MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL (U)
Release Date: 15 December 2011
Running Time: 133 minutes
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Director: Brad Bird
Screenplay: Josh Applebaum, André Nemec
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg, Michael Nyqvist, Lea Seydoux
Plot: This is not just another mission. 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. You have never seen a mission grittier and more intense than this. REVIEWS AFTER THE JUMP.
Review: Are you an acrophobia? If you are, you will not enjoy the scale of height Tom Cruise has to scale the Burj Khalifa, an amazing The latest Mission: Impossible installment has proved the impossible possible by coming out not only with a terrific critical result in my opinion, but also been one of the best popcorn action-flicks for the year and in the franchise. The fourth in the long-running and popular series that features the IMF agency is effectively revitalized in the silver screen this week with new mission across the globe that brings the game into a whole new level.
Brad Bird, the man who perhaps has more reputation in animation industry than this; directs the movie while inserting new keys with different tone. But does M:I 4 goes on par with M:I 3 in terms of action, intensity and story line? Yes it does. While it is still a tough call for me to choose for which one is the best in the series, M:I 4 brings a lot of different offerings on the table.
As the story goes, the story begins in Moscow as Agent Ethan Hunt is incarcerated for ‘brutally’ committing ‘unsanctioned’ kill as a revenge for something in the past. After escaping from the prison, Hunt along with newbie Agent Benji Dunn and field operator Agent Jane Carter embark a secret mission to retrieve highly classified information from the Kremlin. However, little do they know it is a set up, resulting the bombing of Kremlin and the blame falls on the entire IMF.
Now branded as the terrorist cell that threatens to ignite a new global nuclear war, they along with mysterious intelligence analyst William Brandt embark on a secretive and unsanctioned mission to stop the criminal ring operated by terrorist leader, code-named Cobalt, from getting his hands on the lucrative codes for Russian nuclear missile.
Let’s analyze. This fourth Mission: Impossible movie works well because of three main components – cinematographic display, strong story build up and charming characters.
M:I 4 interrogates smart, fast and high octane action sequences with an end result of terrific thriller to engage by the audiences. The action may be drenched out in unbelievable and impossible stunts; but it still delivers a strong punch in the manner of realistic coordination and pure tense of excitement. Given the age of Tom Cruise is at the dawn of half a century and yet he is still hanging 130 floors up the Burj Khalifa in Dubai with minor scratch, that is reputable.
Second point would be its brilliant set up. Although the story premise revolves around the frame of IMF which is as cliché as the first MI movie in 1996 when Ethan Hunt was branded traitor, this movie brings in a well-built structural plot. The premise also retook the old standing rivalry between United States and Russia into a whole pitch of affair is again not new but been Mission: Impossible is however, not always been another Mission: Impossible.
Written by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec, two fantastic writers for Abrams’ television series Alias; I have to say that the screenplay works well to hyphen the story stanza. The only slight wrinkle is that it does not have much layered story to deal about. Then, it is able to treat with gentle when it comes to connecting loose ends thrown at many points in the movie. There are some elements of surprise but we could have seen those coming.
Moreover, there’s a thing that stands unlike the others, zero political intervention. Hunt and his team are forced down-scaled to some untested techno-prototype and technical faulty to line up. It is rather interesting to see the short-comings while the scale of some technology used is equally fantastic. This movie is presented with not only having the team to travel to some of the exotic places in Dubai and Mumbai, but showcasing one of the best IMAX and cinematography sequences ever.
The third point would be how brilliant the characters in the movie deals about. Forget that Tom Cruise is almost 50, he is still physically fit to take on the role without have to worry on anything. He insisted to do the stunt alone and he acts pretty well in this one.
The supporting characters are the charmer too. Jeremy Renner who is tipped to take over the helm is as charismatic as ever while Simon Pegg brings comedic aura around them. Paula Patton is appealingly decent. The only shortcomings are how certain characters are underused. Take Brih Nath of Anil Kapoor or Sabine Moreau by Lea Seydoux for example, they could have serve more clearer and bigger purposes for Michael Nyqvist’s Kurt Hendricks bigger ambition for nuclear lock-head.
In a nutshell, if there are believer who believes Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol is sucks, slap him in the face. Then, argue to him how your RM11 will be well-spent than watching triangle love story about some supernatural creatures. Yes you know what I mean. Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol is undeniably one of the best of the series. Go figure!
Story: 4.5
Casts: 4.5
Cinematography: 4.5
Effects: 4.0
GREEN-TEA-O-METER: 17.8/20.0
