Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

[Blzer]

Re: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

I take that back.It's showing at one theater in this area (IMAX). That search lead me to the movie's website which states that it's Now playing in IMAX and select theaters. In theaters everywhere December 21st.

Ah, that does explain it indeed. I wonder if they'll be showing the trailer for The Dark Knight Rises then.

[JayBee74]

Re: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Keep in mind that doesn't mean that the film is a 9.5/10. Technically, a movie like From Paris With Love could get 100% on RT just because every reviewer liked it enough to give it a fresh tomato.

That said, 2.5/4 is also a fresh tomato according to the RT scoring, so it was at least "positive enough" in their eyes as well. I would rather go on the ten-point scale with my scores (add a decimal point for good measure when needed), but whenever I leave movie impressions, it's tough to just put a "number" on it, because now it's automatically compared to anything that I ranked a bit lower or a bit higher, and I can't always say that ends up being a movie I like more or less than the other simply because of its number.

It's a great blockbuster film, though. If it means anything (and if it helps you decide what you like more), M:I III was more about the movie staying within itself, and this film engages with the audience more with one-liners here and there, things that will make the crowd "ooo" and "ahh," etc. There is also some Brad Bird shtick and banter thrown in there, and it makes for great entertainment on the first viewing, but those normally become shallow points when you want to watch it over and over. In short, the replay value is one reason I'd probably prefer M:I III over Ghost Protocol, but IMO both of them are much better than the rather boring M:I and absurd M:I II. Still a fresh tomato any day of the week, though.

I understand the RT rating system and your point is well taken, but anything over 80% on Rotten Tomatoes is usually a pretty dam% good movie.

[Blzer]

Re: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

I understand the RT rating system and your point is well taken, but anything over 80% on Rotten Tomatoes is usually a pretty dam% good movie.

As is this film.

I'm actually surprised the third film only got 70%. I'll have to see what critics had trouble with. It was probably the fact that they were reviving an aged out franchise, and they didn't consider the nostalgia factor enough or something.

[Blzer]

Re: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

By the way, one more thing I never liked that they did with the first movie (can't remember if the second one did it) is during the opening title sequence they flashed some clips/moments that would end up happening later in the film. They returned this this theme again for Ghost Protocol, and although nothing is ever too revealing, it begs to ask the question as to why it's even done. It's almost like if they showed a trailer for this film before showing the actual film.

On the flip side, one more thing I forgot to mention that I liked about this film was the overall deviation from IMF. As I said, the focus is heavily on the four good guys, so there isn't too much back-and-forth with IMF and the U.S. government getting in the way. It's four agents doing what they do best with what little they have. Kind of reminds you of Quantum of Solace when you put it that way. I do wish the villain side of things was a bit more spruced up, though. At least the fight was for a bigger cause than a baddy or two, unlike the third film using a MacGuffin.

[JayBee74]

Re: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Ah, that does explain it indeed. I wonder if they'll be showing the trailer for The Dark Knight Rises then.

I saw it last night at the Sherlock Holmes movie (SH not that great) if it's the one where the football field

Spoiler

collapses and becomes a Grand Canyon killing several ball players.

[Jgainsey]

Re: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Took my 13 year old little bro to see this in IMAX last night..

Let me just say that I loved the first 2 MIs, thought the 3rd was solid, and was really disappointed with Ghost Protocol.

I'm not even sure if I would recommend watching this whenever it reruns on TNT or something a couple of years from now. I didn't have high expectations going in, simply because I don't like to take my action movies too seriously, but I just couldn't find much to like about this one.

The franchise has gone from having a cool suspense/thriller action type vibe about it, to something that feels more like your run of the mill superhero movie. There were more moments in the movie that felt like cheesy Bond scenarios than what I've come to expect from MI.. if that makes any sense.


The movie starts out by barreling into the action(and doesn't let up from start to finish), which is fine, in and of itself, but they never really attempt to flesh out the incredibly over the top story. And that is probably because aside from the story with Hunt and his wife, there really isn't anything worth delving into.

Speaking of Hunt, his character is pretty one dimensional at this point. There used to be this endearingly whimsical, and almost cocky attitude from Cruise's character. And while his performance is solid, he's simply a straight up serious action guy. They do attempt to work in a decent amount of comic relief. And where the older MI movies did a good job of sprinkling these moments in, GP comes off as pretty hokey.

There were some cringe worthy one liners here, and some other moments that were so stupid, my brother and I just couldn't help but laugh out loud at the cheesiness. Almost the kind of stuff I'd expect from a Crank 2, or Need for Speed 12, but not an MI movie. To be fair, it's definitely better than one of those movies, but I just expect a little more from this franchise than your average thrown together action flick.

Fwiw, it did look great on IMAX. And there were some great locations, stunts, and cool gadgets mixed in. Though even some of the technology is starting to border on the unbelievable, and there were some definite jump the shark type moments.

I really did go in wanting to like Ghost Protocol(and to be honest, the name Ghost Protocol is pretty stupid..), but I had a hard time being anything but disappointed.

[Blzer]

Re: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

I think this film is just so far separated from the original in the franchise, that it's one of those problems where there just isn't any going backwards, almost like the Die Hard series. Actually, in some scenes, they ended up reverting to old school tactics (some scenes involving stealth and recon) when M:I III didn't do so, but this series has indeed turned into straight up action.

For better or worse, that's what it is, and that's how movies are these days. You don't get movies like the first film very much anymore. Not that the film was super fantastic in my opinion (there were really only two scenes that I truly loved), but that is what the Mission Impossible series was. These days, tagging the franchise name alongside of a later-revived film sequel basically means keeping the main character, theme song, signature moves/lines, and a couple of cameo appearances. The rest is up to Hollywood to make things happen.

And like I said, let's not forget the ridiculous helicopter-train chase sequence at the end of the first film. It's not like that one was perfect either. In fact, Ghost Protocol actually made aware of the ridiculousness of how much "technology" was used and abused in the first few films (self-destructing messages, overuse of masks, cuing up and timing acrobatic moments perfectly). That self-awareness factor actually worked really well here.

Yeah, that hokey aspect that you speak of is the same problem I had with GP. As you said, moments that belong in a film like Crank 2 and not here. Or, as I mentioned, the one-liners that are more for first-time audiences, rather than captivating the essence that a film should have (just being within itself, not breaking the fourth wall, so to speak, for a cheap laugh). That was the "Hollywood flaw" that this film had, and many blockbusters today have.

Nature of the beast, I suppose. I still liked the film very much, and more so than M:I. However, if they grounded it more like M:I was, I would have liked it much more.

[JayBee74]

Re: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Took my 13 year old little bro to see this in IMAX last night..

Let me just say that I loved the first 2 MIs, thought the 3rd was solid, and was really disappointed with Ghost Protocol.

Sorry you didn't like it.

Just read Ebert's review (3.5 out of 4 STARS). He praises the action sequences and the "well-defined performances of the Mission team" among other things.

I'll probably see this one on the 23rd.

[marshallfever]

Re: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Going this Tuesday, movie looks awesome in my eyes

[jmood88]

Re: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

I hated the 3rd one but I loved this one. I don't think I've ever been as tense in a movie as I was when Cruise was climbing that building.

[mattsb84]

Re: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

I hated the 3rd one but I loved this one. I don't think I've ever been as tense in a movie as I was when Cruise was climbing that building.

Ditto. I would put this up with the first one. I never saw the 2nd one and the 3rd one was not that good. Seeing it in IMAX was glorious.

[dcal]

Re: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

I was hoping to see this at the IMAX but just could not make it. Too much going on. Checking it out at the regular theatre in a week or so.

[Scott]

Re: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Saw this in IMAX mainly for the Batman prologue, but I was really impressed with it.

[Scott]

Re: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

I hated the 3rd one but I loved this one. I don't think I've ever been as tense in a movie as I was when Cruise was climbing that building.

That was pretty awesome, especially in IMAX.

[JayBee74]

Re: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HZHwxIL9oYo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

EDIT:Actually, a bit of trickery on my part. Loved the movie-my favorite of the series.