MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – Ghost Protocol

With Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Michael Nyqvist, Paula Patton, Léa Seydoux

Written by Josh Appelbaum & André Nemec (based on characters created by Bruce Geller)
Directed by Brad Bird

Hitting the 4th chapter in the cinema franchise based on the '60s TV programme, even from its first Brian DePalma directed installment this series has surpassed the low budget original show a hundred-fold, becoming a beast all of its own with pretty much only the title, lead character name, and method of message delivery (and self-destruction) remaining.

This time round a disastrous incriminating incident leads to Ethan Hunt and his IMF special team having to go underground (with a convenient truckload of high tech equipment and weaponry to help them on their way).

Alias producer (and Mi:III director) J.J. Abrams pulled in co-writers of that TV show (Appelbaum & Nemec), giving them their cinematic debut to great effect. Nuclear weapons return as the crisis at hand, and the team has to devise a meticulous plan to avoid the codes landing in the wrong hand, exposing the culprit and clearing them and their agency – this includes technical and technological precision, infiltration, impersonation, stealth, scaling skyscrapers, car chases, shoot-outs, split second decisions, instinct and good old fashioned ass-kicking.

Aside from the nail biting skyscraper scene featuring a real Tom Cruise, the action and drama keeps the pulse racing throughout. Renner is introduced (and may be taking over the series), while Brit Simon Pegg's side-kick character is far more effective than a mere occasional comedy relief device.

With a serious budget and the best in the business from production and technical to talent, no wonder this is one of the most successful action franchises of all time (giving 007 reason to look over his shoulder with concern).

Extra features include a look the creation of the storm sequence.

5 / B
- Paul Blom

0 1 2 3 4 5 6
- A - B - C

A: Multiple Viewing Potential
B: Deserves Another Look
C: Once Should Suffice