Ileana’s Movie Review: ‘Mission Impossible’ Keeps You on Edge of Your Seat [VIDEO]

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Starring: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Michael Nyqvist

Summary: A radical named Hendricks (Nyqvist) has bombed the Kremlin and framed Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his team for it. The event caused the president to invoke “ghost protocol”, thereby disavowing the entire IMF. Now Hunt has to work as a rogue agent along with Benji (Pegg), Jane (Patton), and Brandt (Renner), to track down Hendricks and prevent him from instigating a global nuclear war.

This is by far my favorite of all the Mission Impossible sequels. Filled with jaw-dropping stunts, I found myself on the edge of my seat for the entire two and a half hours. There are two reasons why this is the case. The first reason is the addition of Brad Bird as the director. In his live-action directorial debut, Bird hits it out of the park, and it’s no surprise since his résumé includes The Incredibles, which also deals with espionage themes and was also a spectacular film.

The second reason is Tom Cruise himself. In the past few years Tom Cruise has lost some of his box office appeal with his erratic behavior. In the latest Mission Impossible film, Cruise reminds us why we love him as an actor. His portrayal of Ethan Hunt was subtle yet powerful, making Hunt somehow wiser and more mature. Cruise shares the screen with his co-stars and lets them shine as well. If this is the direction the franchise is going in, sign me up for the next mission.

Trivia: Tom Cruise performed the sequence where Ethan Hunt scales the outside of the Burj Khalifa tower himself without the use of a stunt double. The Burj Khalifa tower is the tallest building in the world.

Rated: PG-13 – For sequences of intense action and violence.

Grade: B