Tag: Hayley Atwell

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025) | REVIEW

Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt hanging on to an airborne upside-down yellow biplane in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING — PHOTO: Paramount Pictures (Still image from trailers).

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie — Screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen.

When Mission: Impossible first took the leap from being a 1960s and 1970s TV series to being a cinematic franchise capable of rivalling both the most iconic spy thriller films and action extravaganzas in 1996, it was Tom Cruise’s first film as a producer. Now, 29 years later, Cruise has become Hollywood’s biggest movie star, and the film series is supposedly (if the marketing and promotion are to be believed) about to conclude with the aptly titled Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, the eighth film in the series. The film features both some of the best sequences in the entire film series, but also one of the messiest opening acts of any of the films.

Continue reading “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025) | REVIEW” →

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One (2023) | REVIEW

Hayley Atwell and Tom Cruise driving a yellow Fiat 500 through Rome in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING, PART ONE — Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie (M:I – Fallout) — Screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen.

During, and in the immediate aftermath of, the COVID-19 pandemic, certain films tried and failed to bring loads of people back into theaters. When all else — including a pretty good and underappreciated Christopher Nolan film — failed to win back the moviegoing audience, Tom Cruise, in true Ethan Hunt fashion, accepted the mission to ‘save cinema.’ And, well, he sort of did. His and Joseph Kosinski’s Top Gun Maverick (in which Cruise’s hero, in a way, sets out to prove that human beings are more capable than unmanned fighter aircrafts) was such a hit that Steven Spielberg reportedly proclaimed that Tom Cruise, now 61 years of age, “saved Hollywood’s ass,” and that his film might have “saved the entire theatrical distribution.” “Is there anything Tom Cruise can’t do?” you might ask. He seems adamant to test that question out with the awe-inspiring stunts that he insists on doing each and every time he headlines a major motion picture nowadays. Now, with Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One, Tom Cruise, the savior of the theatrical industry, is back as Ethan Hunt, the IMF agent and so-called living manifestation of destiny, and this time he wants to fight back against AI and algorithms (some might even suggest he’s up against streaming algorithms, thus taking that saving cinema allegory even farther). That’s right, it’s the second Tom Cruise film in a row to be about a man fighting back against technological advancements, and, once again, it doesn’t disappoint. This movie is a lot of fun. 

Continue reading “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, Part One (2023) | REVIEW” →

Top 10 Supporting Characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – Marvelous Monday #53

Marvelous Monday Outline

I’ve had a lot of fun doing these different top ten lists for Dagobah Day, so I thought I should maybe try to do that for Marvelous Monday. This Monday, I’m ranking ten of the best supporting characters. Villains don’t count. If you have your own solo film, then you don’t count. Characters from Agent Carter or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are eligible. Full members of the Avengers don’t count, not even Hawkeye, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Falcon, Vision, or War Machine. And I don’t think the new Spider-Man should count either. So, with that out of the way, let’s get to it.
Continue reading “Top 10 Supporting Characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – Marvelous Monday #53” →

REVIEW: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Theatrical Release Poster – Marvel Studios – Paramount Pictures

The following is a review of Captain America: The First Avenger, a Joe Johnston film. The review was written in early 2016.

I’ll be the first to admit that I really didn’t have a lot of strong feelings for Captain America prior to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I hadn’t really been interested in the character: to me, he was just this patriotic ‘boy-scout’. I didn’t think Marvel would be able to really make me love the character. Boy, was I wrong!
Continue reading “REVIEW: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)” →

REVIEW: Agent Carter – “A View in the Dark”

Agent Carter - Reviewed

The following is an episode review of Marvel’s Agent Carter (Season Two, Episode Two) available on ABC and Netflix Denmark.

In “A View in the Dark”, S.S.R. Agent Peggy Carter (played by Hayley Atwell) teams up with a new ally to retrieve the powerful and mysterious Zero Matter from Isodyne, after having learned that perhaps Daniel Sousa’s (played by Enver Gjokaj) new relationship is more serious than she had thought.  Continue reading “REVIEW: Agent Carter – “A View in the Dark”” →

REVIEW: Agent Carter – “The Lady in the Lake”

Agent Carter - Reviewed

The following is an episode review of Marvel’s Agent Carter (Season Two, Episode One) available on ABC and Netflix Denmark.

At the beginning of this new season, after having apprehended Dottie Underwood (played by Bridget Regan), Peggy Carter (played by Hayley Atwell) is transferred to the Los Angeles department of the S.S.R., which is now being run by Daniel Sousa (played by Enver Gjokaj), due to a case involving a female body having been found in a frozen lake. Meanwhile, Jack Thompson (played by Chad Michael Murray) now must attempt to interrogate Miss Underwood without the help of the show’s titular character.  Continue reading “REVIEW: Agent Carter – “The Lady in the Lake”” →

REVIEW: Agent Carter – Season One (2015)

Agent Carter - Reviewed

The following is a season review of Marvel’s Agent Carter, available on ABC and Netflix Denmark.

Marvel’s Agent Carter started as a Marvel One-Shot about the S.S.R. Agent Peggy Carter, it was a spin-off of Captain America: The First Avenger. Not unlike Agent Coulson, Peggy Carter has been known to show up in various capacities in Marvel Cinematic Universe films, even those that have little to do with Captain America. But the ABC show is the character’s playground, and it is so refreshing to see a show like this one actually have a fair bit of success, at least critically.  Continue reading “REVIEW: Agent Carter – Season One (2015)” →

REVIEW: Marvel’s Agent Carter – “The Blitzkrieg Button”

I'm Jeffrey Rex Episode Review - Agent Carter - ep 4
On the 18th of February 2015 Danish Netflix released the episodes that have aired on ABC of Marvel’s Agent Carter. This is my first time watching and reviewing it, though I am aware of the fact that most Americans have had the opportunity to watch it.

Though it’s nice to see Howard Stark, played by Dominic Cooper, again, I didn’t really like the opening of the episode – sure Carter is as cool as ever, but I didn’t like how Jarvis was acting in the negotiation – actually I thought James D’Arcy’s character was subpar in this episode.

The little ‘game’ at the Griffith was entertaining – though Howard doesn’t seem like his own character – more like a caricature of his son. If he is to have a huge role on this show then he needs to be more than that.

Back at the SSR station I wasn’t very pleased to begin with. I didn’t particularly care for the Sousa-interrogation, though it was nice to hear more about Enver Gjokaj’s character. Thompson’s character did the only sensible thing, and his part in the interrogation was what we needed – sure Thompson can be very arrogant, but he was the smarter Agent of the two during the interrogation.

One of my biggest pet-peeves is seeing Americans act as a Germans. There are a lot, and I mean a LOT, of great German actors – or even just central-european actors – that could’ve done a greater job than Jack Conley as Ernst Müller.

This episode did have a great way of making it feel important in the grand scheme of the MCU. By adding the vial of Steve Rogers’ blood the whole operation felt important suddenly – Peggy’s reaction was spot-on. This was when Dominic Cooper finally did something worthwhile – his argument in the case of the Rogers-vial was much more sound than his portrayal in the beginning of the episode. Hayley Atwell was perfect, I really mean that – and her argument in the giant discussion was touching, incredibly so.

And STAN LEE!! I love that man, great to see him at the very end. Oh and what about Dottie Underwood? That was one hell of a surprise. I wonder who she really is.

Can ABC please greenlight a second season?

B

I’m Jeffrey Rex

REVIEW: Marvel’s Agent Carter – “Time and Tide”

I'm Jeffrey Rex Episode Review - Agent Carter - ep 3
On the 18th of February 2015 Danish Netflix released the episodes that have aired on ABC of Marvel’s Agent Carter. This is my first time watching and reviewing it, though I am aware of the fact that most Americans have had the opportunity to watch it.

As explained after Bridge and Tunnel, I am starting to like the vibe Carter and Jarvis are giving off when they’re together. The dialogue is fun, and D’Arcy is very entertaining. At the beginning of this episode, he was as stellar as ever when delivering humorous dialogue.

As Jarvis was interrogated I was worried that it would fall flat – that it wouldn’t feel as real as it should. Thankfully, the show managed to keep us entertained during the interrogation. They handled it rather well. Jarvis is a very interesting character, and I’m glad that Chad Michael Murray had something to do in this episode by interacting with D’Arcy’s character.

I really enjoyed the debate by the pier between Jarvis and Carter – Jarvis was spot-on – and his subsequent phonecall to Sousa was hilarious. Jarvis and Carter are winning me over, I am starting to really like this show. Sidenote, is it just me or did you also find it weird that Sousa and Krzeminski were signalling that they were on their way to the pier? The SSR should be secret and silent, not loud like they were going to the pier.

The death of Krzeminski adds to the drama of the show, and also aids Carter somewhat. Hard to know how to react to that scene. His death means her secret is safe for now, though the reaction of Rose and the gals was tough to stomach.

The silence was chilling. The fact that they blamed Stark for what happened is good for the show, so I’m not complaining. I liked that Peggy “English” opened up to Angie at the end of the episode, Peggy needs to open up – she seems like too much of a loner (as I’ve mentioned before). This was a great episode. Great story, great character interaction and a great episode conclusion.

A-

I’m Jeffrey Rex

REVIEW: Marvel’s Agent Carter – “Bridge and Tunnel”

I'm Jeffrey Rex Episode Review - Agent Carter
On the 18th of February 2015 Danish Netflix released the episodes that have aired on ABC of Marvel’s Agent Carter. This is my first time watching and reviewing it, though I am aware of the fact that most Americans have had the opportunity to watch it.

We need more great female characters, and I fully expected one to come out of Agent Carter. One of the things I love about this show is how they write Carter as a strong female character – she’s equally smart, and like she proved in the premiere she doesn’t need anyone’s protection. She’s perfectly capable.

One of the great things about episodes following the pilot – and what’s great about sequels in general – is that they don’t have to explain themselves or their characters. This can help any show settle in, and in Bridge and Tunnel this show becomes much more settled. No actions are forced, and the plot is much more nimble and free-flowing on the screen.

I love The Captain America Adventure Program radio opening – it fits in perfectly with the time period – and I like to see how the general world is coping with people like Cap having fought for them. Having Carter as the star, the hero, when hearing the radio program later in the episode was also perfect. Atwell is great again, and her little attempt at finding the supposed photograph of her at the club was as fun as it should be.

I am beginning to really like Jarvis, who is actually quite fun in this episode. He wants to help, he feels that it is his responsibility – which doesn’t always jibe with the very capable loner, Peggy Carter. I want to see more from Lyndsy Fonseca’s character – and she did appear quite a lot in this episode – I really like that actress.

This show is really pleasing me, even though I don’t care a lot about Leviathan yet. The characters are interesting, and the way they write Peggy Carter is stellar – this show is entertaining, much more than Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was 2 episodes in.

B+

I’m Jeffrey Rex