Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)
Impossible is nothing to Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) as he’s able to accept missions where reaching results seem to be unachievable but he manages to succeed every time. The previous three spy movies in the series have had a lot of memorable action scenes. Does this fourth installment entertain as much?
I’m going to skip a summary of the story, because really, do you watch the Mission Impossible movies for that? Of course it must keep you interested in what is happening, but that’s done well here. During the movie you get enough background of the various characters to understand what motivates them. Hunt’s team all got their own stories. For a big part of the movie it’s unclear who William Brandt (Jeremy Renner) actually is, Jane Carter (Paula Patton) is also a new face, but an amazing agent (and not only for her looks) and Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) has made field agent too.
Personally I’ve come to expect great scenes in which these spies have to get something from somewhere or someone and have to do all these cool things to get it done. You’ll remember Tom Cruise’s character suspended just above the floor or riding on top of a high speed train in the first one, something with motorcycles in the second one (I have to admit I forgot most of that movie) and jumping off a building and running on a bridge as some of the highlights. This new instalment offers more of that and really doesn’t disappoint. Of course by now everyone will have seen Cruise hanging of the side of the Burj Khalifa, but Ghost Protocol and it’s amazing to see Cruise still pushing himself to do all these stunts himself. This movie offers more than him hanging off the side of the highest building in the world though all taking place in various parts of the world (Russia/India).
Now this is a movie where I was watching it with a constant grin on my face. It’s almost non stop action and suspense, mixed with some humour thanks to Simon Pegg. The bad guy might be a disappointing (Michael Nyqvist really doesn’t have enough screen time to be really menacing), but it really does not matter much. The new Mission Impossible offers spies, cool gadgets, cars and amazing locations all brought together by great action and sometimes that is more than enough for me to make me happy.
Score: 9
Good review, I agree with what you said. The new Mission Impossible is great and its probably my favorite in the series.
Nice to hear. It’s probably my favorite as well, although it’s been a while since I saw the first 2
” spies, cool gadgets, cars and amazing locations “. Sounds great, I’m in
Hahaha, it was enough for me as well!
Totally agree, loved the film, great review!
Thanks a lot!
I won’t get a chance to see this in the cinema (sadly) but I am so there for the BluRay! great review, Nostra!
That’s a shame. Has it already disappeared over there? I’m sure you will have a great time watching it.
It is definitely my favorite of the series, and probably the most purely entertaining movie of the year!
Great review my friend!
Purely entertaining, I like that and I wholeheartedly agree! Thanks Matt!
I had that same grin on MY face! Loved it. Better than Bourne and Bond and far superior to any previous Mission Impossible. Ethan Hunt’s a total nutbag and I love him for it. Respect to the Cruiser.
Pete, nice to hear you enjoyed it as much.
Great review! You are right, it doesn’t matter that much with this film that the villain had little screen time. It worked. So well.
Glad you loved this one. Had i been in the theater with you watching, we would’ve both had the same grin watching in amazement! Action all the way!
Thanks T! I think we would have had a great time indeed
This sounds like a fun movie, and one I am looking forward to seeing. Glad to hear you really enjoyed it, Nostra.
Hope you will be able to see it soon Eric.
Nice review Nostra, so glad you enjoyed it! I loved it too exactly for the same reasons. The plot didn’t matter at all because the effects and gadgets were so great I was focusing on them instead.
Thanks Amy, this movie has been getting lots of love everywhere.
One of the things I like most about the third installment is the dramatism of it. Seeing Tom Cruise tearing just makes me stupid, him fighting for his girlfriend and everything ♥ The fourth doesn’t have that, but I think it is great not to make it exactly like the previous movie. They instead managed to reinvent the franchise with such a comic character as Benji’s. Isn’t he hilarious?
And well, Ghost Protocol has all the excitement I expect in a Mission Impossible movie, I couldn’t ask for more. My favourite parts are the ones in which the team makes a super plan to get into a place and get something. The Kremling in this one, the Vaticano in the third, and so on. I hope there’ll be a fifth film 
The Mission Impossible and Die Hard franchises are the best ever!
Yeah, this fourth installment really has another feel with less drama compared to the third one, but I quite liked it. They are all unique. Benji is hilarious indeed! I wouldn’t be surprised if there will be a fifth one!
Awesome review, I agree w/ all of it. I too think the bad guy is disappointing but it still doesn’t derail the movie which is a testament of how good Brad Bird’s direction is. Yep, that Burj Khalifa scene is the kind of stuff you watch a Mission Impossible movie. It’s the logic-defying preposterous-ness that makes it all the more fun
Great to hear you agree Ruth! Can’t wait till it is out on DVD and can watch it again!
Yeah, me too! This could be the only Mission Impossible movie that’s fun to watch over and over agin.
I’m in the minority. While I mostly enjoyed the film and mostly agree with what you’ve said, I just wasn’t all that blown away by it. It was just ok in my eyes. Great set pieces, but that was all for me.
At least you mostly enjoyed it and can imagine some people feeling like that. Not everyone feels the same about each movie which makes reading opinions about them so interesting!
I’m in the minority too! Enjoyed the film but I was quite taken with it like many others.
I wonder if Tom Cruise’s comeback is complete, if he ever went away in the first place.
To me he never really went away, but then again I don’t care much about what these actors/actresses do outside of movies.
This is a great movie guys !
Yes it is, thanks for the comment!