Fun, but in the end, forgettable

Rating: 5/10 (21 August 2012)

So I watched Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. I have to say, it was insane fun; however, by the end, it all felt familiar. Although they did through in some original scenes, the plot followed the mold of all the other spy movies from the last 20 years. It didn't feel special or unique.
The acting was mediocre, not exactly bad, but not praiseworthy, with Tom Cruise still sporting that obnoxious expression that he has plastered on his face in nearly every one of his movies.
The action scenes were well done, but nevertheless didn't bring anything new to the table in the way of cinematography. These scenes provided good thrills; however the lackluster climax was unbalanced compared to the preposterously high-octane middle section.
The soundtrack, whose theme song is one of the most recognizable in cinema, unfortunately was quite forgettable.
Overall, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol was a fun ride, but it didn't take any risks; it fell into the forgettable action movie rut. And trust me people, that is where action movies go to die. This movie did do some things right, providing some very original scenes, like Tom Cruise hanging off the tallest building in the world, or the car chase scene in a dust storm. However, it bungled up the most important part of any movie-the ending. For that, I think this movie will be forgotten, to be replaced by the next action movie that comes along with bigger explosions, and crazier CGI.
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol was a new engine on an old car. It tons of fun in it, but it's still, just an ordinary, old car that will, in a few years end up in a junkyard.