Well, it's finally here. The one film that might instantly demote "Indiana Jones & The Dial of Destiny" to second place. And it lives up to the advance hype!
The prologue is like a cross between "War Games" and "Hunt For Red October." As there's a Russian Federation sub, in the Bering Strait, testing a new navigational system controlled by an experimental artificial intelligence. But, the AI evidently goes rogue when it causes one of the war game scenarios to back-fire on the captain and crew. More importantly, however, is the mysterious disappearance of the fail-safe deactivation key from the captain's personal effects when the bodies are ultimately recovered!
This key becomes the McGuffin (a term first invented by Alfred Hitchcock for a vital plot gimmick) for "Dead Reckoning Part One." Fueling half the action sequences. The other half is fueled by the sexual tension between Ethan, Ilsa, and half-innocent bystander Grace. Plus the psychological tension between Ethan and Gabriel!
Grace and Gabriel are the relatively new faces to this film franchise. The former is played by Hayley Atwell, who's probably better remembered as Captain America's WWII girlfriend and British master spy, Sergeant Peggy Carter. Although, with much-longer hair, in this role, she initially looks more like Michelle Monaghan as Julia (Ethan's ex-wife-turned-medical missionary).
Gabriel, on the other hand, is played by Esai Morales. Most of his fans will always remember him best as the older brother of Ritchie Valens in "La Bamba." But, in this film, he channels some of that same cold-bloodedness he demonstrated playing Robert Davi's enforcer in the 007 film "License to Kill." Adding just a touch of New Age nihilism into the bargain.
Equally unrecognizable, as a Marvel Films alumnus, is Pom Klementieff as Paris. Without her Mantis garb and make-up, she looks and acts more like Devon Aoki's ninja character from the "Sin City" films! And Gary Elwes radically departs from his comedic Good Guy roles by playing a double-dealing Washington, DC, bureaucrat.
The returning cast members look and act just as you think they will. Only more so, given the stakes in this first installment! So, for those of you who haven't seen it, yet? Expect a virtual roller coaster of a movie. For those, like me, who plan to see it a second time? You won't regret it.
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