Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol Movie Review

Tom Cruise destroyed the Mission Impossible franchise. He converted a much loved team-based tv show into a one-man-show, one cocky, self-absorbed, megalomaniacal man’s show.

With JJ Abrams at the helm, we are rewarded with more teamwork like in MI3. But unlike that forgettable predecessor, which was all work and no play, MI4 breaks apart the typical spy movie mould.

After 3 movies of cliff hangers, dizzying action scenes and sometimes incoherent plot lines, the fourth instalment decided not to take itself too seriously. And to great effect, MI4 is effectively an action show with bits of comedy cleverly infused; the recent A-Team comes to mind.

For me, Ghost Protocol is best remembered for cool gadgets that don’t work. Even the iconic self-destructing message device fails to self-destruct in 5 seconds and needed a good knocking from Ethan Hunt to start smoking. All throughout the movie devices like Gecko Gloves used to scale skyscrapers and portable rubber face mask fabricators just refuse to perform their designed purpose.

Otherwise it’ll just be like any other spy flick where the hero whips out a new tech and fireworks fly or something. I bet it started with James Bond, new tech brings ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’, but not anymore. All these malfunctioning gadgets force the characters to innovate and think on their feet creating more tension/drama.

MI4 is the first major blockbuster to feature the Burj Khalifah, tallest building in the world for this next decade at least. I read that Dubai made sure it’s featured extensively. For me, that’s a great enough reason to watch it.

Also, for you Bollywood fans, Ethan Hunt and team travelled to India where they met the veteran Anil Kapoor, who played a media mogul and much a appreciated comic relief.

SO overall, I give it 8/10, I deducted points for it featuring Tom Cruise. Yup I’m a hater, but there was one scene where I think we haters will rejoice. That was when Tom Cruise smacked his face right on the Burj while he was swinging about. Classic. Too bad it was just a stunt.