I'm writing again! And it's about a movie my friends, it's been so long since the last time I write about movie. The thing is, I watched Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol yesterday, and WOW... maybe it is the best MI movie ever. Point to point here...
1. Tom Cruise
Talk about MI movies and we talk about Tom Cruise. Aside from Top Gun, MI is actually the one that bring Cruise to Actions Star Pandemonium. He can be not as tall and muscular as Stallone, Willis, and other well-built-Johnny-Bravo-liked movie star, but he's hot -for his age- and he's definitely blockbuster machine. In the previous 3 MI movies, we all know that Ethan Hunt is a super agent, we all know that he is from IMF and we all know that except for Hunt and Luther, other people is insignificant being and replaceable. Thing goes different way with Ghost Protocol. As far as they try to over emphasize Cruise's persona in the movie, they did a great job too with other character. And guess what? it turns out to be the best.
You all of MI fans doesn't have to worry. We still can see Ethan Hunt doing some maniacal acrobatic sequence, with some other impossible sky-high climbing to do -become a habit since MI2- But today, he's doing it in a more humane way. He's not unbreakable-not even a scratch with overly hairsprayed hair anymore. He become more fun, smiling properly, doing things more spontaneously and share the spotlight with other characters. I don't know why Cruise don't get bored of portraying Hunt, but he's doing a better job in this movie. Not too much posing or smirking -the very Tom Cruise smirk- he's doing everything in a very proper fashion with slightly impossible sequence for a nearly 50 year old man, and yet, he's still hot. Maybe this is one key point why Ghost Protocol stand out from the other movies in the franchise and from all action movies in general, because Tom Cruise -finally- doesn't overdo his coolness. So, instead of being Tom Cruise narcissistic flop, Ghost Protocol is definitely a high level action movie that redefined the franchise, GREAT JOB Mr.Cruise!
2. The Action Sequence
-SPOILER ALERT-
That Burj Khalifa climbing thing Mr.Cruise, THAT is unforgettable -keep breathing and try to not screaming- sequence. I never more noisy in watching action movie in my life than last night. One hundred and thirty stories tall, on glass wall, with no rope... Beuh, I got a spontaneous vertigo. I don't care and I don't see why people has to buzz around about whether Tom Cruise did the sequence himself or not. IT DOESN'T MATTER guys, the sequences itself is a freaking great job of acting, directing, stunt choreography and post production effect. The glass wall itself is a huge disadvantage, and being almost 300 meters above the ground with sandstorm in the background, that just WOW.
Other scenes? well, the stacking parking lot fight is ok, but not as stunning as the Burj Khalifa climbing. And they certainly has hired better fight choreography, a lot of barehanded fighting -what's with all the gun being tossed away?- especially the girl agent's, Jane (Paula Patton), fight. I love this girl when she's fighting, she know how to make a man feel pain. And Brandt (Jeremy Renner) is the one doing Mission Impossible jump-and-float-near-the-surface thing, the one that very mission impossible and he's doing it in very different fashion than Tom Cruise. Cruise did the jump with all confidence and I-did-it-all-the-time attitude, Renner did it with OMG-this-is-my-first-time-sacred fashion, so yes, that is another funny thing to watch. The jump-and-float maybe the only sequence that available in all MI movies, good thing, it's great to have a signature.
3. The Plot
I don't know if it's a good or bad, the overall story line is less serious than the previous 3 movies. It has more humorous vibe and some accident pop up in the middle. I kind of suspected that Cruise latest action piece, Knight & Day has something to do with it, maybe he kinda comfortable with that kind of plot, I don't know. The practical joke is something that not really MI-thing, but it did great to the way the movie's felt in its 2.30 hr long duration, kick away the platonic serious plot.
4. Cast and Crew
I kinda surprise to know that Ving Rhames is just make cameo in Ghost Protocol, like I said before, Hunt and Luther is a signature package for the MI franchise, but maybe they try to make it fresher with bring new set of cast for Hunt's team. Simon Pegg as Benji is definitely the plot refresher. He bring the fun and definitely bring the laugh. Everytime he's doing some silly thing, well silly for a super agent, I keep wondering how can this guy pass the field agent test?! His attitude reminds me of Riley Poole from National Treasure franchise, genius and silly. Paula Patton as Jane is good, but not that remarkable.
Jeremy Renner as William Brandt is another story. His portrayal of an agent turn analyst is great. I can't imagine how he maintain that scared expression whenever he faces fight or impossible act or near-death experience and then turn to a total fighter with all the agent skill kickin' next, he's great. I love this man. Gained worldwide attention as a lead actor in Kathryn Bigelow's Hurt Locker, he strike some deal to big-budget movies like Ghost Protocol, the upcoming Avenger and the next piece of Bourne series. This man will be huge actor, and I'm looking forward to see it.
As for the director, I'm surprise to learn that the director, Brad Bird, is actually a animation film director, and Ghost Protocol is his first live action movie. Seriously? This is the man that made Ratatouile and The Incredibles? WowMaybe he try to think of it as animation that make him do the impossible possible, great job Mr.Bird! First live action and MI franchise and Tom Cruise, nobody get that kind of chance before. And to note that most critics gave Ghost Protocol good review so far will boost his popularity as action movie director, we'll see. What will he do next, maybe a rat live action movie? Hehehe...
5. Future Tech in the Movie
Another not so near future tech maybe the face recognition lenses and 3D image projector. The one that simultaneously recognize the face or shape around you and then match it with database and give you immediate alert via mobile phone if you are spotted something important like maybe, an assassin. It is a clever military implementation of high-end face recognition, cloud system and database and real-time alert to mobile phone. The face-recognition lenses maybe the farthest one to be implemented. The 3D image projector is the one that excite me the most. Because I think it is what future 3D movie should be. First, 3D image capture then intelligently project it to plane surface with simultaneous sight line detection that matched with image projection. It means, that you can get the whole 3D imaging in plane surface, you get different view point of an object at different position. At the movie, the tech limitation is that it only detect one set of sight at a time, when it comes to more than one person it confused the system and the image start to scrambled. I imagine if the technology is ready for multiple sights and commercially used in the movie theater, then the theater owner can charge more for the center seats than the rear seats. Hehehehe... more money for better experience.
Overall, I give Ghost Protocol 7-8 out of 10 point. It's definitely a good movie to watch when you're stressed out, or just hanging out with friends or partners. I read that the IMAX format is give more wow effect to the movie, but unfortunately, IMAX is not commercially available in Indonesia, so if you can get access to those high-end IMAX theater that run this movie, definitely should try that.
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