Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol LIBS 7014 Film Review

Rating: 8/10 (5 October 2012)

Is the mission really impossible when you have Ethan Hunt on your side? Three blockbuster films later and Ethan has yet to encounter a mission in which he has failed to accomplish. However, this time is different – he's got no backup, no plan and no other alternatives.
Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol, debuted on December 7th, 2012, is the fourth film of the Mission Impossible franchise. Director Brad Bird, who made his first ever live-action film definitely succeeds by showcasing the stylishly cool moments with the essential character drama and the usual fast paced action scenes.
In contrast to the prior three films, the plot for Ghost Protocol is quite linear. Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt is once again the centerpiece of a cast that includes an array of new and familiar faces. Ethan starts off momentarily confined in a Russian prison. However, he is immediately rescued by two IMF agents, Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) and Jane Carter (Paula Patton). From there it was only a matter of time before he and his team is caught in a mysterious scheme that results in the destruction of the Moscow Kremlin, as well as the termination of the entire IMF. Now, with the whole IMF disavowed, Ethan and a new team that also includes William Brandt (Jeremy Renner) will race against time to track down Kurt Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist), who plays a dangerous terrorist that has gained access to Russian nuclear launch codes and is planning a deadly strike on the United States.
In terms of cinematography, Ghost Protocol does not disappoint. As a matter of fact it may have been at par or even better than its predecessors (M.I. 1, 2, & 3). Starting with the clever scene inside the vault of the Kremlin, where Cruise and Pegg use a virtual reality illusion to deceive a guard. From there, the movie makes its way to one of the thrilling scenes that has Cruise hanging up on the glass windows of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. This scene is a real nail-biter and will truly bring the audience to the edge of their seats. Add on the car chases and shoot-outs, while using high-tech equipment and the final product is a non-stop action packed thrill ride.
A popular ongoing trend in action movies nowadays is the inclusion of comic relief. With that in mind, Pegg's witty personality combined with the seriousness from Cruise and Brandt draws a similarity to the latest Sherlock Holmes (2011) movie. In term's how Robert Downey Jr's playfully clever personality and Jude Law's humorless character were both able to generate that illustrious on-screen chemistry. Furthermore, the amount of damage that Ethan Hunt's body was able to endure throughout the movie also draws some comparison to one of the James Bond films – Casino Royale (2006). In Casino Royale, James Bond (Daniel Craig) is able to endure a number of action scenes that would just make the audience cringe. Not to mention, another obvious connection that Bond and Hunt share is that they're both highly skilled secret agents. The only difference between the two is their style. James Bond is more elegant and classy because he's always in a suit, whereas Ethan Hunt likes to dress casual and is more nonchalant. So who will win in a fight between Ethan Hunt and James Bond?
Ghost Protocol is by far one of the best action and adventure films in 2011. With a little mystery and a great deal of thrill. Your mission, should you choose to accept it Is to watch the film and enjoy!