Tom Cruise returns as IMF agent Ethan Hunt in his seventh Mission: Impossible outing Dead Reckoning Part One which comes home on 4K and physical media today from Paramount Canada. It’s epic and brings in a number of story and character threads from the entire franchise and, of course, looks absolutely stunning in 4K.

This time out the story has an immediacy as the film’s nemesis appears to be an AI that can manipulate anything, and Ethan and his team may not be able to best it.

The returning cast includes Simon Pegg as Benji, Ving Rhames as Luther, Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa and rounding out his team is Hayley Atwell as Grace, whose character gives us an insight into who gets recruited into the IMF and how. The all-star cast doesn’t stop there, however, Esai Morales, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, Cary Elwes, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, and the returning Henry Czerny round out the adventure.

And while the story is sharp and relevant, it’s the action sequences and the stunts that keep fans coming back. This time around the story sweeps us around the globe, and the stuntwork remains top of the field (there really does need to be an Oscar for stunt work). Yes, Cruise does them himself, and the camera captures it putting us right in the middle of it all.

The motorcycle/parachute jump was in all the trailers but it doesn’t detract from the moment you see it play it out on screen. And that’s just the beginning, the location shoots in Rome and Venice are stunning, and look incredible. The chases, the action beats, all work perfectly, and Cruise works hard to make sure it’s all on the screen.

The 4K release comes with a flurry of extras including a commentary from director Christopher McQuarrie, an isolated soundtrack, and a slew of featurettes that explore the locations and the iconic shots and stunts that make the film.

I would have loved a hidden teaser for Dead Reckoning Part 2 to build anticipation for next summer’s release, but overall, this release could be the gold standard for 4K sound and picture. These films continue to get bigger, and arguably better as they progress. As a franchise, it hasn’t stumbled once (I Like M:I 2 and 3) and continues to push stunts and practical effects to the limit.

It’s a fantastic ride, and while I’m not a fan of some of the narrative choices because of how I feel about certain characters, I understand that the series has to make the tough choices sometimes for drama, tension and casting.

Now that I’ve finished watching the latest film, I want to go back and watch the entire series again and you can too, as you can pick up each film, including Dead Reckoning: Part One today on 4K from Paramount Canada!

You’re mission should you choose to accept it…