Mission : Impossible - Ghost Protocol (Mi4)

Review by Sean Lynch

Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol is a pretty cracking action adventure (for the record, in terms of quality : 3, 4, 1, 2).

With Pixar guru Brad Bird at the helm this time around, this surprisingly humour filled edition of the franchise (one of it's strengths has always been that it gives it's directors the chance to be 100% committed to their own individual visual styles) kicks off with all guns blazing and rarely slows down.

The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in a global terrorist bombing plot. Ghost Protocol is initiated and Ethan Hunt and his rogue new team must go undercover to clear their organization's name. No help, no contact, off the grid.

The visuals are sublime, with sequences spanning across the globe - 30 minutes of which are shot in eye poppingly awesome IMAX that look superb on a large screen Blu Ray - in some of the most interesting locations yet seen in an action film.

Tom Cruise is one of those stars, in the same realm as Russell Crowe, whose public persona has become so prominent and easy to ridicule that it overshadows what they do for a day job. 

So I'm the first to admit that when the name Tom Cruise pops up in my brain, my first thought is always "Eeek, his movies suck!".

But here's the thing - having recently re watched the Mission Impossible trilogy on Blu Ray I've quickly been reminded that Tom Cruise is the last of a dying breed. He is a bonafide, 100%, no arguments, "Movie Star". 

The moment a Cruise flick starts you completely forget all about that Scientology, jumping on couches bizzo - and are transported into the world of the film.

It's astonishing (to double check, I even re watched War of the Worlds and Minority Report), his presence just absorbs your full attention. With Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol  it's exactly the same - Cruise is this franchise and he keeps you watching until the end credits roll!

There are some nice moments of continuity throughout this film, which seperates the franchise just enough from it being regarded as "An American Bond" rip off, and newbies Simon Pegg and Paula Patton provide plenty of freshness.

Ghost Protocol does fall short occasionally when it tries to inject some "Character Building" moments for Paramount's "Great White Hope" Jeremy Renner (aka : Daniel Craig V2.0), but aside from it's blatant attempts to trick audiences into thinking Renner is something he just isn't at the moment, Bird has created one of the best popcorn action flicks of the year.

Now, enough blabber, let's all go to the DVD store and have a Cruise / Crowe marathon to remind us of just how TV and tabloids ruin our memories of genuine movie stars.

DVD Special Features

• Mission Accepted: Suiting Up In Prague

• Heating Up In Dubai

• Vancouver Fisticuffs

• Impossible Missions: The Russian Prison

• Shooting In IMAX

• Art Department

• A Roll of Film

• The Sandstorm & Dubai Car Crash

• Deleted Scenes w/ optional commentary by Director Brad Bird : Alternate Opening, Hendricks Practices His Speech

• Arrival at the Burj - Original Version

• Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol Trailers

Conclusion: Movie 85% Extras: 85%