suffocating sandstorm. For reference, I often advised friends going to see this movie to bring cola or something to drink.
MUST SEE - Climbing the Burj Khalifa in Dubai
<Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation> - Chase Sequence
The first <Mission Impossible> film directed by Christopher McQuarrie, Tom Cruise's soul mate, <Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation> features action styles that stand out from previous films. With the introduction of the organization Syndicate and the character Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), there are many chase sequences, making the pursuit feel much more intense than in other works. In particular, the sequence where Ilsa escapes on a motorcycle while being chased by a car through the narrow alleys of Morocco has the scent of the classic spy action series <007> more than <Mission Impossible>. The frantic energy of Benji, who shows great chemistry with Ethan Hunt after the third film, adds to the tension. It’s even more enjoyable when compared to the subsequent Paris chase scene (<Mission Impossible: Fallout>) and the Rome chase scene (<Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning>).
MUST SEE - Airplane Takeoff Sequence
<Mission Impossible: Fallout> - High Altitude Jump Scene
Director Christopher McQuarrie, who showed great chemistry with Tom Cruise in <Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation>, directed for the second consecutive time in the <Mission Impossible> series for the first time (ultimately continuing until the end of the series). Having grasped the direction of the series in the previous film, McQuarrie maintained the spy story style in <Mission Impossible: Fallout> while expanding the scale of the action scenes. Among them, the highlight is undoubtedly the high-altitude jump action, known as HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) jump scene. What makes this scene truly terrifying is that not only Tom Cruise but also Henry Cavill and the cameraman had to jump together. Moreover, since it was a scene where lighting couldn’t be set, the shooting time available per day was only about 3 minutes. Ultimately, after over 100 rehearsals and numerous attempts, they were able to complete the scene. Simon Pegg, who visited the set, said, “I’m stressed thinking I might not see those people again tomorrow,” which says it all. The ups and downs of the filming process are interesting, but the scene itself is also entertaining, especially when August Walker (Henry Cavill) confidently jumps and ends up fainting after being struck by lightning in the clouds, which is both funny and sad.
MUST SEE - Helicopter Stunt Scene
+ Henry Cavill's one-two punch loading scene - This additional scene is not related to action or stunts, but it is often mentioned as one of the most impressive moments in the film. The ad-lib that Henry Cavill took to loosen up during the action scene matched well with the character of August Walker and was included in the film.
