Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Well not only was this my first experience of an IMAX screening (yes I know for a film fan I am a late bloomer) but it was also a first in my finding respect for Tom Cruise as an action star.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol has been sold and marketed as a major action vehicle, pushing the envelope for all glamorous and high-intensity adventure films out there. Although the film could have turned out to be another silly money-waster, and could have been irrelevant and a further bashing of the Mission Impossible films, it kept it's cool and has actually proven popular all around the globe.

The director of the film, Brad Bird, is a renowned animated feature and Pixar aficionado, and looks like he belongs in a Volvo in the suburbs; admittedly, this installment is more funny and cheery than it is dark and twisted, but Bird has nevertheless proven himself to be great at creating buzz-worthy action scenes. And with so many other action films out there, this is something to be commended on.

In the film, Agent Hunt (Tom Cruise) is given a helping hand to escape a Russian prison and join 3 of his fellow agents in composing a super counter terrorist group out of thin air. As they battle in a race against time with terrorists seeking Russian nuclear codes, they are wrongfully and cleverly implicated (hence the ensuing Ghost Protocol) and found in compromising and potentially devastating situations, and the scope is bigger than ever; nuclear bombs, world-class assassins, two countries on the brink of war. The story is quite fantastical in scope, and yes not wholly enriching. But then again, isn't that what the audience expects?

In general though, the film was composed of extremely well-orchestrated and imaginative action scenes, and although it didn't have a rich plot in the slightest, it was in fact funny and irresistibly good, and truly manufactured for a great viewing experience in the IMAX. The film not only shows Cruise hang himself off a triple-figure floor height on the Burj Khalifa (props to him) but the female lead, played by Paula Patton, was actually well-written. A female lead in an action film can suggest several things, often being overexposed, unnecessary and only a pawn in the puzzle of a very predictable romance; however, not only was her character written off as an option for a romantic counterpart for Agent Hunt, but her character actually added to the film.

Of course the prologue to The Dark Knight Rises also contributed to the heightening of my love for IMAX (I secretly hope that all films will one day be shot and screened for IMAX). This film was obviously made for this magnitude and visual experience, and although the plot remains a mystery it drew me in and I cannot wait for what is to come. Very happy to see that the audio is in fact getting a re-tweaking in sound, as it takes away from a visually impressive scene, and could have undoubtedly created some problems for the film's box office results.

Overall, watching Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol was truly an experience; however, my expectations are higher than ever, and I feel myself thinking I must and I NEED to watch The Dark Knight in IMAX! Maybe even go for a repeat viewing of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol??