Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)

When it’s over, Tom Cruise looks in top form returning as secret agent, Ethan Hunt.  In this fourth installment, the tensions between the US and Russia are high, and when the Kremlin is bombed, the IMF is implicated leaving the US President no choice but to declare Ghost Protocol leaving Hunt and his team unaided.  The team goes rogue and must continue their mission to stop a terrorist from using nuclear weapons against the US.  Joining the team are Jeremy Renner as William Brandt and Paula Patton as Jane Carter, both delivering solid performances.  Simon Pegg returns as Benji, the computer wizard who has been promoted from desk job to field officer.  Benji adds just the right amount of humor and comic relief to make MI – GP from drowning itself in too much action.  This film was non-stop from beginning to end with just enough breathing space to get the story told as the plot hopped from one continent to another.   The stunts were impressive especially the chase scene in the sand storm in Dubai and the car factory extravaganza in Mumbai.  These lengthy scenes were very well choreographed and thought out.  I can’t recall the last time I saw stunts that expertly put together.  And of course, no spy film would be complete without the gadgets, and this film had a slew of cool stuff that sets the bar for future spy thrillers.   


My rating: 4 out of 5