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
