Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.

Directed by Brad Bird.

Written by Josh Appelbaum & André Nemec.

Based on the television series Mission Impossible created by Bruce Gellar.

Review #148

MPAA Rating:  PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence.

Runtime: 133 min

Cast

Tom Cruise ... Ethan Hunt

Jeremy Renner ... Brandt

Simon Pegg ... Benji

Paula Patton ... Jane

Michael Nyqvist ... Hendricks

Samuli Edelmann ... Wistrom

Anil Kapoor ... Brij Nath

Léa Seydoux ... Sabine Moreau

Josh Holloway ... Hanaway

Miraj Grbic ... Bogdan

Hello everyone. After a few months away. I'm baaaaaaaaaaack! And with a vengeance! So without any further adieu. Here we go.

Movie franchises are in many ways fun, entertaining, engaging, complicated, expensive, controversial, risky and most of all DANGEROUS! The popularity of a film can at times turn the creative wheel into a printing press for the almighty dollar. The perception that dominates the minds of Joe Hollywood is that if a good film makes money then 4 or 5 more will do the same. Does that sophomoric thinking actually work?

Sure it does. But there have been countless failures that outnumber the successes. Why is this the case? It's actually quite simple if you break it down to the very core of the issue. The blueprint that made the first film of the franchise is rarely if ever followed with it's subsequent sequels. The end results end up being flat, underwhelming retreads that may do well at the box office but fail to deliver what we true cinema fans pay our hard earned money for.

ENTERTAINMENT!

The point of this ramble is to bring it to the Mission Impossible franchise. This particular group of films illustrate my argument. The first film was a masterpiece in espionage and mystery. The follow up was an abomination of epic proportions. After several years. The powers that be felt it necessary to revive the IMF force. Enter uber-geek J.J. Abrams and his rejuvenation of the Mission Impossible mythology. He did the smart thing and took elements of the previous installments and made a fluffy but entertaining film. And so we now come to this. After appearing to be done with the exploits of Ethan Hunt. We have been invited to once again see if the world's craziest super agent can save the world.

Plot
The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt and his new team to go rogue to clear their organization's name.


The first thing to take away from this film is the direction of Brad Bird. If the name sounds familiar it's because it should. But not for the reasons you may be thinking. Bird has directed 3 very critically acclaimed, popular and not to mention high grossing films. The Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ratatouille. He was also a writer on The Simpsons when it was in it's heyday. So the announcement of Bird being hired to take over for Abrams in the chair for the latest Mission was odd to say the least. His ability to delve into live action was questioned almost immediately. Well people the questions have been answered. Bird nailed this film at almost every level. The one he didn't excel at is the film's biggest problem.

The story.

It's in a word flat. The plot is very to the point and vague at the same time which I thought was impossible. But the script pulls it off. Please don't confuse my comments to suggest that the story sucked. It didn't. It just didn't impress. At least not for a Mission Impossible film. I do realize that the series both TV and film is known for it's hyperbolic tendencies. High octane action with some intricate spy stuff mixed in with a little character development to top it off. But these last 2 features rely too much on the eye candy and not enough "intelligence." You get just enough espionage to remind you that you're not just watching car chases and bullets flying for 2 hours.

Shame.

On the plus side however, the action showcased in Ghost Protocol is top notch and very suspenseful. This is one of the areas that Bird knocked out of the park. Every single fight, chase, recon assignment carried a sense of over the top fun that reminds you why you like action films in the first place. The scene where Ethan scales the hotel in Dubai would make Spiderman piss in his pants. It was one of the greatest action scenes I've seen to date in recent memory. The suspense is magnified 100 fold when seen in IMAX. This is the best complement I can give that scene. It's on par with the scene in the original film when Ethan breaks into Langley and steals the Noc list. In terms of the danger and suspense it exhibited, there's no greater praise.

The film as a whole is very entertaining. I enjoyed it a whole lot. The issue I have after seeing it is, was it necessary to make this one in the first place? The answer is yes and no. Which we all know is the dilemma we all face as movie goers. As long as these films continue to make money. More films are going to be made.

Your mission....should you choose to accept it. Is to decide if these sequels are worth both your time and money.

I've already made my decision. What will you do?

On the 5 star scale. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol gets 3 stars with a "Go See It!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today. Up next is Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"