Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011)

MY RATING:
GENRE: Action, Adventure, Thriller
[ *Spoilers ahead* ]
Images from imdb.com

Since we had a promo/discount from work, I did a little genius trick (that I wouldn't disclose) and so I managed to get in ALL of my four friends to the screening of Ghost Protocol! LOL.

FAST FACT: I can't remember the last time I watched a Mission: Impossible movie; actually, I don't know if I've even watched any of the previous three sequels in the first place (the latest before this one was last 2006 so I think I'd bet that I didn't watch it.) LOL. I had a good laugh too, because the first time that I saw the movie poster, I didn't even recognize Tom Cruise (I didn't read the poster either because if I did, I'd have surely seen his name). I didn't even know that he was the main protagonist for all of the MI movies. I simply just didn't. Haha! Loser much?

Anyway, the trailer for this was very well made in building up the anticipation and besides, we're talking about MI franchise here so a lot of people would clearly be hyped. Here's the plot for the movie:

Ethan Hunt and his team are racing against time to track down a dangerous terrorist named Hendricks, who has gained access to Russian nuclear launch codes and is planning a strike on the United States. An attempt by the team to stop him at the Kremlin ends in a disaster, with an explosion causing severe destruction to the Kremlin and the IMF being implicated in the bombing, forcing the President to invoke Ghost Protocol, under which the IMF is disavowed, and will be offered no help or backup in any form. Undaunted, Ethan and his team chase Hendricks to Dubai, and from there to Mumbai, but several spectacular action sequences later, they might still be too late to stop a disaster. (www.imdb.com)

I've seen a lot of people saying: "You should have watched it on IMAX! You have got to see the spectacular sequences in IMAX!" Well, unfortunately, I didn't watch it on IMAX, but I was satisfied enough with the movie when I viewed it through the normal screen.

But anyway, first off! The plot: You'd be a fool if you thought that there would be something new or unique in MI's plot. Even if I don't remember any of the previous MI films, I still expected that the plot would be of generic quality; having known that, the reason then as to why I bothered watching this in the cinema is because I was after the scenes and near-death scenarios... and yes, Tom Cruise. Even if he's already old and wrinkled. Haha.

Speaking of old, Tom Cruise is really old huh. (Have I said old enough?) Actually, I've long seen how his body had already 'downgraded' and that was in the movie Knight and Day. But putting that aside, his performance was still fucking great! I love how they've also portrayed that even agents have their ungraceful moments (the slip-ups, etc.).

MOVIE FACT: He did his own stunts in Burj Khalifa. No stunt double. And Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world! That's Tom fucking Cruise for you! (I have a feeling that he did this as he secretly has a bucket list to check. LMAO. He is getting old, right?) What's more to it is that he did the stunts very well as well!

To my followers who are guys... let me ask you: If you were in his shoes, would you be man enough to make the same decision that he did?

Me... If I were a man, I wouldn't do it. I'd suck it up and be honest about it because I really can't handle heights. Simply watching the views shown in MI was enough to make me feel queasy, so how much more for the real thing right? (And how much more for IMAX!)

...But actually, if I think about it thoroughly, I guess might do it too if we're going to talk about bucket lists, you know? Haha! (Am I making sense here?)

Here's a sneak preview of how they did the scene at the Burj Khalifa:


Most of my friends have made comments that this movie was spiced up with a LOT of comedy, and I agree. As for the other characters, I was very surprised when I realized that Benji was Simon Pegg: the main protagonist in Shaun of the Dead. (I really have to brush up on my knowledge of Hollywood, yeah?) I loved how he brought most of the comic relief in MI. But it's not Like Tom didn't throw a punch line or two there.

There was one scene though where Tom was driving and then they encountered camels on the road. I think Tom just said, "Camels", laughed, and then swerved to avoid hitting them... And well... after that scene, I was all: WHAT? WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT? Was I supposed to laugh? I didn't get it.

Also, was I supposed to believe that in real life, Tom's character (Ethan Hunt) wouldn't be seen by anyone in Burj Khalifa while he scours around the building like a circus performer? No. That's not realistic.

Okay. Wait.
Let's not ruin the movie. HAHA! I mean, I still want to relish the thrill that I felt when I first watched Tom do those stunts. All throughout that scene, I severely symphatized with him, haha. I can even feel as though I was with him, climbing that building like a monkey... and every slip he makes, I feel the same fear too. (LOL. I was attached okay?)

Overall, it was a great watch. A bit too long, but you'd forget your complaints because the story, the characters, and the scenes were interesting enough to stick to your thoughts for a while. (Well, at least for my case.)

Here's a few more things I'd like to say though:

• The assassin character, played by Léa Seydoux, didn't give me enough time to loathe her; and I hope the director rather did something about that because it's like when she died, I was all: "Oh, okay. She's dead." And then after that, it's like she was never a part of the movie at all; except for that kick ass entrance that she did in the opening of the movie.
• Paula Patton was great in playing Jane... but a part of me wishes that they had picked a hotter girl instead because... well if we're talking about undercover people, spies, or whatever, I imagine some hot girl to complete the plot (say Nikita). Now it's not like I'm not acknowledging Paula's beauty because she's really beautiful! But you know... for instance, in the scene where she seduced that Indian guy... I really didn't expect her to succeed in seducing anyone at all if not for her nice eyeliner. LOL JK.

...I think Ghost Protocol would have been a lot more awesome in a 4D cinema. Don't you agree?