I guess, people would be thinking why would anyone want to watch part 5 of a movie series, right? Sequels are by definition inferior versions of the first part, right? Wrong. MI5 proves everyone wrong. Opening at number one worldwide, it’s the highest opening of all the series.

With zero expectations and no foreknowledge of the movie, I came out the theater a very delighted movie-goer who had spent two hours with a solid, action blockbuster that was smart, witty, fun and a complete entertainer.

Plot:  With the IMF now disbanded and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) out in the cold, a new threat — called the Syndicate — soon emerges. The Syndicate is a network of highly skilled operatives who are dedicated to establishing a new world order via an escalating series of terrorist attacks. Faced with what may be the most impossible mission yet, Ethan gathers his team and joins forces with Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), a disavowed British agent who may or may not be a member of this deadly rogue nation. (Taken from Google.com) 

The movie jumps right into one of the most exhilarating, breath-taking stunts to be seen on celluloid: Mr. Tom Cruise hanging for his dear life on a plane that just took off. Yes, that’s Tom Cruise himself physically performing the stunt himself. It’s as good as the stunt he performed outside Burj Khalifa in MI4. You only release your breath once the set piece is over, dragging you right into the famous theme tune, and you know you are going to enjoy the rest of the movie.

With locations world over (Belarus, Vienna, London, Morocco, Virginia) MI5 takes you on a whirlwind ride of thrilling, action fights and escapades. Familiar faces are there: Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner and Ving Rhames and new faces include a great Alec Baldwin and a super, gorgeous looking woman Rebecca Ferguson. The villain is played by Sean Harris, who oozes an icy, cold evil vibe. Jumping from one precarious scene to another, we follow Ethan Hunt on some incredible escapades.

My favorite parts have to be two scenes which really captivated me, to the point where I had to stop myself from shouting at the screen. One, the opera set up in Vienna; the entire build up was so suspenseful, I was just holding my breath the entire time. Two, the underwater tank scene in Morocco; really brought so much tension and fear that at times, you are sitting there getting frustrated because things don’t seem to work out for Ethan Hunt.

What would a movie like Mission Impossible be without all the usual gimmicks, and the movie is full of them hand print scanners, fancy guns, breaking ins, unlocking locked doors, driving cars (an amazing car chase in Casablanca!), underwater suits etc. 

In a central scene, when Ethan Hunt is expected to do the impossible, Benji (Simon Pegg) blatantly blurts out that nothing is impossible for Hunt, and he’s right! Tom Cruise is the quintessential action movie star. At the age of 53, he’s put us men and other action movie stars to shame. With incredible stamina, fitness and a toned body, he’s shown us that nothing is impossible. With a franchise that is 19 years old, MI5 has injected enough oomph and energy to keep it going for a long time.

In short, though it may feel a slight retread of MI4, MI5 is a thrilling, dangerous and fun action blockbuster reminding us why we go to the movies: to be entertained, and entertained you will be! Better than Bond. Better than Bourne. Go watch it on the big screen now!

4 out of 5