Shirley, you're kidding!

Rating: 3/10 (22 December 2011)

A good director could have salvaged the barely-there script of this movie and made a tight action film, that thrills even when the plot is non-existent and the characters weak. But sadly, Tom chose the wrong director. Brad Bird may do very well with animation and comedy but an action film director he's not. He clearly cannot create the tension or pace that keeps such a film going. Threads were falling by, new plots were introduced every half an hour, and no character (including Ethan Hunt) seemed motivated or compelling enough. Not to mention, the complete absence (maybe other than the Dubai skyscraper scene) of any edge-of-the-seat action. It was all so pedestrian.
Having said all that, I didn't mind the movie so much. Maybe because I went with zero expectations having already heard that it's pretty bad. But the six action fanatics I went with were sorely disappointed. This film is not a patch on the first in the MI series. It seems quite ironically a ghost of it.
If you were going to spend money on it, don't- it's not worth it even if you're a hard-core Cruise fan (he just looks old now). If it's on the telly, still don't. Unless all other channels have mysteriously disappeared- a feat that may be pulled off by Mr.Cruise who has somehow managed to get a HUGE bunch of good reviews. Even on IMDb which is usually more credible. Was everyone being charitable in the spirit of the season, or are there other reasons? Who knows!
Anyway, i guess everyone has an off day. Even world-saving secret agents.