Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol [M]

Tension between the US and Russia is at its highest point since the Cuban Missile Crisis; so when an extreme terrorist bombs the Kremlin, the US and in particular, IMF, are held responsible. Ethan Hunt, backed by a team of volunteers, embarks upon his most impossible mission yet: clearing IMF’s name with no help, no contacts, and completely off the grid. 

It really is the biggest mission yet and, as is tradition with the Mission Impossible saga, is directed by a different filmmaker. Brad Bird has taken the reins from J. J. Abrams and delivered a sophisticated and technologically engaging instalment in the saga. Ghost Protocol was balanced with healthy portions of everything, but it’s not the best Mission Impossible film. 

Tension between the US and Russia is at its highest point since the Cuban Missile Crisis; so when an extreme terrorist bombs the Kremlin, the US and in particular, IMF, are held responsible. Ethan Hunt, backed by a team of volunteers, embarks upon his most impossible mission yet: clearing IMF’s name with no help, no contacts, and completely off the grid. 

There is not much I can say about this movie that I have not already said before. I’m really in two minds about this movie. 

On the one hand, I was a little disappointed that there was not as much action in it as there was in its predecessors: there is a fair amount of it don’t get me wrong, but it was not nearly as thrilling or adrenaline-pinching as numbers two or three. 

On the other hand, I did enjoy the more dramatic turn the movie took, in particular, the poignant messages about teamwork and friendship and how they are things that cannot be shaken even in the face of the utmost extreme danger. We are introduced to a load of new characters and reintroduced to some old ones, which was good as it reinforced that sense of companionship and trust in team members. 

Starring Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg who provided the film with most of its comic relief, Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, Michael Nuqvist, Vladimir Mashkov, Ving Rhames, and Tom Wilkinson, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol was a good movie packed with action, great use of technology, drama, emotional conquests, and comedy. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I don’t think it’s the best of the MI movies.