A Mission You Need to Accept

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL (2011)

Reviewed by Jerry Saravia

Usually the fourth chapter in a movie series is not supposed to be better than all the sequels that preceded it. Sequels are often inferior rehashes, never coming close to the spirit of the original. The "Mission: Impossible" movies are a curious case because the original was so-so, the first sequel was worse and the third was better than expected. Now comes "Ghost Protocol" which is the best by far, a a hair-raising, nerve-pinching, absolutely smashing movie that is quadruple the excitement of past installments and far superior to the "Bourne" movies. Yes, Virginia, this is one hell of an entertainment.

As the movie starts, superheroic IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is sprung from a Russian prison by IMF agents, including the luminous fighting machine, Jane Carter (Paula Patton) and a Q-like tech expert named Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg). Benji has all sorts of technical equipment that would make James Bond quiver at their very inventiveness, including a hologram that induces the virtual replica of a hallway (originally seen in early "M:I" TV series episode) and some sort of metal suit that would be at home in an Iron Man flick. Anyways, there is a plot here dealing with a villain known as Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist) who demolishes the Kremlin building so it can be blamed on the U.S. thus starting some sort of nuclear war! Hendricks' plan is to destroy this world and start anew, bringing peace back. His plan makes about as much sense as any Bond villain's world domination plan. The trick is for Ethan Hunt and his small team, including an IMF analyst (Jeremy Renner), to infiltrate Hendricks who is carrying around nuclear arm codes in a suitcase! Well, of course.

To its credit, "Ghost Protocol" is not as labyrinthian as other "M:I" efforts - this is an elongated chase picture full of razzle-dazzle effects and amazing stunts that will leave you breathless though it still has an intricately layered plot. Still whether it is Ethan Hunt dangling with a super-suction glove of some kind outside of the tallest skyscraper in the world, Dubai's own Burj Khalifa, or Ethan running from the Kremlin explosion, or Ethan racing around in a futuristic-looking car that is as cool as a DeLorean or running from an emerging sandstorm, the movie never quits throwing one spectacle after another at you in elegant fashion thanks to director Brad Bird and brisk editing by Paul Hirsch. It also works at evoking suspense, particularly the nifty sequence where a meeting occurs that requires Hunt and Benji to not wear masks and somehow fool a dangerous assassin with the passing of nuclear codes and an electronic eye that takes pictures! This needs to be seen to be believed. Added to that is an elegant seduction sequence involving Paula Patton that would make Brian De Palma (who helmed the original "M:I" film) envious.

Tom Cruise is laser-focused here, showcasing a true hero who makes snap judgments and has no time to waste. If he has to ram a car down a few stories at a parking garage, doggone it, he will do it. Paula Patton far surpasses any female characters we might remember from past installments - a standalone movie with her would be kickass entertainment. The comic relief from Simon Pegg comes in short spurts and yet they work - they make us laugh after seeing so many death-defying stunts in full IMAX glory. And it is a kick to see the brief cameo of Tom Wilkinson as an IMF Secretary. Let me put it this way: this is one "Mission: Impossible" movie I would love to own on Blu-Ray.