Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol [DVD] [2011] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

After being a big fan of Mission Impossible it seemed only right to delve into the world of Ghost Protocol. I had high hopes for this film as I think many other fans did, but after hearing how impractical some of the plot ideas were I have to admit to being a little put off and avoided watching it until the crowds died down. Now that I've seen it though, I wish I hadn't waited so long - it was brilliant.

So why was it any good? There's no point in me expressing how great it is if I can't tell you why you might think so too. So with that said, the general idea for this movie: The IMF (The team of Ethan Hunt/Tom Cruise and the gang) must attempt to derail plans for a nuclear war between America and Russia. Why the nuclear war? Well IMF have been framed. For bombing the Kremlin. This brings about the "Ghost Protocol" were individuals of the IMF team must go it alone to try and prove their innocence - not to mention tracking down the real baddies.

I was glad to see the return of Benji, Simon Pegg's character, he really did make the film at times for me - nobody likes a serious MI film. The remaining agents, Jane and Brandt are interesting in their own right though with quite big roles to play (and an interesting twist). But what most people notice the most appears to be all the gadgets, or at least that's what I could hear people chatting about during the movie. It's crammed full of cars, some pretty unique gadgets (of questionable practicality) and some jam-packed action sequences; some of which have great impact and are executed really well.

Was it "bum-on-the-edge-of-the-seat" good? Yes! I would urge you to watch this, I was tensed and excited throughout. I'm so relieved I wasn't disappointed and couldn't care less whether the gadgets would actually work or the stunts wouldn't actually kill you - it would have been boring without these features.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is one of those movies where you are probably best advised to leave most of your brain at home. Think too much and you'll find plot holes and ludicrous improbabilities. This may taint your enjoyment of what is surely one of the most exciting films ever to hit the big screen. For this is a pulsating, heart-pumping popcorn movie of the highest quality.

The plot revolves around the attempts of IMF, headed by Agent Ethan Hunt (a very cool and unflustered Tom Cruise), to prevent nuclear war between the USA and Russia after the Kremlin is bombed and IMF framed for the attack. The team is disavowed with the `Ghost Protocol', a black ops contingency, forcing the remaining members to continue alone to attempt to prove their innocence and find the real terrorists behind the bombing in a globe-trotting rogue mission. Support for Hunt comes in the form of the remaining 3 agents of IMF; technology nerd Benji (Simon Pegg); Jane Carter (Paula Patton) and Brandt (The Hurt Locker's Jeremy Renner), an analyst hiding a deep secret.

In a move that will surely have the creators of Bond 23 reaching for the smelling salts, director Brad Bird (whose only previous directing credits are animated films) packs the film with fast cars, gadgets (albeit with some dubious science) and audacious stunts. Bird's handling of the action scenes is masterful, bringing the same flair and sophistication that he exhibited in his Pixar features `The Incredibles' and `Ratatouille'. By this evidence he was the perfect man to take the Mission Impossible franchise to a whole different level. Ghost Protocol isn't just better than its three predecessors; it obliterates them, and in terms of its sense of fun and for sheer white-knuckle excitement, its one of the best action films I have ever seen.

In one vertigo inducing scene, Hunt scales several floors of the Burj Khalifa (the world's tallest building) 100 storeys up. This scene is so breathtakingly well filmed that it will surely induce toe curling and gasping from anyone with even a slight fear of heights. One of the scariest five minutes of any film I can remember. In another sequence, Hunt chases a fleeing villain first on foot and then by car through a raging Dubai sandstorm. Before its release to blu-ray and DVD, I would urge you to watch on an IMAX screen if you can.

The frequency and ferocity of the big action set pieces may mask a slight lack of character depth and development. Ethan Hunt is probably not the most interesting or complex of heroes and the villains feel a tad underwritten, though actress Lea Seydoux puts in an eye-catching turn as a sultry French assassin. But it would be churlish of me to suggest that this spoiled my enjoyment of the film one iota. Ghost Protocol may not have great depth or meaning, but it is certainly tense and thrilling and in its finest moments, utterly awesome entertainment. 9/10.

II loved the first MI, which warped the TV program with Jim Phelps' true character coming out as a total surprise that kept you guessing till the end and yet can be watched over and over. 2 and 3 essentially made Cruise into a superhero, creating a role he could plod through with as much interest as a clod. While he is still somewhat of a superhero for this one, there is no question that it is best since 1.

Released from prison by a lovely agent, Hunt is immediately entrapped in some kind of web he has to figure out. The entire MI force is disavowed, so he has no resources but those of his immediate team, which includes a new techie, a mysterious diplomat, and the tough chick. It is a rollicking good ride and I will definitely buy it once the price falls. The feats are just believable enough, things keep going wrong, and it is more complicated (yet ever so close) to disaster. I was not bored for a minute, never lapsed into "some guy is just making this up" mode, and wondered what was really going on for most of it. That is success.

Recommended.