Action & Adventure Pick: Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is one of those films that’s better than it has any right to be. Not only is it the fourth entry in a franchise, but it came six years after the last installment, which had received generally favorable reviews but was short of being a reinvigorating smash hit. I doubt anyone cared about a fourth movie before Ghost Protocol came out.
Luckily for us, the film had an ace in the hole: director Brad Bird. After coming off of such animated gems as The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille, Ghost Protocol was Bird’s first foray into live-action. It was a risky decision, but one that payed off in spades. The film is tightly scripted, yes, and has a good cast; but Bird’s direction is what truly makes it unique, and keeps it from becoming just another entry in a long-standing action franchise.
Tom Cruise reprises his role of IMF Agent Ethan Hunt. At the start of the film, Hunt is deep undercover in a Moscow prison, but is extracted when another agent is killed by an assassin while trying to intercept delicate information about a dangerous man called “Cobalt.” Before long, Hunt and his team are caught in an explosion at the Kremlin in Moscow, suspected of the attack, which Russia considers an undeclared act of war by the United States.
The U.S. President then activates “Ghost Protocol,” a black ops contingency plan that places the blame for the attack on Hunt and his team, forcing them to go off the grid in order to bring down Cobalt and clear their names.
What follows is not only the best Mission: Impossible film to date, but one of the best action films of the last decade. Bird’s direction is superb, as he delivers fast-paced, well-choreographed set-pieces that are smartly plotted and expertly executed. By now I’m sure you’re familiar with the action scene that takes place on the side of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest building in the world. The scene is not only awesome to watch, but terrifying at the same time, all thanks to Bird’s vision. Oh, and Tom Cruise does all of his own stunts. Remember that when he literally runs down the side of the skyscraper.
If you aren’t familiar with the Mission: Impossible films, don’t worry. I wasn’t either when I saw Ghost Protocol, and still immensely enjoyed it. These movies are kind of like an American version of James Bond, part of an existing and ongoing franchise, yet highly self-contained and enjoyable as individual films.
Cruise is joined by a great cast here as well, which includes Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, and Simon Pegg. They work incredibly well as a tight-knit ensemble, having to rely on only each other until their mission is complete.
So, your mission, if you choose to accept it, is sit back with a bowl of popcorn and watch this incredible action flick, all made possible by the guy who brought you Ratatouille.
