Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol

I must admit that when Tom Cruise became the new top dog of Impossible Missions Force (IMF) team, I did not like it one bit.  I have grown up watching the TV series and I was used to seeing Jim Phelps run the show so when Ethan Hunt came and stole Phelp's thunder I was naturally pissed!  But I guess time heals all wounds and mine was gone when MI2 was shown.

Ghost Protocol is the 4th installment of this movie franchise and it has once more delivered its audience share of fast paced action!  And you know what's funny?  Its director, Brad Bird,  did not have an action movie under his belt before this!  In fact all he had to show for is a chock-full of animated films like "The Incredibles", "Ratatouille", and "The Iron Giant".

As a movie producer, Tom Cruise sure knows how to make money.  The only staple character in the last three installments were Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames); otherwise, Hunt does not have a permanent team to speak of.  In Ghost Protocol Stickell only appears as a cameo so it's only Hunt in the lead here.  Now why is that?  Well, as you may well know, MI, MI2, and MI3 were box office hits.  Keeping a "team" would have given the cast members with a card to play come contract negotiations.  More payment to the stars would mean less profit for the company.  Nice move Tom!

Needless to say, the only real star in this franchise is Tom Cruise!  So long as he delivers my ACTION fix---I'm fine with that!

Coming Soon in 2011

Looking forward to watching these movies next year:

Fast 5 (April) - The latest installment to the Fast and the Furious franchise. The last one was a box office success and was the highest grossing film of the series. Let's see if the addition of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnston can up the ante of this film. Vin Diesel and Paul Walker remain in the cast.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 (July), Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (November), The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo (December) - Great books. Does not necessarily follow that they will become great movies but really interested on the screenplay. Yeah, yeah...Harry Potter and Twilight will definitely make a killing at the box office---I just hate it when the book is not followed to the letter! Damn cinematic effect!

Green Lantern (June), Thor (May), X-men: First Class (June), Captain America: The First Avenger (July) - I'm a comics buff. What else can I say?

Green Hornet (January) - I enjoyed watching this TV series when I was young. Bruce Lee as Kato was cool! Really curious how they're going to spin this in the movie version. But Seth Rogen?

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (December) - I'm a Cruise fan. Got fixated in him when I saw Top Gun.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (July) - Sad that there' s no more Megan Fox to oggle in this installment. Looking forward to watching Rosie Huntington-Whiteley strut her wares. Damn you Megan! Why did you have to talk trash with the producer of this franchise!?


No STrings Attached (January) - A Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher. Provocative poster. I love women wearing a man's shirt and nothing else!

The Mechanic (January) - I love action movies. Jason Stratham---definitely JAW BREAKING!


Just Go with It (February) - Always a pleasure watching Adam Sandler on film.


Hall Pass (March) - With Owen Wilson there's definitely going to be some skin involved! Sure to be a fun movie!


Drive Angry (March) - Nicolas Cage's recent choice of scripts didn't earn him much. Not a good way to survive bankruptcy. This one looks promising though.


The Dilemma (January) - Another comedy with a stellar cast. Two of my favorite Hollywood actresses, Winona Ryder and Jennifer Connelly plus two great comedians in Kevin James and Vince Vaughn.

The Roommate (February) - Leighton Meester and Minka Kelly. What else is there for a "batman" to ask for in a movie?


Scream 4 (April) - Watched the first 3---so why not the fourth?

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (May) - Captain Jack Sparrows' adventure continues!