Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol: Review By Huntsman

I must admit I've never been to an IMAX theater outside of a few doc*mentaries I've seen in the Aaron Space Museum, nor have I seen a movie in and IMAX theater. Living in Portland OR there weren't that many around until a few weeks ago when a local theater decided to up grade to it. I wasn't sure spending almost twenty dollars on a ticket would be worth it, but I took a chance and I was happily surprised. It blows away any other experience I've had in theater by far. Where 3D adds nothing to a film IMAX on the other hands envelops you in the film experience with the visuals and the sound. I truly believe that IMAX is the only true way to see a film in a theater now. It turns a 3 star to 3.5 star film like Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, and turns it into a 4 star to 4.5 star film, which leads to my review of Mission Impossible.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is the fourth film in the series, which is based off the old Television series. The movie series seems to have a hit and miss factor with their stories. The first movie had a good one involving the end of the cold war and the impact it had on some agents. The second one was pretty bad involving some convoluted plot to unleash a virus and then sell antidote to make millions. The third movie brought the plot back up to par with a simple but effective plot about an arms dealer out to get Ethan Hunt. Ghost Protocol sadly leans toward the second film with some ex-Russian Special Forces man or scientist. I was never to sure about that, anyway the guy wants to cause a nuclear war for some strange reason's and frames the IMF. That is another thing that is wrong with the plot. Three out of the four movies are about either Ethan Hunt or IMF getting framed for something. Can't the writers come up with better ideas than basically repeating the same thing over and over again?

The lack of plot sadly also affects the characters of the film. The big bad guy played Kurt Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist) is basically no existent in the film. The only credit I will give the man is he was great in the climax at the end of the film, but that still doesn't make him a good bad guy. Next is the disrespect of Josh Halloway. The guy is a good actor and played Sawyer on LOST, which is one of the best TV series of all time. He should have had more of a role in the film. Hell I would have liked it if he played the Hendricks right hand man, then the character Wistrom would have had more of an impact. The last bad character/actress in the movie would be Jane Carter (Paula Patton). Her character seemed pointless. She also can't act, and she isn't hot. Don't get me wrong she's good looking in the real world way, but when it comes to Hollywood hot like Jessica Alba, Halle Berry or Mila Kunis she just doesn't compare. Tom Cruise was good in his usual carefree way he lives and acts. The two people who stole the movie fore me was first Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) who is always funny. Next is William Brandt (Jeremy Renner). Jeremy is a great actor I even remember his roles in SWAT and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford before his breakout hit The Hurt Locker. Now he's the star and rightfully so as he takes over one franchise in the Bourne series, enters another as Hawkeye, and possibly another in the Mission series as he plays Brandt an IMF analyst with a mysterious past.

With a average to bad plot and decent to average characters what keeps Ghost Protocol from being a average to bad movie is the action, special effects and IMAX. That's one thing you can say about the Mission series of movies the action keeps getting better and better as the series goes along. From an escape from a Russian prison the action never lets you down as it takes you through Moscow to Mumbai and to Dubai and Burj Khalifa. Barj Khalifa is the currently the tallest building in the world, and the action sequences that take place there are spectacular. Still I must say if you truly want to fully experience the sequences you have to see them in an IMAX theater. It will leave you breathless, and if you have high blood pressure I'd close your eyes or leave the theater it might give you a heart attack. Then there is the climax in a cool parking garage which was done brilliantly.

The direction by Brad Bird is really well done. He may have been only been directing animated movies to this point, but he's directed good ones in The Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ratatouille. Brad doesn't lose a step as he delves into live action film and a big franchise like Mission Impossible. Besides the directing the music was almost non existent which didn't add anything to the film.

On a side note I had hoped to catch the long trailer for Batmam: The Dark Knight Rises, but I guess I wasn't one of the lucky ones. Still they showed a about two minute trailer for the film. After seeing the trailer I don't know what people are bitching and moaning about. From the trailer the film looks excellent and I can't wait for it to come out.

Overall Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is an average film with a bad plot, average characters and is ultimately saved by Simon Pegg, Jermey Renner and some spectacular action/special effects. I am going to recommend everyone see the film and even more to see it in IMAX. Final score 4 out of 5 stars.