The basic plotline of “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol” might have a Cold War-spy scenario to it, but its set in the modern day with contemporary special effects, stunts and fast-paced action sequences that give a fresh 2011 feel.[break]
The world is in danger as codes to Russian nuclear warheads are in the hands of an assassin. To acquire the codes, the assassin had assassinated a close friend of IMF agent Jane Carter (Paula Patton).Carter and Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) aid Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) escape from prison because he is best in the gang.
Carter and Dunn now investigate the assassin’s contractor codenamed “Cobalt” in Moscow, Russia.
This operation goes horribly wrong as a huge bomb goes off at the Russian army base. The Russians take this attack as an act of war. They blame Americans and Hunt after he is caught spying by the Russians.
Hunt escapes the Russians only to find out that the IMF has issued “Ghost Protocol”- a dark operation where all spies are renounced of any involvement.
Hunt and his team would now have to save the world as figurative ghosts. The tension rises to a new height when the Russians retaliate by killing the secretary of IMF.
During the retaliation, Hunt gains a worthy ally in William Brandt (Jeremy Renner), an IMF analyst. Hunt, Brandt, Carter, and Dunn advent across Dubai and Mumbai to save the world from complete annihilation caused by nuclear war.
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol has the immense team work of the original television series. While the first three editions if Mission Impossible were entirely Ethan Hunt, and his personal story, this one differs with other actors receiving adequate screen space and stunts while on their mission to save the world.
Jeremy Renner performs well in his share of stunts jumping 10 floors down to a rotating metallic fan making it impossible to ignore his involvement.
He has performed well in what would have been Tom Cruise’s domain. Paula Patton as a femme fatale out on revenge but living within the norms of the team is also convincing. Her share of stunts includes a prominent fight scene, among others.
The best of the stunts as expected is performed by Tom Cruise’s character as he climbs, runs across, dangles and jumps into rooms through windows near the top of Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai — with 160 stories, currently the world’s tallest building.
Simon Pegg as a gadget geek manages to lighten the mood every time there is an intense scene. His constant blabbering and quirky comments give the audience a grin. His strange affliction with masks is funny although in this edition none from the team gets to wear one.
The threads they wear do not make them seem sophisticated or even like professional agents, unlike some other spy, British spy, we know.
Anil Kapoor’s role in the film created quite a buzz. In the film he is first introduced as an Indian billionaire. As a wealthy pervert he comes across as cheesy and unsatisfying. This role was his Hollywood comeback but it’s a sad follow-up on his tremendous bad guy character of Slumdog Millionaire.
The action sequences are beautifully shot. However, it feels like there is very less buildup to these sequences. There are a few sudden bang moments which will thrill the audiences.
However, in most cases two-time Oscar winning filmmaker Brad Bird fails to build on the anticipation.
This is the director’s first non-animated film and it gives him plenty to perform. There is a mission into the Kremlin, a sandstorm chase scene and, of course, the tight vertiginous action set at the Burj Khalifa.
There is a final one-on-one face-off between the good guy and the bad guy. But because the bad guy is not established well enough, the face-off seems only style and no substance.
In total, the film scores high on stunts. It is easy, however, to be disappointed if one expects as much elusiveness, style and attitude as the previous versions.
Finally, Tom Cruise’s wrinkles are showing. But with his daring attitude, we can expect two more impossible missions – provided there are enough tall buildings to jump from!
Screening at QFX Cinemas
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