Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Directed By - Brad Bird

Starring - Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg, Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner, Micheal Nyqvist, Anil Kapoor.

Midway through MI 4 we see Cruise's Ethan Hunt scaling the 2,700 foot Burj Khalifa with nothing more than a pair of sticky gloves. The ones with fear of height are advised to shut their eyes when this breathtaking but vertigo inducing sequence is played. As the camera stares down the 130th floor of the worlds tallest building while Hunt makes his unsteady climb upwards you will find yourself clinging to the armrest.The peak of the tension comes when one of Ethan's gloves stops functioning. That one sequence can be used as a metaphor for the entire film of how the director successfully builds up the tension and then slowly and comfortably brings it down.

Ghost Protocol is easily the most enjoyable of the Mission Impossible films. Strorywise not so much. But the director tactfully and cleverly overshadows that with superior technology, amazing stunt design ( Hats off to the stunt design team) and (believe it or not) some nicely packaged humour. There is not much of a storyline to talk about. An IMF team headed by Hunt ,and consisting of the hard as nails agent Jane (Patton) and the goofy tech genius Benji (pegg) , are sent to infiltrate the Kremlin in order to obtain classified information about  an eccentric nuclear physicist code named Cobalt who is out to destroy the world by inciting nuclear war. As the team aborts the mission and exits the Kremlin shatters due to a bomb. The IMF is quickly blamed for the incident and as the US-Russia tension reach its highest, The IMF is disavowed and Ethan and his agents branded terrorists. They are given one last chance to save their name and the world and are joined by IMF chief analyst William Brandt (Renner).

The film starts with a panaromic view of Budapest and quickly cuts to the chase, followed by a Russian prison mission to extract Ethan who is under custody. This one scene is possibly the most well edited out of all scenes in the whole series and also introduces a very rare element(and almost non existent) in the Franchise-humour. From the first frame to last, magnanimous action sequences are coupled with a generous dose of laughter. It is this concoction that gives the film(and the series) a fresh new angle. If i could meet the guys who designed the action setpieces i would literally touch their feet. The sequences are original, breathtaking and above all superbly shot. Whether its the Burj Khalifa climb or the virtual reality trick they pull off at the Kremlin ( you have to see it to believe it) every scene is as unique as the other. The final sequence (which is in mumbai) is shot in a fancy parking garage (i didnt know we have one of those in India!) is possibly the most Gyajakhori  we have seen in a long time.

Of the cast, All the central characters deliver earnest performances with Cruise's potrayal being the best (as was expected) , Renner as Agent Brandt delivers an interesting performance. Special Mention for Anil Kapoor for his roughly 15 minute potrayal of a sleazy Indian Billionaire Brijnath. He genuinely brings quite a few laughs.

But the film truly belongs to its director Brad Bird. Despite its improbable plot and frankly preposterous scenarios Brad cruises the film through briskly with sharp editing and unique camerawork. The technology used is as usual unbelievable but the way Bird uses them is where the greatest strength of the film lies. Notice the sequence where Hunt fakes his identity as a Russian General with Benji by his side downloading the identification software and simultaneously disrupting theirs. Exciting Stuff. Another noteworthy (and my favorit)e sequence is the much talked about Burj Khalifa climb, watch how the director cleverly infuses the tension and the drama with sharp wit and humour so much so that the audience too seems to join in the scene.

In all, Ghost Protocol has its share of minor flaws like the very Bollywood-ish climax and improbable plot but works (and how!) due to amazing technology, good performance and the sheer vision of its director, who recognizes exactly the what the franchise needed for a jumpstart

Rating  - 8.2/10