- Location: Regal Colony Square Stadium 12
- I'm so glad the Americans and Russians are enemies again. Cinematically speaking, that is. Between 2010's Salt and now Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, there is no doubt in my mind that it's just more fun this way. Watch any of the old James Bond films, and I'm sure you'll agree. Of course, the Russians aren't technically the badguys in Ghost Protocol, but the point is that the film finds a reason for the IMF (that's Impossible Mission Force if you haven't been briefed) to infiltrate the Kremlin, shortly before said building is destroyed by a bomb. Now the IMF agents must dodge a hapless Russian security agent (Vladimir Mashkov) while trying to catch the real culprit (Michael Nyqvist) and clear their names, not that their real names are of much use anyway in this line of work.
- Did I mention that the IMF has finally assembled an actual team of agents? It took four films, but we now have a group of talented specialists whose skills work in coordination, just like in the old TV show. The leader, Ethan Hunt, is notable primarily for having been in the other movies and for being played by Tom Cruise, who certainly proves that he's not too old to be a convincing action star. Next in line is an agent named Brandt (Jeremy Renner) whose mysterious past probably involved something more than desk work. The most impressive agent is Carter (Paula Patton), who happily abandons the standard IMF female seduction role for a more persuasive approach. Finally, there's Benji (Simon Pegg) who is in charge of computers and comic relief. Not all of the team members are equally great, but at least they get roughly equal screen time.
- There are some other details having to do with a murdered IMF agent (Josh Holloway), the creepy young assassin (Léa Seydoux) who killed him, and a nuclear scientist (Ivan Shvedoff), but let's face it -- we're not meant to scrutinize the labyrinthine plot. For my part, I was just hoping to see some clever tricks and great stunts, and the film delivers on both counts. The most amusing charade is probably the moving video wall that shields the user perfectly, so long as no more than one person is watching. The best stunt by far involves Tom Cruise flailing around on the outside of the world's tallest building in Dubai. Honestly, I could take or leave much of the rest of the film, but at least I can finally say that the Mission: Impossible films have evolved to be as enjoyable as the recent entries in the James Bond series. The goofy masks are off, the cast is obviously having fun, and you probably will, too.
- The film also features cameos by Tom Wilkinson, Ving Rhames, and Michelle Monaghan, the latter two of whom are included strictly for continuity purposes.
