Insider Scoop: Unfiltered Details on Mission Impossible 7's Grueling First Cut - Prepare to be Astonished!
Mission Impossible 7’s initial version challenges viewers with a lengthy runtime of nearly four hours, making it a demanding watch, as shared by the editor
In a recent interview with Variety, the editor for Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, Hamilton, disclosed that the initial version of the movie was approximately four hours in length and did not offer a smooth viewing experience. Directed by franchise veteran Christopher McQuarrie, this latest installment features Tom Cruise reprising his role as superspy Ethan Hunt, who confronts a rogue AI and its human counterpart. Boasting an abundance of thrilling action scenes and daring stunts, this sequel holds the record for the longest duration in the franchise's history, clocking in at two hours and 43 minutes. Hamilton further reveals that the original version of the film included an excessively long climax train sequence, which ultimately spans about 50 minutes in the final cut, but initially consumed around an hour and a half. Hamilton's complete statement regarding the lengthy runtime can be found below.
Does Dead Reckoning Part One Earn Its Runtime?
The initial viewing of the film proved to be quite a challenge for Chris and me. Clocking in at almost four hours in length and devoid of any musical accompaniment, it was an entirely new experience for us to sit through the entire movie. The absence of a score rendered the film almost like a silent picture, made even more apparent by the lack of sound effects. With meticulous attention to detail, we meticulously scrutinized every single moment of the film.
The duration of the initial Mission: Impossible film in 1996 was a mere one hour and 50 minutes. Since then, the series, led by McQuarrie, who came on board with Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, has consistently witnessed longer running times. Alongside this increase in duration, McQuarrie's contributions have garnered some of the highest ratings in the history of the franchise. Mission: Impossible – Fallout, boasting a runtime of two hours and 27 minutes, currently holds the esteemed record with a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Nevertheless, Rogue Nation and Dead Reckoning Part One are not far behind, receiving ratings of 94% and 96% respectively.
The reviews for Mission: Impossible 7 overwhelmingly commend the film's exhilarating action sequences and stunts, with little criticism regarding its duration. However, any common critiques mainly revolve around the story and characters. For instance, Esai Morales' villain and his connection to Ethan's past are somewhat underdeveloped, and certain scenes become burdened with exposition concerning the AI threat known as The Entity.
Similar to John Wick: Chapter 4, Mission: Impossible 7's action is expertly crafted, resulting in a film that doesn't feel like it lasts three hours. The fast-paced narrative, exceptional cast, and Tom Cruise's charm make for a streamlined movie that effectively encompasses its content. Star Simon Pegg recently disclosed that Cruise and McQuarrie don't have predetermined runtimes in mind, instead prioritizing the entertainment value. This approach evidently paid off with Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.
Source: Variety
