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| Scaling new dangers, the return of Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL. Out now on Blu-ray and DVD. Images: PARAMOUNT. |
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL
Starring Tom Cruise
Written by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec
Directed by Brad Bird
Available on DVD and Blu-ray from PARAMOUNT DVD
Reviewed by Scott Weller
Its time to light that lengthy fuse for intrigue, drama and excitement once again as the Impossible Missions Force, as led by its charismatic go-for-broke, all-action leader Ethan Hunt, traverses the world in pursuit of a deadly maniac intent on starting World War III, in the newly released on DVD and Blu-ray high octane, adrenaline kicking rush that is MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE IV - GHOST PROTOCOL. Ably assisted by a very strong team line-up including Paula Patton as attractive but deadly agent, Jane Carter, and Oscar nominee rising star Jeremy Renner as information cleric turned gun touting, butt kicking spy William Brandt, Hunt finds himself and his faithful group in trouble once again, and in a world ever more in shades of grey, as they are disavowed by their superiors and seemingly framed when the Kremlin is blown up (how's that for an opening to a movie!). Pariahed, but not without their unique talents and personal resourcefulness, the search begins to stop Russian madmen Kurt Hendricks (THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO's well cast Michael Nyqvist (the star of the Swedish version of Stieg Larsson's film adaptation), though ultimately not used enough in the film), aided and abetted by a truly cold-hearted and lethal psycho assassin, Sabine Moreau, a nice performance from ROBIN HOOD's Léa Seydoux) in a twist and turning plot/quest that takes them from Russia to the scaling heights of Dubai and the exotic delights of India, confidently weaving impressive and ingenious stunt work alongside technological whizz-bang flashes.
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| Have bags will travel. The Impossible Missions force return. L-R Paula Patton as Jane Carter, Simon Pegg as Benji, Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt and Jeremy Renner as William Brandt. |
The genuine and likable star power presence that is Tom Cruise knows a winning formula when he sees it, and all of his MISSION films, despite some later occasional faults that plagued the third of the franchise (from director JJ Abrams, who serves as a producer here), have always been enjoyable, but for me GHOST PROTOCOL is certainly the best entry since the actor started making/producing the film in the mid-nineties, and also feels much more like a deserved continuance/tribute to the equally smashing and finely crafted original CBS PARAMOUNT television series which it spawned from, created by the talented Bruce Geller back in 1966. Inventive and clever director Brad Bird's enthusiasm for the series in all its incarnations clearly shows, as he keeps it all fast paced from the first frames to the last, crafting its memorable and exciting scenes and managing to mix action with some nice humour and character moments, for what is a terrific first live action foray after years as a successful animation director for PIXAR (of which his THE INCREDIBLES certainly paved the way for ensemble superheroes to come, like AVENGERS ASSEMBLE). Continuing its welcome ties to the original first cinematic MISSION, its also great to see the confident and reliable pair of safe hands that is Oscar winner Paul Hirsch at the AVID helm, along with some great music from BAD ROBOT film and TV veteran Michael Giacchino, who I applaud for not being afraid of using Lalo Schifrin's jazzy and memorable original series main title composition within his own work.
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| A score set to settle. Jane Carter takes on assassin Sabine (Léa Seydoux). |
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| A real sky fall. Tom Cruise scales the heights in a spectacular sequence set in Dubai... |
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| ...then partakes in a thrill-a-minute sandstorm car chase! |
The incredible sequences in Dubai (that left audiences gasping in its previous IMAX 3-D theatrical release earlier in the year), along with a tremendous sequence set within a perilous sandstorm, may be the peak point both literally and physically of which the film's final act can't quite compete against, but the following sequences set in India are still lively, as the script writers Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec get our fractured heroes together for their last chance, race against the clock bid to stop the usual cliched missile launch against America, a scenario once so prevalent in sixties TV shows (which themselves were copying the wild pioneering action of the emerging James Bond) from happening, whilst Hunt fights his nemesis in a high-tech automated car park. All of this is never less than enjoyable and audience fulfilling.
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| On the run! LOST's Josh Holloway makes a fine big-screen entry. |
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| Movie baddies Michael Nyqvist and Samuli Edelmann make their demands. |
With fine supporting cameos from a truly international cast including the likes of LOST's Josh Holloway (who gets the film off to a cracking, pistol packing start), 24's Season Season top Indian film star Anil Kapoor (soon to be his country's own version of Jack Bauer), and always in-demand Brit actor Tom Wilkinson (in a small uncredited role), as well as a a few special cameo surprises to fans who have enjoyed watching the MISSION film saga since it first unspooled, GHOST PROTOCOL launched the impressive rosta of action movies of 2012 to come to an intelligent and downright balls-to-the-wall start. Accompanied in its DVD release by two brief but watchable mini featurettes (on the films Sandstorm and its props) and several okay but not vital deleted scenes, if you haven't yet caught up with Hunt and co.'s latest truly crowd pleasing thriller, I suggest you do so as soon as possible. Before it self destructs in five seconds!
KOOL TV REVIEW (overall film and extras): 8.5 out of 10
