Keeping the excitement new and unexpected in film sequels can be a challenge. That’s no problem with Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, the fifth installment in the constantly accelerating action-thriller series. Luckily for fans, Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, and this time he faces his most extremely intense and impossible mission to date.

However, Hunt may be out of a job soon as CIA Director Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin) thinks the IMF has had its day in the sun and votes to disband it. That leaves Hunt in a foreign country without backing and the world in danger from The Syndicate -- a rogue nation. Their intricately –trained agents are part of the goal to destroy much of civilization.

Director Christopher McQuarrie (Edge of Tomorrow) waste no time in getting the adrenaline of viewers pumping as Hunt is in the midst of The Syndicate’s trained killers with little hope of surviving. The heated moments slide away as Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), the beautiful Syndicate agent sent in to kill Hunt, instead aids his escape but not before he rumbles with several other agents.

On the run and contacted by his colleague Benji (Simon Pegg), Hunt learns about the IMF being ordered to disband. Benji realizes how urgent Hunt’s mission is and insists he join him in his efforts.

McQuarrie, who also wrote the screenplay, leaves no minute in this film that is not filled with danger, crazy chase scenes, and very funny moments as well.  Ilsa appears to be a real dilemma since at one moment she seems to want to aid the IMF -- but then does something unexpected to aid The Syndicate. As Hunt’s other colleagues Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) and Solomon Lane (Sean Harris) eventually show up to assist in this situation, the energy, mystery and excitement reaches fever peaks.

Cruise carries on as if he’s still in his 20s, and Ferguson is sensational as she keeps viewers wondering whose side Ilsa is really on.

The storyline, acting, and stunts -- many involving motorcycles -- all make Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation one of the best in this franchise. It’s a real thriller.

(Released by Paramount Pictures and rated “PG-13” 13 for sequences of action and violence, and brief partial nudity.)

Review also posted at www.reviewexpress.com.