Mission : Impossible - Ghost Protocol
Review by Sean Lynch
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Mission : Impossible - Ghost Protocol
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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!
That said, Mission Impossible : Ghost Protocol is a pretty cracking action adventure in it's own right (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 - in some of
the most interesting locations yet seen in an action film.
The
much talked about "World's Tallest Building" scene is worth the hype
(especially if seen on IMAX screens) delivering vertigo challenging
moments that will have you wanting to see it again just to experience
it again.
There are some nice moments of continuity, 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.
For movie nerds, your mission - if you choose to accept it
- is to check the movie out in IMAX as the prologue to Christopher
Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises plays before each screening (and while not as gritty and awe inspiring as The Dark Knight's prologue) it certainly is an epic teaser to what will be one of the biggest movies of next 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. 4 out
of 5
Mission : Impossible - Ghost Protocol
Australian release: 15th December,
2011
Official
Site: Mission : Impossible - Ghost Protocol
Cast: Jeremy Renner, Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Ving Rhames, Josh Holloway
Director: Brad Bird
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