A dialogue such as “There has never been peace without a great suffering” would surely seem out of place in an action thriller, especially when that film belongs to the MI franchise. Now, in its sixth instalment in 22 years and the longest, at 148 minutes, ‘MI-Fallout’ incorporates the best a JB (James Bond or Jason Bourne) film has ever offered – minus the blondes. A direct follow-up to ‘MI-Rogue Nation’, the Syndicate is now supplanted by The Apostles who want to take control of three plutonium bombs.

Enter Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his IMF – Impossible Mission Force – team whose race against time (sounds familiar?) is at the core of the film, particularly as he’s messed up this mission earlier in an attempt at saving his besties. Hunt’s motives are under scrutiny and is the reason for him being classified a rogue agent – he’s now assigned a partner: August Walker
(Henry Cavill).

Sean Harris as the restrained villain Solomon Lane, Alec Baldwin as Alan Hunley, Hunt’s mentor and Erica Sloan as Angela Bassett, Hunley’s superior are all adequate in the few scenes they merit. Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell, the technical expert brings benignity while Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn incorporates the comedy quotient. Rebecca Ferguson’s (as Ilsa, the former MI6 agent) chemistry with Cruise is palpable, though tacit.

Tom Cruise seems comfortable with director, co-producer and co-writer McQarrie, who ups the ante and shifts gears almost as soon as the film starts and who now holds the distinction of helming more than one MI instalment. The bike, car and helicopter chases are all wonderfully done and due credit should be accorded to cinematographer Rob Hardy and editor Eddie Hamilton.

22 years have failed to wither Tom Cruise’s vigour or vivacity. The seamless, spectacular and striking stunts (pardon the alliteration) are all convincing – especially the one in the toilet featuring former stuntman Liang Yang. Cruise brings his arch enemies suffering, no peace!