STORY: CIA chief Hunley (Baldwin) convinces a Senate committee to disband the IMF (Impossible Mission Force), of which Ethan Hunt (Cruise) is a key member. Hunley argues that the IMF is too reckless. Now on his own, Hunt goes after a shadowy and deadly rogue organization called the Syndicate.

REVIEW: We get an idea of the kind of limits Tom Cruise will go to, in order to entertain his fans, almost as soon as the movie begins. He clings to the outside of a cargo plane (the shot reportedly took eight takes) while in flight, as he desperately maneuvers to get inside the airplane and jettison a load of chemical warheads. The CGI/stunt double route could have been taken, but Cruise did it for real. Because he’s Tom Cruise.

Cruise’s Hunt is a little older, wiser, but no less aggressive. Hunt is captured and almost killed by a Syndicate member, but is saved by another rogue agent, Ilsa Faust (Ferguson) from Britain’s MI6, in the nick of time. ‘When he learns that the Syndicate plans on assassinating a head of state, Hunt brings in his old friend Benji (Pegg) to help with matters and their mission is now to thwart the Syndicate’s plans.’ What follows is classic MI fare with stunts galore, thrilling chase sequences, tech wizardry and more.

McQuarrie doesn’t stray too far from formula here, but there’s more humour in here than previously seen in the series. McQuarrie (who has worked with Cruise in Edge of Tomorrow and Jack Reacher) coaxes a kickass show from Cruise. Ferguson’s Faust is alluring. She finds that sweet spot in between being eye candy and deadly vixen. On screen, Hunt and she complement each other perfectly.

The sequence at the Vienna State Opera (with the Chancellor of Austria in attendance, watching Puccini’s Turandot), involving activity happening offstage between Hunt and a bunch of bad guys even as the blissfully unaware audience watches the stage show, is almost poetic in terms of timing and synchronization.

A winsome mix of old school and new, Rogue Nation will thrill you throughout.