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Post by architect on Dec 5, 2011 1:43:27 GMT -5
Pre-Release reviews that are spoily go in the 'Spoily Bits' Thread, the rest go here. Reactions from those at the Oz Screening:
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Post by architect on Dec 8, 2011 1:29:53 GMT -5
Reviews coming in from Dubai . . . James Rocchi:In his first live-action film, Bird gives us a cleaner, clearer, smarter and better action film than Michael Bay has in any of his nine straining, slapdash efforts. I wasn't blasted into the back of my seat cushions or dragged to the edge of my seat, but there were moments of adrenaline, laughter and suspense with enough character details to like these people being buffeted and blasted by bombs and bullets. Alongside Fast Five, Mission: Impossible 4 stands as one of the big-studio highlights of the year—it's smart, snappy and stylish fun just in time for the holiday. (4/5 Stars) Anne Thompson:"Ghost Protocol" is more often than not a blast and, viewed in swooping IMAX majesty, it’s frequently ravishing and electrifying. If nothing else, it surely proves that Cruise’s penchant for allowing yet another strong-willed director to stamp their visual signature on his latest mission will keep us flocking to this franchise as long as he wants to keep it running. Brad Bird's leap away from the fastidiously controlled cartoon universe can be deemed an unqualified success. Meanwhile, Cruise reminds us that you can never keep a good film star down: he’s the coolest and most captivating he’s been on screen in what seems a very long while. The Playlist:'Ghost Protocol' fails to provide thrills unique enough to truly celebrate, even if it still offers a “Mission: Impossible” that’s worthwhile for audiences to accept. That said, Bird does a wonderful job of executing these action scenarios in ways that communicate energy and drama but never succumb to undue self-seriousness. The opening scene where Hunt breaks out of prison is marvel of storytelling economy, as Bird uses almost no dialogue to communicate what’s happening and why, but the audience is never at a loss for what’s happening or how they’re meant to feel about it. And later – and certainly augmented by Cruise’s own commitment/ fearlessness – his photography of Hunt scaling the outside glass of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa some hundred or more stories in the air is truly a breathtaking, palm-sweating spectacle to behold.(B) Gulfnews:Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol thrills with every intrigue, every punch thrown, every explosion, every deadpan line — and every shot of the city that is a major character in the film: Dubai. Fans of the franchise, rejoice, because all the elements that define a Mission: Impossible film are here, and yet thanks to the policy of introducing a new director each time (this fourth instalment is helmed by Brad Bird, an Oscar winner for the animated film The Incredibles), those elements seem fresh and fun. (Mission Accomplished) The Reel Bits:Ghost Protocol doesn’t have the third film’s sense of a complex scheme running in the background, yet there is an energy that sustains the film, and flows naturally from the previous entry. It is pleasing to see that in a world populated by the extremes of increasingly dark and brutal action on one hand, and ridiculous over the top Transformers action on the other, there is still room for a globetrotting caper that mixes old-school charm with modern gadgetry. (Better then the Average Bear) CraveOnline:With Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, director Brad Bird has made not only the best Mission: Impossible, but also the first genuinely thrilling live-action movie in years.Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol delivers the awesome for the holidays. (9/10) Emirates 24/7:Kudos goes to Brad Bird’s slick direction, coupled with Cruise’s crazy antics that figuratively breathe life into this steel and glass juggernaut which should effectively see the adrenaline junkies throng to the cinemas to catch the action in its full IMAX glory. Matt'sOnline:With Brad Bird bringing his imaginative animation brain to the world of live action and Tom Cruise at his crazy action-man best, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol provides slick high octane espionage thrills while upping the ante in the stakes of good vs evil action theatre.Nerve jangling suspense and big action spectacle is where …Ghost Protocol is at its best. With Bird handling the reigns and Cruise at full capacity, another solid entry in what is shaping up to be a pretty spectacular franchise is delivered. Mission accomplished. (3.5/5) The Hollywood Reporter:It may not be The Incredibles, but there is some fairly incredible stuff to be found in Mission: Impossible —Ghost Protocol, animation ace Brad Bird's first live-action film and a good continuation of the now-16-year-old series. The impact of spectacular action on striking international locales is moderated somewhat by the repetitive nature of the challenges faced by this rebooted team of American agents, but with Tom Cruise in top form here and IMAX presentation enhancing some of the key sequences, this Paramount release should add substantially to the grand total of a franchise that has hauled in $1.4 billion to date. 7Days:Hold on to your seat. ‘Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol’ is coming to a cinema near you soon -and it’s action with a capital ‘A’. Right from start, Tom Cruise’s latest mission will have you holding your breath, gripping your seat, gasping at the daring stunts and for the first time in the Mission Impossible series, laughing out loud at the humour. It’s an international thriller not to be missed. Variety:"Ghost Protocol," though unable to sustain its virtuosity over an unusually long 132 minutes, still manages enough sheer fun to qualify as the series' strongest entry since Brian De Palma's stylish 1996 original. Pixar wizard Brad Bird's live-action debut serves up sights and setpieces of often jaw-dropping ingenuity and visual flair, witha robust marketing push, Imax showings and an ample if intermittent sense of creative resurgence should spell strong, sustained B.O. for Paramount's holiday tentpole. HitFix:I think "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" is the most consistently entertaining, most laser-focused entry in the series so far. It is a great rollicking self-contained spy movie adventure on a grand scale, and it's preposterous fun. This is also one of the most engaged performances from Cruise in a while. He's got the Movie Star turned up to ten here, and it's a lot of fun to watch.
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Post by architect on Dec 8, 2011 2:13:03 GMT -5
It won't last, but let's enjoy it while it's pretty!
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Reviews
Dec 11, 2011 22:35:00 GMT -5
Post by architect on Dec 11, 2011 22:35:00 GMT -5
Screen Daily:Tom Cruise may be turning 50 next year, but with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol he demonstrates that he’s hardly ready to stop considering himself a major action star. Fuelled by his propulsive, sometimes literally death-defying performance, this fourth instalment in the Mission: Impossible series is arguably the strongest of the bunch, piling on the impressive set pieces with a cheeky brio from first-time live-action director Brad Bird. Sydney Morning Herald:All the iconic elements of the Mission: Impossible franchise, from the instantly recognisable music to the tech- and gadget-heavy modus operandi of the team, are harnessed to the max in this high-tension edition. (8/10) Dark Horizons:Bird delivers one of the most entertaining and energetic studio films this year by embracing a classic action approach rather than running away from it in an attempt to seem edgy. We're in an era where the genre standard has become the downbeat Bourne-esque approach of tortured heroes, brutal fisticuffs, and drunken handheld cinematography. 'Protocol' bucks the trend, bringing back exotic locales shot with wide framing, a focus on glossy style over dark grit, ambitious stunts rather than generic shootouts, an embracing of high-tech gadgets, and even (god forbid) a sense of humour. Surprisingly one of the studio tentpole highlights of the year, and certainly the most satisfying action movie in many months. Emmanuel Levy:Brad Bird, best known for his animation work, makes a smooth transition to features with his debut as action director in “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol,” the fourth and most entertaining segment in the blockbuster series. Fast moving, clever, engaging and wonderfully kinetic in its action sequences, “Ghost Protocol” may be the best installment of the series. (B+) The Guardian:Even those allergic to Cruise would struggle to resist his magnetism grinning one-handed from the highest skyscraper in the world, cool as a cucumber, ripped as celery. This is a good value, bang for your buck, old-fashioned blockbuster. Urban Cinefile:The best Mission Impossible of them all, everything about this fourth film in the movie franchise is big with breathtaking, extravagant stunts and a thrilling, large scale plot to match. On the giant IMAX screen, we become totally immersed in the action - it's a bit like being swallowed up into the very fabric of the film and in some of the spectacular action sequences, I felt as though I should be wearing a seat belt. There's a nicely balanced mix of danger, thrills and humour in the sophisticated plot that zigzags its surprises in exotic locations with extreme elements. This is Tom Cruise, the Movie Star at his invincible best - performing impossible stunts, saving the world and avoiding being too earnest, while maintaining high tension all the way. Den of Geek:It’s stating the obvious, perhaps, but Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol takes action cinema to new heights. The heights of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, as it happens. To say this particular sequence is exhilirating barely does it justice. The audacity, calmness and confidence of it is staggering, and it’s the centrepiece of a really quite strong Mission: Impossible movie. Brad Bird proves to be an inspired choice to direct, conveying urgency without going bananas when cutting his action sequences together. He’s happy to let his characters slow down, talk, explain things, and escalate matters through dialogue, before yanking the rug. And when he does cut to the proverbial chase, his action sequences are, at their best, quite brilliant. (4/5) World of KJ:Bird has delivered the distinctly best action movie of the year with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Starting with the film’s opening scene in Budapest, this globe-trotting adventure never slows down, delivering several huge action set pieces. The Dubai sandstorm chase and the final showdown in Mumbai being the major standouts, the film is just filled with imaginative non-stop action that delivers all the thrills one would hope to see in a film like this. Unlike a movie like Quantum of Solace, Ghost Protocol actually manages to make its action very engaging, always keeping the viewer on the edge of the seat, even though they know that the good guys will win and the bad guys will be defeated. That’s truly successful filmmaking. (5/5)
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Reviews
Dec 15, 2011 0:31:38 GMT -5
Post by roxthefox on Dec 15, 2011 0:31:38 GMT -5
91% AT ROTTEN TOMATOES BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Reviews
Dec 15, 2011 22:23:24 GMT -5
Post by roxthefox on Dec 15, 2011 22:23:24 GMT -5
93% at Tomatometer!!!!!!!!!!!! The last time a Cruise movie had this good reviews was in 2002 with Minority Report. The tomatometer is a 100% for the top critics, with Ebert giving it 3.5/4 stars! Have been hearing great things about the Dubai stunt via twitter. Can't wait to see this tomorrow. Looks like Brad Bird was a good bet!
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Reviews
Dec 16, 2011 13:46:08 GMT -5
Post by serin on Dec 16, 2011 13:46:08 GMT -5
‘Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol:’
5 Reasons To See This Pulse-Racing Action Flick
Tom Cruise is at the top of his game in this stunt-filled extravaganza
!
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is the biggest movie of winter, and it will definitely get you in the summer megaplex mood. The spy thriller — starring franchise lead Tom Cruise — is a perfect showcase for his incredible physicality and screen presence. Check out our top five reasons why you should see this great new movie!
1) Tom leads a dynamic cast!
Tom is a natural born star, and he leads a unique squad to stop nuclear war. Jeremy Renner is great as a mysterious new agent, Paula Patton is kick-ass as a sexy spy and Simon Pegg returns to the series as the comic relief tech dude. Even though Tom’s the clear star, the chemistry of the group makes for a great cast.
2) The action scenes are spellbinding!
The biggest draw of the Mission: Impossible movies are the intense spy sequences, and this movie does NOT disappoint. From a dizzying skyscaper climb to crazy car chases, you will not see a higher-octane movie this year. Bonus: check it out in IMAX for the full scope of the action — you’ll be on the edge of your seat!
3) You’ll feel like you’re an international globetrotter!
From India to Russia to Dubai, this movie showcases some of the most exotic cultures and locales in the world. It’s great to feel like you’re transported to another land when you go to the movies!
4) The filmmakers stick to what works!
Even though it could be argued that there isn’t much of a plot, any attempt at characterization would be extraneous and boring. The stakes are high enough without any epic romances or family drama, and it’s a relief that this movie is back to basics.
5) It’s just fun!
Everybody likes a big, sexy spy movie, and this is something that everyone from teenagers to grandparents will enjoy. Tom knows how to make a crowd-pleaser, and if you need some heat to escape the winter weather, check out Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol! What do YOU think, HollywoodLifers — will you check out Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol this weekend?
– Hollywoodlife
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Reviews
Dec 16, 2011 18:27:41 GMT -5
Post by serin on Dec 16, 2011 18:27:41 GMT -5
Tom Cruise is a force of nature in the franchise’ fourth outing
; older and looking older, and as nimble as ever, Ethan Hunt represents the kind of movie spy with mass commercial appeal as well as he ever did.
Cruise in fine form as of days of yore, framed by a nicely meaty story and his outrageous signature MI stunts.
Take for instance rappelling on the 130th floor of a Dubai Hotel – I’ve seen the sequence twice now it’s as thrilling, mesmerizing and brain challenging as any stunt Cruise has performed.
I’m told there were no body doubles used, that’s Cruise, and there’s no green screen. It looks horrifyingly authentic enough, except for the approaching CGI sandstorm. It defies belief but there you have it. Thrilling.
The film barrels along at a hell of a pace from one gob smacking stunt to another, from one exotic location to another, fists flying and gadgets humming. Check the world’s coolest parking garage.
We find Hunt in a Russian prison for allegedly murdering four Serbians. But he manages to smash his way out during a riot, staged for him, as a fellow agent Benji (Simon Pegg) newly assigned to the field, controls the prison computer system.
Pegg isn’t asked to do much more than comment sarcastically, work the computer (always a thankless cinematic role) and add some comic nerd relief. But he is charming against Cruise no nonsense attitude.
Hunt makes his escape, taking with him a valuable Russian “asset” who may be able to lead him to nuclear access codes via an international black market. Someone wants to start a nuclear war and the first attack is about to be launched. Hunt must get the bomb’s access code and stop it cold.
A new agent Jane (Paula Patton) who recently lost her lover murdered by an elusive baby faced assassin (Léa Seydoux) joins Hunt in his quest to find the codes. Patton brings an incredible physicality and authenticity as well as quick responses. And being strikingly gorgeous, Jane is also asked to seduce those ever elusive codes from besotted marks.
Hunt masquerades as a Russian officer to get past otherwise impenetrable Kremlin security to find the codes on his own. There’s an amazing gizmo – a high tech curtain he positions in front of a security desk officer to replicate his view at the end of the hall.
That way he and Benji can move up on him hidden behind this virtual view. The Kremlin explodes as they make their getaway, but they didn’t do it.
Hunt’s impossible mission takes him to and his team from Russia to Dubai, and then Mumbai, to railroad cars, glitterati events where he can look damn fine in a tux and run tin into the eye of the sandstorm.
The destinations are photographed beautifully which totally adds to the films eye appeal. The travelogue aspects of the MI outings are always welcome. The world of MI: 4 is seductive, brilliant and exotic.
The film is just a teeny bit longer than it should be but that’s small potatoes. The film is engaging, thrilling, fun and eye popping and Cruise is just fine, thank you.
It cost $140M to make and from this critic’s point of view, its money well spent just for the escapism it offers. It doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t and as mass appeal action adventure goes, its tops.
Monsters and Critics
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Dec 16, 2011 18:35:04 GMT -5
Post by serin on Dec 16, 2011 18:35:04 GMT -5
This is not just another mission. The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in a global terrorist bombing plot. Ghost Protocol is initiated and Ethan Hunt and his rogue new team must go undercover to clear their organization's name. No help, no contact, off the grid. You have never seen a mission grittier and more intense than this. Rotten Tomatoes / 95 %[/URL]
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Reviews
Dec 16, 2011 18:54:32 GMT -5
Post by roxthefox on Dec 16, 2011 18:54:32 GMT -5
118 reviews and counting with 94% on the Tomatometer, 100% with top critics, easily becoming one of the best reviewed films of the year.
I actually don't care about the Tomatometer. It is, by no means, a yardstick to measure the greatness of a film. But I can't help but be excited about the great word for MI:GP!!!
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Reviews
Dec 17, 2011 7:48:54 GMT -5
Post by roxthefox on Dec 17, 2011 7:48:54 GMT -5
Peter Travers (my favorite film critic) gives it 3.5/4 stars: Don't let the idea throw you. It turns out to be rousing good news that producer-star Tom Cruise has brought on Brad Bird, the animator king behind The Incredibles, Ratatouille and The Iron Giant, to make his live-action directing debut with the fourth Mission: Impossible movie. In fact, Bird is an ideal fit to follow Brian De Palma in 1996, John Woo in 2000 and J.J. Abrams in 2006. For Bird, the impossible is business as usual, and his is the best and most spectacular Mission yet. See it in IMAX, and you're in for an action adrenaline rush that keeps you on the edge of your seat eager for the next visual astonishment. The IMAX cameras produce the thrilling effect of 3-D without the damn glasses, making Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol a genuine marvel of cinema ingenuity. Check the dizzying scene of Cruise scaling Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. You won't believe your eyes. And Bird turns out to be a natural with flesh-and-blood actors, tapping the script by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec for every ounce of humor and suspense. Bird also knows how to build a scene for utmost impact. And he has just the right actors to do him proud. Cruise effortlessly exudes magnetism as Ethan Hunt, the IMF (Impossible Mission Force) undercover agent who specializes in getting out of tight fixes. Bird starts things off on a high, with Ethan busting out of a Moscow prison with outside tech assistance from Benji Dunn (a wonderfully droll Simon Pegg) and Dean Martin warbling "Ain't That a Kick in the Head" on the soundtrack. After a bomb blows up the Kremlin (another knockout IMAX sequence), Ethan's boss (the great Tom Wilkinson) tells him the President has evoked "ghost protocol" to sever the U.S. from the team, leaving Ethan, Benji, Jane Carter (Paula Patton) and new agent William Brandt (Jeremy Renner) out in the cold and without cash for fancy tricks. Unless, of course, they they can nab nuclear launch codes from a baddie (Michael Nyqvist) and restore order. This will require Ethan to hang by suction gloves from the 123rd floor of the Burj Khalifa in the face of a sandstorm. It also means double teaming two groups of crooks at the same time, forcing Jane to duke it out with a hottie French assassin (Lea Seydoux) while Ethan dodges disaster. It's implausible as hell, but no less fun for that. As Lalo Schifrin's iconic TV theme keeps pumping, cinematographer Robert Elswit and editor Paul Hirsch perform kinetic wonders as the film moves to Mumbai for a bruising face-off in a multi-leveled parking lot. Spotting a glammed-up Jane, William can't disguise his envy. "Next time I want to seduce the rich guy," he says, with Renner nailing the smile in the line. Sweet. Still, this is Cruise's show and the actor, pushing 50, brings the role a startling athletic grace and becoming maturity. If someone asks you what a true movie star is, point to Cruise. He has it all. And he's found an ideal collaborator in Bird. You leave Mission: Impossible–Ghost Protocol thinking that these guys can do anything. Read more: www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-20111216#ixzz1gnOTLI2w
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Reviews
Dec 18, 2011 7:39:57 GMT -5
Post by serin on Dec 18, 2011 7:39:57 GMT -5
Movie Review: Mission Impossible :4 - Ghost Protocol
As soon as it was announced that Brad Bird would be directing Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, I knew for a fact that this movie was going to be something fun, exciting and special. For those of you who don't know, Bird is the director of animated films such as The Iron Giant and The Incredibles. Ghost Protocol is Birds first live-action film, and he hit a freakin' home run with it! This is in my opinion the best Mission: Impossible film made so far, it had everything that we love about going to the movies; action, drama, comedy and heart. I was completely engulfed in this movie from beginning to end and it's most definitely one of my favorite movies of the year.
I honestly loved everything about this movie, but the one thing that makes or breaks a movie for me is the story and script, and I'm happy to say that both of those aspects of the film were solidly great. Of course they weren't perfect, but I had no complaints, I'm sure that some people with nit pic at it, but for the kind of movie this is there's really know point to pic it apart because of how fun and exciting it was. The story was pretty straight forward, simple and witty. The script contained a lot of great humor and dialogue that you all will get a kick out of. Some of this humor you may have seen already in the various films clips that have released, but there's so much more than what has been shown. I loved the humor that was in this movie, and that's one of the main things that set it apart from every other Mission: Impossible film. The humor alone makes this movie worth watching, but if you are looking for another reason, how about action!
The action sequences in this film were amazingly awesome and amusing. I had a blast watching the action sequences in this film unfold on the big screen. What's great is that there's one fun action sequence after another in this film, add a good script to that and you have a special kind of entertaining movie that everyone can love. There's a great fight sequence at the end of the film that takes place in a high tech parking garage that was put together so well, and ended up being so damn cool so just look out for that. But, one of my favorite moments in the film was the scene in which Ethan Hunt is flying through the air on the tallest building in the world, it's a scene that has been heavily marketed, but everything leading up to that and afterwards just made for one of the greatest most intense edge-of-your-seat sequences in the film. And turned out to be one of the most enterning moments in any movie.
If you have a problem with Tom Cruise for any number of reasons get over it! The guy is fantastic in this movie and he's fun to watch playing this character. Please do not let Cruise stop you from seeing this movie because you are going to miss out on seeing one hell of a great film that is meant to be seen on the big screen. In fact, I highly recommend you see it in IMAX if at all possible for you. I repeat get over your Tom Cruise issues if you have any and see this damn movie! On top of that it's got a great cast of other actors that also do a great job that will keep you entertained, we have Simon Pegg as Benji who is hilarious, Jeremy Renner was great as the new guy Brandt, he was a very fun new character, then there is Paula Patton as Jane who was a sexy badass. This was a great ensemble cast that had a very likable fun chemistry on screen.
Bird is the man, and he effectively brought his animation directing style into the live-action world. His signature is all over this movie, and it was so cool to see how effectively his style translated to live-action. This guy is going to have a hell of a career as a live action film director, and I can't wait to see what he ends up doing next!
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol has it all, and this is one of those movies that I can't wait for you to see! I honestly wish I could sit down and watch it with each and everyone of you just to see the reaction on your faces as you watched it. This really was a great movie, and I whole-heartedly recommend that you all go out and see it now if you haven't already!
Geektyrant
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Reviews
Dec 18, 2011 8:01:05 GMT -5
Post by serin on Dec 18, 2011 8:01:05 GMT -5
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Reviews
Dec 18, 2011 8:44:10 GMT -5
Post by serin on Dec 18, 2011 8:44:10 GMT -5
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Reviews
Dec 18, 2011 19:48:36 GMT -5
Post by architect on Dec 18, 2011 19:48:36 GMT -5
Highlights from the heavy hitters: Owen G at EW:It's become easy to take Tom Cruise's skill for granted (even his fans do), but in Ghost Protocol he has a pulsating presence, a dynamic mind-body fusion. From the moment he gets broken out of a Russian prison cell, only to argue with Benji via video feed as chaotic violence swirls all around him, Cruise energizes the film with his no-sweat bravura. He kicks ass like an Ultimate-Fighting bruiser, he races vehicles like a demon — but more than any of that, he invests every line, every situation, with the cleanly intense, fired-up concentration of an actor who means it. Powered by Cruise's moxie, Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol proves that in a Hollywood action-ride culture drenched in fake adrenaline, it's cathartic to encounter the real thing. (A - Top Ten 2011) Roger Ebert:"Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" is a terrific thriller with action sequences that function as a kind of action poetry. The best one has Tom Cruise hanging more than 100 stories up on the glass windows of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world's tallest building.Brad Bird, the maker of such great animated films as "The Iron Giant," "The Incredibles" and "Ratatouille" specializes in action, and his films are known for strong characterization. You'd think he'd been doing thrillers for years. The Wall Street Journal:The action sequences shot in IMAX—one-quarter of the film opening today—lift this fourth installment of the near-venerable series from impressive action to spectacular abstraction. It's not the generic plot that's so memorable, even though its convolutions are clever enough, or the cast of mostly interesting characters, but the surreal swirl of form and color that frequently fills the enormous screen. Tom Cruise runs, jumps, smiles and frowns with a devotion to IMF duty that's always entertaining and sometimes downright touching. The result is hugely enjoyable. NY Daily News:As an action thriller, “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” is immaculately structured. It’s built from massive explosions and high-risk car chases and mind-blowing stunts and awesome gadgets. Nearly every scene offers some new surprise, whether it’s Patton distracting an arrogant billionaire, Renner donning a magnetic suit or Pegg re-figuring major architectural structures. Each wild ride is cleverly plotted, but none compares to the central sequence, in which Cruise climbs and then descends Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. Choose to accept Bird’s mission to entertain, you’ll have a blast. NY Post:Under the witty direction of animation genius Brad Bird, “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol’’ is a largely successful attempt to reboot the moribund franchise that turns out to be probably the most entertaining installment since Brian De Palma’s series opener. LA Times:Another unswerving performance by Cruise, whose onscreen commitment to the role is key to making these two-fisted tales — not to mention lines like "nobody leaves this hotel alive" — believable. If Rhino the hamster in the animated "Bolt" ate danger for breakfast, Hunt eats it for lunch and dinner too. NYTimes:Mr. Cruise seems comfortable resuming his franchise duties, though there’s a palpable difference in his affect, even from the last movie. He still radiates intensity bordering on mania, but without the familiar “what, me worry?” air of invincibility. Unexpectedly, though, his age and inescapable gravitas work for “Ghost Protocol,” partly because they invest the outrageous stunts with a real sense of risk. Mr. Cruise’s primary job in the “Mission” series is to embody a not-quite-ordinary man whose powers are at once extraordinary and completely believable, a no-sweat feat in the first few films. Here, however, when Ethan ziplines off a building onto a truck and then rolls hard onto the street, Mr. Bird — while borrowing more than a little from the “Roadrunner” cartoons — also makes you aware of the fragility of the body ricocheting on screen, absorbing every blow for your entertainment. And when Mr. Cruise hangs off the even taller building, what you see isn’t just a man doing a crazy stunt but also one poignantly denying his own mortality. NPR:The producers of Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol hired Brad Bird — the Pixar director responsible for Ratatouille and The Incredibles — to take on the fourth installment in the series; it's his first attempt at making movies with people rather than pixels, and it's a gamble that pays off in one of the most expertly constructed and choreographed pure action films in recent memory. MI4 may not be as smart as Bird's Pixar work, but that's not a deficiency here. This film exists purely to dazzle and thrill, and by that measure, it delivers expertly, never lagging despite a lengthy 133-minute running time. Almost as exciting as the film itself, though, is how beautifully it showcases the evidence for a showman's argument: that live-action filmmaking can rival animation when it comes to unlimited imagination. USA Today:Oscar-winning animator Brad Bird seems to have accomplished the impossible with the fourth Mission: Impossible installment by injecting the 15-year-old series with newfound, breathtaking energy. Ghost Protocol is the rare spy thriller/action film that employs a perfectly calibrated blend of high-voltage explosions, intricate gadgetry and dizzying chases without sacrificing compelling characters. Mission:Impossible — Ghost Protocol is easily the best of the lot. SF Chronicle:"Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" succeeds on most counts in this fourth, gleeful effort in the franchise. It presses all the right buttons at all the right moments and never forgets its reason for being: to shove Tom Cruise - who once again plays Impossible Mission Force's Ethan Hunt - into a goofy Russian general's costume. it all adds up to cracking good fun. The Imax incarnation blows up the eye candy - the panoramic sweeps of Budapest, then Moscow, then Dubai - and the volume, which you'll feel in your teeth. James Berardinelli:Ghost Protocol is big and brassy, doing many of the things its predecessors did but, in the words of Nigel Tufnel, turning them up to "11." It was made with the big-screen format of IMAX in mind (in fact, it's getting a one-week exclusive run in IMAX venues before its regular opening). There's nothing understated about any aspect of Ghost Protocol. Exposition and character-building moments are shoehorned in without impacting the pace. The cinematography is bold without becoming confusing or distracting, with grand, sweeping helicopter shots and rock-steady depictions of ground action. The CGI is seamless - it's difficult to intuit whether a computer was involved during the vertiginous Burj Khalifa sequence (the producers say "no"). And Michael Giacchino's score is one of the best of the year, mixing new material with the iconic "Mission: Impossible" theme. Andrew O'Hehir:My only questions about Brad Bird as a director are: 1) Why the hell has he only made three movies in 12 years; and 2) If Tom Cruise saw that he could do this, why didn’t anybody else? Given Bird’s excellent animated features, you’d expect him to be adept with humor, character byplay and rapid-fire storytelling, and you’d be right. But this movie has not just one or two but four or five of the most coherent and exciting action sequences in recent history, culminating with a beautifully choreographed final face-off. “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” is the most exciting action flick of the year, by a huge margin.
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