Reviews – Film: Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
by Suzan Ryan , under Reviews, Web Exclusives
Director: Brad Bird
Stars: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Tom Wilkinson, Michael Nyqvist
Paramount
After John Woo nearly destroyed the Mission: Impossible franchise, it was in desperate need of a blood transfusion to take it off life support. In swooped J.J. Abrams bringing with him a grittier edge, wonderfully over-the-top villains and lens flares by the truckload. With Abrams taking a step back to the role of producer, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol has a new director at the helm, Brad Bird, and fans can rest assured that he carries on in Abrams’ footsteps while leaving his own indelible mark on the series.
Known for animated features such as Ratatouille, The Incredibles and the superb The Iron Giant, Brad Bird might seem like an odd choice to take the reins of a Hollywood blockbuster, but his attention to detail, mature plot lines, keen eye for action and spot-on tension relieving humour are a perfect fit for the franchise.
After a mysterious explosion decimates The Kremlin, Ethan Hunt and the IMF find themselves scapegoats for the international incident with the entire agency disavowed. Out in the cold with no support on the trail of a madman with designs of a worldwide nuclear holocaust, Ethan and his crack crew are all that stands in the way of this imminent threat.
Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt delivers yet another fine action-packed performance, though the focus this time around is more on the team as a whole, with each character struggling with their own issues and story arc. Jeremy Renner’s Agent Brandt provides a perfect counterpoint to Hunt, with an intertwined secretive history to boot. Paula Patton smoulders as the bloodthirsty Jane Carter, hunting down an assassin and seeking revenge for the death of her partner, while Simon Pegg provides the comic relief as Dunn as well his over-enthusiastic perspective as the green rookie now that his field status has been approved.
In another brilliant piece of casting, an unexpected nemesis enters the fold with Michael Nyqvist playing the maniacal Kurt Hendricks who is hell-bent on bringing about Armageddon to give humanity a fresh start. It’s great to see Nyqvist ham it up as the bad guy, with moviegoers more familiar with his stalwart role as all around hero Mikael Blomkvist in the Millennium film trilogy.
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is a wild ride and the perfect popcorn action flick. The pacing is spot on with a stronger focus on hand-to-hand combat in this instalment bringing with it a distinct Bourne Identity feel. Brad Bird has done one hell of a job for his first Hollywood jaunt. Sydneysiders are in for a bonus if they head down to the IMAX at Darling Harbour. Before the screening you’ll be treated to a six-minute sneak peek of The Dark Knight Rises with an excerpt introducing the Caped Crusader’s latest nemesis, Bane.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL is in cinemas 14 December, 2011.
Review: Dave Kozicki
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