Finally in home cinema from today: the best action film of the year offers 160 minutes of pure blockbuster cinema

This year we’ve already seen some action highlights on the big screen – not just from Hollywood (“John Wick 4”), but also from Asia (“Jawan”) and Europe (“Sisu”). But it was the seventh (!) part of an almost 30-year-old film series that became the benchmark in terms of action this year:

For us at FILMSTARTS “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1“Not just the best action movie of 2023, but one of the best movies of the year overall. We therefore not only give Tom Cruise’s seventh performance as super agent Ethan Hunt an unconditional recommendation, but also the full five stars in the FILMSTARTS review by editor-in-chief Christoph Petersen. And for anyone who wants to put this ultimate film on the shelf in the ultimate edition, only the limited edition in the 4K steelbook (including standard Blu-ray) is an option:

Alternatively, the foil is also available as a standard version DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray*in the Blu-ray steelbook* with alternative cover artwork and of course also as video-on-demand (e.g on Amazon Prime Video*). But today we’re looking at perhaps the film’s most beautiful and best home theater release – which does justice to the action masterpiece through and through.

“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1”: Blockbuster fun in 4K

As befits a ‘Mission: Impossible’ movie, Tom Cruise and Co. travel. (including Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson and Ving Rhames and, for the first time, Hayley Atwell) around the world – from Abu Dhabi to… Venice and Rome. And these exotic film locations not only serve as beautiful backdrops, but are always the focus as the driving force behind the plot – and even play real supporting roles in scenes.

If you want to experience the picturesque locations of “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1” in all their glory, you should definitely opt for the 4K version – and from the opening scene in Abu Dhabi at the latest he remains amazed as an Ultra HD sandstorm rushes over him/her.

In addition, director Christopher McQuarrie has included a host of other impressive panoramas in his 160-minute spy epic, which in 4K almost tempts you to press pause to enjoy the incredibly detailed high-resolution still images – or just theirs . incredible stunts with which McQuarrie and Cruise once again take things one step further can be experienced in every detail…

The limited edition in the steelbook

While Jason Statham believes that stuntmen and stuntwomen deserve their own Oscar category, the series ‘Mission: Impossible’ has been remembered for years with its breakneck action scenes. In “Dead Reckoning – Part 1” you can expect two gigantic stunts – the falling train and the free fall with the motorcycle – which rightly adorn the 4K Steelbook: The train in the front, the bicycle in the back.

In addition, the cover design is, as always, a matter of taste. For the author of this article, who has a preference for such minimalist and/or drawn artwork, the 4K edition is a bull’s eye. Everyone else gets a no less spectacular alternative with the Blu-ray version, which of course also shows THE stunt that the world will talk about for a long time.

But it is not only the external values ​​that are correct, but also the internal ones: in addition to the film, the edition also contains a few extras that are particularly exciting in the case of such a lavishly produced action blockbuster.

In addition to audio commentary from director McQuarrie and Eddie Hamilton, who were responsible for the editing of ‘Mission: Impossible 5+6’ and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, the bonus material also offers exclusive insights into the making of the film. – in the performance of the stunts, editing, filming in locations around the world and in Tom Cruise’s high-speed flight training. McQuarrie and Hamilton also introduce previously unreleased “Dead Reckoning” scenes that did not make it into the final film.

Conclusion: “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1” was an absolute hit at the box office – and is now finally hitting home theaters as well. Especially in 4K. While it’s a shame to no longer be able to watch the action epic on the big screen, the 4K Steelbook offers the perfect opportunity to experience the film again and again – and to look forward to “Mission: Impossible 8” in preparation . The theatrical release was recently postponed until May 22, 2025. But if McQuarrie, Cruise and Co. have impressively proven one thing time and time again in the past, it is that their films are more than worth the long wait…