Cast: Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Michael Nyqvist and Anil Kapoor
Director: Brad Bird
Rating: 3.5/5
The breathtaking action makes up for the lack of soul...
By Priyanka Ketkar
Heart racing faster than the Fast & Furious cars, sitting on the edge of the seat, biting nails, and sweating profusely this Mission seems to be absolutely Impossible... When Ethan's hand slips from the rope even your hands get clammy and you start wiping them ferociously as if Ethan will slip off because of your sweaty palms. That is what Mission Impossible- Ghost Protocol does to you... Brad Bird's first live-action film is so pumped up with action that you can overlook the lack of an exciting story.
They are back and how! Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) knows that he will be disavowed if he gets caught or fails the mission. To his horror, that's what happens...not just Ethan, but the entire IMF is dissolved. So, the ones who usually help catch the criminals have themselves been labelled as criminals. With the turn of events, only Ethan, Jane (Paula Patton) and Benji (Simon Pegg) are what is left of IMF. Due to some unavoidable circumstances, Brandt (Jeremy Renner), who is apparently not an active IMF member, lands up with this trio. Now it is their responsibility to clear IMF's and their name and avert an impending nuclear disaster which the psychotic Hendricks (Michael Nyqvist) is to bring about.
The Mission takes place in various countries all across the globe. The best sequence though, beyond any doubt, is the Burj Khalifa sequence. What is scarier about this scene is that it is done with such patience and calmness that it sends chills down your spine. The scene is the high point of the movie (not just because of the 2176 ft. height of Burj Khalifa) but somehow after this one scene, the movie certainly fails to reach that pinnacle of excitement. The final fight sequence in the car park is a definite let-down.
Even though the movie lacks a much needed engaging story, it starts off well. The action & the occasional dry humour anchor the movie but they could've easily avoided the last fifteen minutes of melodrama.
You might not be a huge fan of Tom Cruise but you won't be able to escape his charm in M: I: 4. He looks old alright but still fits the role perfectly. Jeremy Renner isn't given much scope but he still shines through his role and is immensely impressive (I won't mind seeing him in the next M: I series if any). Simon Pegg and his humour bring out a lighter shade of the movie striking an excellent balance between action and humour. Paula Patton, with her first-rate performance, is an absolute pleasure to watch. And there is of course the Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor as Brij Nath in an extremely unmemorable role.
The movie has everything but lacks soul...certain emotional connect and we have seen the world-under-nuclear-threat track too many times for this one to be accepted with open arms. Yet, the high-tech technology, the super-innovative gadgets, the signature Mission Impossible music, certain amount of goofiness and power-packed performances makes it Impossible to deny its rightful title of being the best Mission so far.