Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

UK Release Date: 26 December 2011

Certification: 12A
Director: Brad Bird
Cast: Tom Cruise, Samuli Edelmann, Vladimir Mashkov, Michael Nyqvist, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg, Jeremy Renner, Léa Seydoux

Rating: 70%

Review:

2011's Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is when the franchise truly became the action behemoth that it is renowned for being today. 

After a five year hiatus from Mission: Impossible III, many were quick to assume that Tom Cruise was too old to continue in the role. However, this is Tom Cruise hitting his peak. The stunt work he throws himself into is absolutely absurd. Why on earth would anyone sit down one day and think let's scale the Burj Khalifa? Filmed predominantly with the use of an overhead helicopter depicting Tom Cruise strapped to a safety harness as he ascends the tallest building in the world. It's a phenomenal showcase of Cruise's dedication to his craft. An exhilarating spectacle built to entertain. The action as a whole takes a giant leap forward in quality with the Kremlin break-in and the prison break on top of the bold climb of the Burj Khalifa. 

Love that Simon Pegg is given more to do in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol. As an agent on the field, Pegg provides warranted comic relief. But the film lacks heavily from no mention of Declan (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a character that I really enjoyed from Mission: Impossible III. And with a mere cameo from Ving Rhames' Luther Stickell it loses a little bit of the 'Mission: Impossible' essence. 

Brad Bird finally gives the series a worthy successor to Brian De Palma. His direction is solid. Bird simply understands what he's meant to be doing - let Tom Cruise do whatever he wants but add sequences of your own flair to the film. Utilising a sandstorm chase to express an array of bright reds and oranges. Constantly providing the narrative with playful changes in tone. Plus his use of locations is delectable viewing. It's a testament to the fantastic quality of animated filmmakers when brought across to live action. 

But this is not a good script. Unbearable dialogue leading to misogynistic moments and generic character interactions. With two new writers on the film who hadn't worked on the franchise previously and haven't since it's clear that Tom Cruise agreed.