How Tom Cruise's Stunts Keep Ethan Hunt Human

Through out all the insane stunts in the Mission Impossible franchise, we see Ethan Hunt risking his life to save the world. But one big difference between Mission Impossible and other films in the genre is that it keeps it's lead human. We remain on the edge of our seats because we see a frailty in Ethan Hunt that he overcomes with each installment. Mission Impossible keeps it's characters grounded while pushing them to their limit.
#missionimpossible #tomcruise #nerdstalgic
Written by Dave Baker
Edited by Nick Murphy

[@LeonardoKlotz]

No green screen in the world can create a more immersive feeling than doing things for REAL

[@mr_indie_fan]

EXACTLY! Practical effects are much cooler then cgi. (Cgi should purely be used to support practical effects such as in the first star wars trilogy, and 3d animated movies/shows obviously)

[@thepayne7862]

Exactly right.

[@strbourne]

For now

[@Luciphell]

Not to mention. 15 years from now the movies that use practical will hold up perfectly to time, while the CG fests on the other hand.....

[@thepayne7862]

@@Luciphell I watched "Darby O'Gill and the little people" last night and the practical effects still hold up today.

[@zairie]

The signature run though... That's what keeps it going

[@r0b3rt_959]

Tom Cruise sprints like a champ.

[@BlackPhantasm]

"it's too short" -no shit!! Best line that sums up the realism you feel watching mission impossible.

[@tl8101]

Your analysis is spot on. Ethan Hunt is by far more entertaining and iconic than Bond and Bourne thanks to Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie who made the Mission films into one of the most successful movie franchises by creating breathtaking stunts with less CGI.

[@itsinsanedino8816]

For me , Mission Impossible 4, 5 and 6 are some of the best action films ever produced. Cruise is masterful and I love every part of these films. I have watched them all probably over 100 times each. Cannot wait for Dead Reckoning. Great video, love to see how consistent Nerdstalgic is so thanks!

[@ComedyBros5]

Absolutely read my mind. The movies just take the stakes and expectation bar, then blow it out of the water with each new installment. It's incredible. They're my most anticipated films, and I'll be sad to see the series end!

[@Julia25120]

SAME, I WANT TO SEE MI7!!! 😍😍😍 Who needs Scream 6????

[@strikerbowls791]

Fallout is the greatest action film ever

[@Julia25120]

@@strikerbowls791 True!!!! Its a fckng masterpiece!!! 💟💟💟

[@hexagonshorts2186]

His 500 HALO training is now integrated with 13000 Bike jumps to give us the deadliest stunt in the history of Hollywood in MI 7 Dead Reckoning. Talk about dedication

[@carlosalbertolealrodriguez5529]

4:20 What I love from "Ghost Protocol", it´s that they actually film the scene on the real scenario, when you see the vertigo thru the lens´ camera, it feels so real and dangerous. Unlike other movies, like "Jupiter Ascending", every fall seems fake, it´s obvious that they had a green screen behind (or blue screen, for that matter)

[@joemills4603]

Absolutely! I remember seeing this in imax and I had sweaty palms and at times couldn't look at the screen... an amazing experience from a flat image. It will always be one of my favourite(?) cinema experiences.

[@dcamaraman939]

The MI2 climbing scene establishes EXACLTY what it wants, Ethan Hunt is a bad ass. So it accomplished its goal. That movie may not be good , but its AWSOME .

[@markjackson6431]

Indiana Jones always seemed human. John McClaine in the first three movies Ellen Ripley in the first two movies

[@Villenueve1101]

Kingdom Of Crystal Skull says hi

[@playgroundchooser]

@@Villenueve1101 Crystal Skull never happened. You may have imagined it though.

[@Villenueve1101]

@@playgroundchooser Nah it was a nightmare come true.

[@darkhorse811]

@@Villenueve1101 Will you be watching Dial of Destiny?

[@kaksf2534]

Aww but it's cool to have an aliens tho 🥺

[@07m07]

2:49 That moment where Hunt misses the Helicopter landing gear and falls back down to the payload is I think one of the most perfect moments in the franchise that sums it up really well. In one sense, it's unnecessary in that the scene is already filled to the brim with tension, Hunt already performing a near impossible feat with little clue on how to actually get the detonator on the other helicopter even once he hijacks this one. The scene would be just fine without him slipping. But having that little bit gives us that extra bit of terror and reminder of the sheer difficulty of what Hunt is trying to do and how a single tiny mistake is all it takes for it all to end in disaster. Like Anthony Hopkins said in the worst MI film, it's not mission difficult, it's mission impossible, and moments like that help us feel it in a visceral level. Also, I think I heard McQuarrie or Cruise comment on the danger of that stunt, that there was a chance of Cruise knocking his head and KO-ing from the fall. His straps would've kept him from plummeting to his death, but still not a great situation if it had happened. I think Ferguson also commented that no one told her about the stunt when she was watching it from another helicopter and she legit thought she was seeing Cruise slip. Would've loved to have been there to see her reaction.

[@PrestigeLearning]

Ferguson's first stunt ever on MI5 was the sash-ride from the theater roof. She claims Cruise, sensing how terrified she was, grinned and said, "Welcome to Mission." Point being, I like to imagine that she's used to being terrified for Tom by now.

[@PrestigeLearning]

Funny how the worst MI film is the only one where Ethan HASN'T been disavowed. It's still a good film, in my opinion, but it's just a generic John Woo film with masks.

[@borskavin6395]

Anthony Hopkins: This is mission impossible! Ethan Hunt: Yes, but it's mission necessary.

[@edvaira6891]

The Hilarious thing about Ghost Protocol IS THAT EVERYTHING BREAKS! None of the Gadgetry really works! At all! It’s a damn miracle at the end we weren’t ALL DEAD! Very refreshing!

[@ethanbrunt7755]

Ethan is fascinating to watch because he’s a not even close to perfect guy who gets put into crazy situations and makes a lot of mistakes

[@blairmcauley2497]

Tom cruise is my favorite actor and this is why he puts his heart and soul into everything he does for the sake of the audience. Mission impossible is my favorite action franchise can’t wait for MI7

[@killerwaffle5965]

But tbh he dud a big part ruining the mummy

[@Dan55888]

And he is a cult maniac

[@tl8101]

@@Dan55888 GFY.

[@tl8101]

@@killerwaffle5965 Better than your boy Fraser.

[@tl8101]

He's simply the best.

[@GlassGhost428]

Everyone says 2 is the worst one and maybe so, but I think the switch near the end when Ethan dies then it cuts to him running out and ripping the mask off while the theme kicks in is one of the coolest moments from the whole series

[@MegaRayland]

Personally I think 3 is the worst. In Abrams fashion it copies several things from the previous two films, the climax is pretty flat, the team is boring, one key scene focuses on the before and after but not the actual climax of the scene, and the only mildly interesting scene in the entire movie happens early in the film. The only redeemable quality about that film is that it marked the before and after of the franchise thanks to Ghost Protocol coming next and starting the rise of the franchise.

[@joemills4603]

@@MegaRayland I watched 3 last night, and it's definitely very generic. Arguably much more coherent and watchable than 2, but quite boring with it. 2 is definitely cheesy, but it's still a piece of creative art in its own right.

[@Locadel2003]

After that masterpiece of Top gun maverick, I can watch anything with Tom cruise, I was already a big fan of him but now I am truly in love with his passion, dedication and love for making movies and entertaining audiences

[@Dan55888]

Watch Going Clear to see how deep he really goes...

[@tl8101]

@@Dan55888 You mean the Catholic Church.

[@Thisthat1234]

I actually don’t think it’s the fact that the stunts are inherently dangerous that attracts the public, it’s simply that they are actually doing them and are practical.

[@nikhilm.r1854]

Ghost protocol was the first movie I saw in a Multiplex. I was so mesmerized with the Stunts, BGM. Such an immersive experience!

[@matthewoehler2472]

It's the small stuff you forget when green screening. Seeing the actors in Top Gun get their faces pushed around because of the intense Gs immerses me the viewer so much. And thar's small but it those small things that make it more real.

[@LeonardoKlotz]

PRACTICAL EFFECTS BEFORE CGI That's my motto

[@fireaza]

HAMMERS BEFORE SCREWDRIVERS! That's my motto! Seriously, CGI and practical effects are just tools in the director's toolbox. One is not "better" than the other, nor should one be used in all situations. The fact that you don't understand this just goes to show how much of a poseur you are.

[@MitchCyan]

I really want to rewatch all the mission impossibles again now.

[@josephkitchens1644]

Always awesome work!!....these films have gotten very good in the last 3...looking forward to the next two!!

[@KennethV45]

The first film is my favorite of the series, granted I have only seen the films once. I saw the first five films relatively one after the other and several months later I saw Fallout. With the new one coming out soon, I think I will rewatch them and see how my thoughts of the franchise could change. I don’t remember much regarding the films, but I think the reason why the first is my favorite is because it has more espionage/spy moments?

[@truhhhhhhhokIII3]

He’s so good at mission impossibling, ill give him that, and couch jumping skills

[@geekehUK]

Showing Ethan having a good time with extreme stuff does help to differentiate it from John McLane style torture porn. I'm impressed if he did a real halo jump, they regularly kill like experienced marines. Get the timing off by a few seconds and you hit the water like it was concrete. I wonder if Cruise believes he could die, or if he believes he's a trillion year old, self-actualised alien with super powers who has mastered immortality?

[@platput]

I think his joints are going to keep on reminding him that he is only human.

[@scotttrail522]

Someone would say, that Tom Cruise does real-life James Bond stunts done right.

[@damianstarks3338]

This Ethan Hunt analysis is perfect.

[@stevenharsono9911]

Tom is a true legend , he had been in action films for four decades and his upcoming action scenes will be certainly amazing , but there is a little thing that i certainly hope from his upcoming Mission Impossible films , Rebecca's Ilsa Faust character not be killed off

[@Jack_Gibby]

When I hear a new Mission Impossible movie is being made I wonder if one day we might be told Tom Cruise died on set. Thus the producers work Ethan Hunt's character's death into part of the movie.

[@JOCoStudio1]

That would be a ridiculously ballsy move on the studio's part. If it ever comes to that, I can only hope they'd still release the movie.

[@Dan55888]

Let's hope so. Then there will be one less cult asshole in hollywood and the world better off

[@Joseph-ic8xd]

@@JOCoStudio1 Given that this is Tom Cruise, I'm sure he has this written as one of his wishes in his Will / contract.

[@MegaSina777]

Tom Cruise has kept Hollywood alive 😎🤘🏻

[@Greg-cy2li]

Thanks for the vid!

[@oxurrr]

MI 2 built Ethan character too. He's rock climbing on holidays so he's prepared for missions.

[@HarvestStore]

Great video.

[@thecrazyslopoke]

From an acting angle, I like 3 the best. Super emotional with the love interest angle, and it took away the bad taste left over from 2.

[@alexanderwindh4830]

Great video

[@chrisnichols2092]

THANK YOU

[@yahyaharyantoo]

THE GOAT!!!

[@tylerhackner9731]

Love it

[@baahblo]

mr nerdstalgic, can we please get the red ranger forever analysis back 😔 i must have taken it for granted before i could share it with my friend group for all to see and miss the video already. Thank you for your work here

[@carlosnsn68]

Ty

[@joshfactor1]

everybody loves the legendary badass & we can't wait to see how it all ends in dead reckoning

[@jordibarguno]

The first movie is by far the truest to the TV Show. It was more about trickery, cons, and we'll executed plans than over the top stunts. John Woo from the get go was clearly the wrong choice for Mission Impossible and he unfortunately changed the concept of what mission impossible was. I am a big fan of the movies, you have to give Tom props for putting it all on the line, but I much prefer the original concept from the TV show.

[@alexanderwindh4830]

The point about the 2nd movie - is to show what he does for FUN and relaxing.

[@greendaleforever]

It's TIME for some Smallville content ;) particularly you exploring how the addition of Lionel Luthor into Lex's story makes him an even more tragic and unforgettable character. John Glover brought an entire level of GRAVITAS to the show all on his own. Combine him with Rosenbaum and you have some of the GREATEST dialogue driven drama depicted on screen.

[@meridian0220]

I think everyone should check out the interview with John Woo on the Light the Fuse podcast. It puts to rest the untrue rumors about Cruise and Woo not getting along, which is getting tedious at this point.

[@NPC0010]

What do I think? I think I'm going to watch Mission Impossible starting from the first one, since I think I didn't pay attention to the first few MI's when I watched them as a kid.

[@Light-at-Dawn]

Tom Cruise doing all his stunts at the age of sixty is just crazy to me

[@rottensquid]

I feel like these last three films took that kind of chaotic, "nothing goes the way anyone expects" energy from George Miller's Road Warrior. You don't always notice how different it is from typical action films, where the heroes tend to succeed at everything, albeit barely. But the unconscious impact on the audience is priceless.

[@kicapanmanis1060]

Tom being in real danger also helps sell that sense of danger.

[@bostonp4646]

Please do a video on life and times of tim

[@Zombiesnyder13]

Paramount should let BRAD BIRD direct STAR TREK

[@TheSinlessAssassin]

Imagine a crossover film between Jackie Chan and Tom Cruise both pulling off stunts.

[@Dan55888]

Jackie Chan I hope has more integrity than to work with a guy who is part of and pronotes a terrible cult

[@DJ_Dynic]

On paper, Ethan Hunt is, a MANIAC Climbed the Burj Khalifa Was on the side of a flying plane Held his breath underwater Flew/Jumped/Dived out of a flying plane etc. Ethan Hunt is James Bond, but for real (not sure about this 😅)

[@MastaKeahi]

I can’t wait for Tom Cruise to join John Wick. Could you imagine a finale of two unstoppable forces.

[@cookingwitchefzayy8830]

Can someone ask vin diesel and everyone involved in the fast and furious franchise to watch this video please!!!

[@CamJames]

Fast X 1 & 2 are the end, thank god

[@BPD308]

I love this franchise. It’s so entertaining

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

The first flick was too brainy and the second too brawny but the third film and onward were all a perfect blend of the two.

[@jameshathaway1558]

I'm in love with Katie Holmes!!

[@gouthamp2208]

Can anyone tell me which movie the scene at 0:11 is from?

[@kujojotaro8752]

The mummy (2017)

[@salt-emoji]

I do love how the audience sees the cgi motorcycle crash and goes "ok that's alright, we don't want Tom boi to /actually/ die. ( The stable ones at least)

[@Dan55888]

The people and families torn apart by his cult would be happy to see him go...

[@barrette.lediard4010]

He did it all for L. Ron

[@SharpDesign]

Some actors won't even let themselves be hit in a fight. Who wants to watch the movie: everything went perfectly and I am never wrong. Boring. Always gonna respect Tom for having a character with flaws who gets hit and gets back up and makes mistakes.

[@mbanerjee5889]

Keanu Reeves in Speed. Like Ethan Hunt, he fails and faces major obstacles before ultimately succeeding. I think Jack Tarven is a more complete character than Neo or John Wick because he reacts to situations like a normal person would.

[@VoiceNerd]

If the protagonist isn't worried then neither are we and most times that can come off as boring. If the protagonist is afraid then, more times than none, that sells the film, drawing the audience in even more so.

[@CFMProductions]

Damn no love to Brad Bird?!

[@pjchj3599]

The GOAT of hollywood

[@timkasansky2528]

2nd one was such a bad misstep it took me years to finally watch 3 because the franchise had lost me.

[@AirHarp]

CinemaSins had a very good point in one their Fast & Furious video (the movie wt the sub). Everything Dom does is perfect & is always done w/out a hitch. At no time do you think it's gonna fail & that takes away from the excitement.

[@alexandrecudre2947]

Jason Bourne original trilogy kept that feeling of fragility and danger around Bourne, then the fourth film made him look invincible and he wasn’t interesting anymore

[@deepuvibuti6648]

Actually Liang Yang was John Lark.

[@Top10135]

God I love Tom Cruise

[@jalabi99]

3:27 spelled McQ's first name wrong

[@NoJusticeNoPeace]

The even-numbered Star Trek films were pretty good about keeping Kirk human. In fact, the whole point of the best Trek film of all, Wrath of Khan, was to showcase Kirk's flaws and force him to grow as a character: gone is the cocky shoot-from-the-hip cowboy of the original series who always comes up smelling like daisies, and instead we see Kirk humbled and shown the true cost of his arrogance and reliance on good luck.

[@divyamnigam2070]

in my opinion all things said in this video that something bad happens to him always makes the character more fictional then real, like climbing a building on glove stops then here comes the sandstorm how convenient but what keeps Ethan human is his fear shown in movies for eg when it came to climb burj he said so it has to be me and then when in nxt part in underwater seq he said so I have to hold my breath for 3 minutes? so its natural saying of "really we have to do that" is what keeps him human

[@trapjohnson]

He pulled a Jackie Chan, just later in his career.

[@edvaira6891]

Henry Cavill played a character named AUGUST WALKER…NOT JOHN LARK!

[@chuckhomic1865]

Did you watch the movie, though?

[@charlesroeckeriv6226]

The original Indiana Jones trilogy kept their characters human. Everything else after that doesn't exist in my mind.

[@northside8467]

Its the closest thing we gona get to a good uncharted movie

[@N13J]

Too bad he’s in a cult. He’s one of the most entertaining blockbusters super star in the current era.

[@Dan55888]

Yep, the cult ruins it for me. He could save babies from burning fires for real and it wouldnt make up for the evil things his precious cult does.

[@Joseph-ic8xd]

Why does it matter what his cult does? We don't press any famous actors for being Muslim and look at what that religion has done. We don't press any famous actors for being Christian and look what that religion has done. They are all terrible lmao.

[@gerry._.y]

i think this encapsulates what die hard franchise fail to accomplish

[@pyeitme508]

Ok

[@Shumakerb]

JOHN WICK

[@Dead_Hitori]

For me MI3 is the best

[@scottbarkley496]

GOAT

[@CS-px9rr]

Yeah, Tom Cruise always puts himself in Harm's way. Harm then politely walks around him...

[@jolfer1334]

Lol i just watched the plane jump in fallout. It really sucks that they added cgi lightning storm cause it made it all look fake

[@user-gn1cl9ix7p]

Remember when Scientology publicly sacrificed Katie Holmes by marrying her off to Tom Cruise?

[@Dan55888]

Yep, people are pretty fast to dismiss the actual insane cult behind the man

[@ChessShaastra]

Still no video on RRR. Too bad

[@WhyHighC]

Maybe if Tom Cruise was taller, we'd have seen him play Batman by now

[@tl8101]

He's better than most actors.

[@erikbihari3625]

Too bad the guy is married to schientology.

[@seaque.]

I think he has as much leverage against Scientology as they have against him.

[@erikbihari3625]

@@seaque.. Please tell me then, what do scientologists believe? Because despite the name, I bet nothing plausible.

[@halocraze9839]

Lol 79k views

[@zombieda6855]

Make a video on RRR

[@MarkLaw13]

It would have been greater without wires. There is less danger when you are on wires. You can easily be pulled back. There's a lot of safety net. Well, what do I know. I'm a complete asshole not easily impressed

[@Smokedship]

Mi2 was literally the worst of the franchise.

[@LiiMuRi]

This is one reason why I'm not a fan of most super hero movies. The heros are invincible, you know they'll be fine and kick ass. A bit boring really

[@petercruz1993]

4:41 this is just cheesy. Falling 20ft on to one arm would destroy your whole shoulder: it legit could rip your arm off. He should’ve just slid down slowly and and looked terrified. Would’ve been way more entertaining

[@orangewarm1]

It's not believable

[@LemonMerigueTie]

All of these incredible achievements, and the fact still remains that he’s a Scientologist. He’s a staple in one of the most blatantly predatory organizations in America. The guy obviously makes great movies but my god, do I hesitate to support a person like that.

[@tl8101]

Nobody cares what you think.

[@orangewarm1]

The MI franchise should stop. The first 2 were made by artists but these now are just money making machines for scientology.

[@cookingwitchefzayy8830]

Can someone ask vin diesel and everyone involved in the fast and furious franchise to watch this video please!!!

[@cookingwitchefzayy8830]

Can someone ask vin diesel and everyone involved in the fast and furious franchise to watch this video please!!!