A true "classic" action film that grips you the whole way through

Rating: 10/10 (6 January 2012)

I love a good action film. But over the years, action films have tried to be overly complicated with a heavy reliance on CGI for fear they will be too old-fashioned or not entertaining enough. I liken it to the way modern-day chefs take a classic recipe and jazz it up with unnecessary ingredients and impeccable but superfluous presentation. MI:4 seems to go back to grass-roots level. It's like they've taken an original recipe written by Julia Child and stuck to it religiously, and the results are delightful. The opening sequence immediately connects you to the main characters and the action sequence is very well executed and thoroughly entertaining. Furthermore, the addition of Simon Pegg proves to be a sound investment straight away, providing well balanced humor. The title sequence should be applauded for it's retro feel, injecting snippets of the film throughout like the title credits from the A Team TV show. The plot is simple and easy to follow, which is coming from a guy who has never been able to follow the plot of any James Bond movies! The use of smart-phones and tablets as gadgets made us connect with the film even further, and where wacky gadgets had been employed, they were done so with a light-hearted splash of tongue-in-cheek. The film is not all about Tom Cruise, which is a wise move as the 'team- effort' makes us appreciate the action much more. There are some truly gripping action sequences involving heights and I loved how they opted to use live-action stunts over CGI shots. In fact, it's difficult to notice where any CGI is used at all. Whatever opinion people have of Mr Cruise, you gotta agree he has some balls to do all his own stunts. Although there is the generic hot and feisty female member, her role is not as the atypical love interest. That's not to say they have left out such an 'important' ingredient, but rather they opted to have it 'on the side'. When I discovered Brad Bird had directed, I could immediately see the connection with The Incredibles movie as the film flows and is structured in quite a similar way. Overall, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol serves as a fine example of how a failing franchise can be brought back to life by simply sticking to the formula, and not relying on that 21st Century buzz word, 'reboot'.