The best action film in years

Rating: 9/10 (6 October 2012)

Plot: After a terrorist blows up the Kremlin and winds up with nuclear launch codes, framing the IMF, it's up to Ethan Hunt and his team to not only clear their names, but save the world from potential nuclear war.
Worth watching?: I always liked the Mission: Impossible movies before. I didn't think any of them were masterpieces, but hey, they were fun enough to watch, and a good way to take you away for a few hours. Having said that, the trailer for this sucker absolutely blew me away for some reason, so it was with hopes jacked way up that I strolled into the theater to see this one. So was it everything I hoped for? Well, in my book, this movie succeeded and then some! You'll be hooked by the narrative right from frame one, with Brad Bird's masterful direction mostly to thank for that. The story unfolds at an easy pace that makes it an absolute thrill to watch, you can tell with each new scene, they're trying to top the previous one. I've read a lot of reviews saying that the plot is one of the movies weaknesses. I actually thought it was one of this movie's charms! The story had a very retro-James Bond feel to it that really gave it that whole "spy feel", and it worked for me big time! A lot of people also say that the character development is non-existent. Well, I hate to say I disagree, but,villain aside,... I DISAGREE!!! The player's in the house all had their own personal issues that they were dealing with, and they were engaging to say the least. It also helps that all the actors were very credible in their roles, and had great chemistry together. Tom Cruise is very cool and believable as our hero Ethan Hunt, and it is quite nice to see him in action hero mode once again. Paula Patton earns mucho sympathy, while Simon Pegg, as always, is hilarious. And last but not least, Jeremy Renner's character has an aura of mystery about him that leads to an interesting revelation, tying him directly to Ethan.
And now to the part everyone who hasn't seen it is wondering about: the action sequences. Well, to understate it, they're exhilarating. Don't hold onto anything during the Burj Khalifa part, because you'll most likely break it from clenching your fists so tight. That scene alone is enough to have you on the edge of your seat, but it's then followed up by the beyond mind-blowing sandstorm chase, which is another definite highlight. The movie manages to retain a sense of excitement throughout it's entire running time, and that is a feat in itself.
Mission: Impossible-Ghost protocol is one of the best cinematic treats we've seen in a long, long while. Sure, the villain could have been a tad better (not the actor's fault, he didn't have much to chew on), but on the whole, this is entertainment at it's finest, and it's one you definitely shouldn't miss.