On Something Special in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is the fourth in the franchise and this time out is directed by Brad Bird who comes with Pixar pedigree. This makes the lack of coherence in the story even more confusing as Pixar films are so beautifully told and structured. This lack of a clear narrative harks back to the first Mission: Impossible (1996) and means that the third, Mission: Impossible III (2006), remains the best of the franchise.

Despite this problem, Ghost Protocol still boasts something incredible. Midway through the film the IMF team must infiltrate the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai. The tallest building in the world. To do this, Tom Cruise's Ethan Hunt scales the outside, using hi-tech adhesive gloves. This is one of the best uses of special effects seen this year. That is to say, if it is a special effect. The scene is so effective as you watch Cruise climb, run down, fall down and crash into the outside of the tower that whatever (if any) SFX were used are invisible and this is maybe the best use of computer technology in film this year (The Social Network (2010) did the same thing with the 'twin effect'). We can all watch Hugo (2011) or Jurassic Park (1995) and be amazed by the film and the advancement of the technology, but the fact that we are acknowledging it means it is noticeable and this is not a bad thing. But perhaps the greatest compliment that can be paid to Ghost Protocol is that it isn't even clear if special effects have been used. It is well known that Tom Cruise enjoys performing stunts, it just seems unlikely he'd be allowed to do something so dangerous. This set piece, especially in IMAX, is incredible and the Mission: Impossible franchise remains more entertaining than the stale, familiar Bond films, but way off the pace of Bourne.