By now you will be very familiar with what a Mission: Impossible film entails as the series enters its sixth instalment. There will be Tom Cruise hanging above tall precipices, performing incredible stunts, and running (he really does run a lot in these films). There will be a doomsday MacGuffin for the narrative to hang its double and triple crosses on. And there will be that ever so familiar theme song (inherited from the 1960s TV show). Within these franchise restraints the latest film blossoms into one of the finest action films of recent years, a balletic, frenetic, surprisingly tense epic.

Tom Cruise once again plays Ethan Hunt, the part he seems born to play. This time the spy is haunted by nightmares of approaching death and, when an initial deal goes wrong, must clear up a mess that could lead to nuclear annihilation. All this and an old foe is waiting in the wings, preparing to destroy Ethan once and for all.

I really must take a moment to admire Tom Cruise in the Mission: Impossible films. While his career has had its highs (Edge of Tomorrow) and lows (The Mummy) of late, the actor has brought a consistency to the role that means this is one of the non-superhero franchises left. And in Fallout the actor is particularly good. But that isn't to say that he is the only draw here. Returning team members Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg bring enough chuckles to alleviate some of the tension, while Rebecca Ferguson once again proves one of the most compelling elements of the series. Of the new additions there isn't enough for Angela Bassett to do here but she nevertheless oozes authority. And while Henry Cavill is mostly a one-note addition he does bring an admirable bulk to the fight sequences and comes complete with a fabulous moustache. I'm still not entirely convinced by Sean Harris' whispering super-villain, but I did enjoy the numerous call-backs to previous entries. If you're a fan you will be amply rewarded and if you can watch the last entry (Rogue Nation) before you go into the auditorium I'd strongly recommend it.

Where this film truly stands out is in the complicated and invigorating action sequences. From an early brawl in a bathroom through chase sequences across Paris and London to a thrilling finale in Kashmir the film keeps punching above its weight. Director Christopher McQuarrie shoots these scenes with a clarity that allows the audience to ride along with our hero, never lost in the chase. The fact that CGI is only fleetingly used distinguishes this from many of the other blockbusters out this year.

Mission:Impossible is the series that staged one of the most audacious heists in modern cinema, that had its leading man climb the tallest building in the world as well as hang off an airplane's wings. And with its latest instalment the orchestra is well-rehearsed and playing at their creative peak. It may taste awfully familiar but really what more do you want from a blockbuster then what Fallout has to offer. Tom Cruise remains an unnaturally sprightly (he's 56!) leading man, ably supported by a game cast. And in the final half hour the film transcends its formula producing a thrilling finale that allows the film to close in on the ranks of the all time great action blockbusters, The Dark Knight and Mad Max: Fury Road. It may be a long ride but it is a damn fine one to go on.