Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1 4K UHD Review: Fred Reckoning

The Mission: Impossible series has looked great in 4K but none better than Fallout with its IMAX sequences. With no open frame shots, Dead Reckoning – Part 1 is just about making the widescreen look great in all the glamorous locations, and it does.

The pure black is noticeable when Ethan Hunt emerges from total darkness in his first scene. The Venice alleyways and silhouette of the bridge over the canals are highlights too. The golden desert of Abu Dhabi and gorgeous vivid Rome streets are also beautiful sights against which to set action.

The sound effects remain in the front for the most part so when they shift to the rear it’s more pronounced. The sandstorm will rumble around you. The cut to the closeup of Ethan’s cliff jump makes the wind boom around you. The train collapse and clanging debris ricochets. The rear surrounds are mainly used for the score to swell and really envelop you.

Christopher McQuarrie’s commentary with editor Eddie Hamilton illustrates the subtle decisions that make the complex story clear. They discuss shots they had to add to make sure the audience understood, and sets they redressed and refused.

They offer some hints about what to expect in part 2. They can be technical about the editing down to the frame because Hamilton is there. They talk through the camera techniques in the airport sequence. Notable Easter eggs include the fact that the titles include some shots that don’t appear later in the movie, because The Entity is messing with us.

There is also some talk of COVID production, which will be a good record to have for when they stop even following protocols.

A Blu-ray includes mostly short extras. Five are under five minutes while the parachute jump gets a full nine. That illustrates all the elements they combined to pull off the sequence. Tom Cruise practices motocross jumps and skydiving to get it all right, and coordinates with drone cameras for closeup. That leads into the speed flying as a separate extra.