Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol

"That's it. Next time I get to seduce the rich guy."



I have not seen all of the Mission Impossible series. I have seen the first and parts of the second. I though that seeing the 4th installment would be a good way to see if it can stand on it's own or if it needed the other three. It's a heavyweight that can definitely stand on it's own.

I owe a few things to the Mission Impossible series. First that it was a basis for a great date back in High School and second that it makes me Three Degrees of Separation from Kevin Bacon. My 2nd cousin Erica Wagnberg worked on the special effects on the fist movie with tom cruise, who worked with Kevin Bacon on A Few Good Men. Bam!

Okay, back to it. This was the curtain call for Tom Cruise in the franchise and the entre act of one of my favorite actors, Jeremy Renner(The Hurt Locker and S.W.A.T.). He plays Brandt and analyst with a secret. He is such a good actor. I would watch him act the phone book. This film was more of a group movie than a single person movie. In the first film (the one I've seen) it is all about Tom Cruise's character. In this film it has a very strong ensemble cast. Another of my favorites, Simon Pegg(Shaun of The Dead), joins the team as the computer guy/comic relief. I wondered how he would do against some great actors, but he pulls it all together.

In this film the team is in the wrong place at the wrong time. The team is blamed for someone blowing up the Kremlin. The IMF id disbanded and have to go find out who is responsible, why they did it and bring them to justice. The plot thickens and there are some side stories that are great. The bad guy, played by Michael Nyqvist( the Swedish Girl with a Dragon Tattoo) is great. He is creepy and keeps up with everyone in this film. He is not over the top but plays it straight.

The shots of Dubai in the movie are fantastic. I with I would have seen it in IMAX, which enhances these shots. I think Dubai may be the next big city in films. Surrounded by a beautiful dessert and then a sprawling city. The scenes with Tom Cruise climbing the tower were great the shots from on top and far away were amazing. I was impressed to hear he did some of his own stunts in the climbing parts. Even if it was a small part I still have to give him props. That was ridiculously high.

I told my wife when she is ready to go see it I would gladly go see it again, but it had to be in IMAX. I would love to see those wide shots. I was glad I saw this one and it made me want to go check out the ones I missed. I guess you can compliment a film more than that.

8.7 out of 10