Prior to the release of Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, pretty much all of the focus was on Tom Cruise's latest insane stunt that saw him strapped to the side of an enormous plane as it took off. Far from the movie's signature set-piece, it actually turned out to be the very first scene of the movie. It is a testament to the quality of co-writer/director Christopher McQuarrie's fifth installment in the long-running espionage franchise that it didn't even mark the high point of the movie; that honor went to the superbly-executed foiling of multiple assassinations at the Vienna Opera House. Brilliantly edited and superbly paced to build tension, McQuarrie proves adept at handling the geography of an action sequence as we never lose sight of Ethan Hunt, Benji Dunn, Ilsa Faust, the two nameless assassins or their objective within the context of the scene. As the pace quickens, the action escalates as Ethan leaps between shifting platforms as his attempt to save the Austrian Chancellor's life becomes increasingly frantic. The most enjoyable action scene in one of the year's best blockbusters manages to out-Bond 007, all directed with a playful nature and light touch that proved McQuarrie had more than enough confidence to helm a $150m feature.
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