Tom Cruise is back as Ethan Hunt to accept a brand new mission in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (or MI:4 if you’re being technical).
This time Ethan has to race against time to stop a Russian who has stolen some nuclear missile launch codes. But things are even more complicated this time around: the IMF have issued a ‘ghost protocol’, meaning the entire organisation has been disavowed after a tragic incident at the Kremlin which the IMF (and Ethan) have been blamed for. So, Ethan sets up a new team to complete his mission, which includes his old friend Benji (Simon Pegg) and new team members Jane (Paula Patton) and Brandt (Jeremy Renner).
Or something…I mean, the plot really isn’t that important, is it? What’s really needed in a film like this is lots of brilliant set pieces and action to keep you interested…
I’m a big fan of the first Mission: Impossible film, but the other 2 films were a bit of a disappointment. But this Mission: Impossible film definitely claws back the reputation the first film had. Right from the amazing opening title sequence (which nearly had me jumping out of my seat with glee) it’s a completely gripping film: fast-paced and action packed all the way through.
I’ve never been a particular fan of Tom Cruise. But now that I’ve seen MI:4 he’s actually grown on me. He definitely still has the charisma he’s always had and he gets all the best scenes in this film (expect one involving Renner, a giant electric fan and a magnet suit which was a particular highlight for me, not least because it involved Renner).
One brilliant set piece with Cruise involves a frantic chase through a sandstorm which is particularly inventive. But the one scene that everyone has been talking about is Cruise’s climb up the tallest building in the world in Dubai. It’s completely gripping to watch and actually terrifying – especially if you’re watching it on an IMAX screen: it feels as if you’re right there with him and the feeling of vertigo was all too real for me. I think it was this scene in which I found new respect for him: to do that in real life (even with safety gear) is incredible…
However the two people who really make this film enjoyable are Simon Pegg and Jeremy Renner. Their chemistry with each other is great, as is their chemistry with any of the other actors onscreen. Their scenes are always the funniest as well, especially Pegg’s. There’s been rumours that Renner might be taking over the Mission: Impossible franchise from Cruise too, which would certainly be fine by me…and he definitely shows that he’s got what it takes to do that here (as well as giving us all a taster of what he might be like in the new Bourne film).
Paula Patton is also good as the only female agent in the team and actually seems to contribute to the storyline instead of just being there as extra fodder – and she actually gets to fight (as well as wear tight, revealing outfits sometimes, but I suppose you can’t win them all). But anyway, I digress…
MI:4 is a great film: fast, furious and more importantly actually FUN from start to finish. It’s on general release from Boxing Day and if you’re looking for an entertaining film to see you should definitely check it out.
square-eyed-geek 