Impossible? I think not- MI 4: Ghost Protocol

Mission accomplished?
Movie: Mission Impossible - 4 Ghost Protocol
Cast: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg

PLOT:
After breaking Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise)-the infamous IMF operative out of prison-the team discovers there is some guy a.k.a COBALT trying to get his hands on Russian Nuke launch codes. Ethan and his team then try to break in and steal information on him at the KREMLIN, one the the most secure buildings in Russia. But it doesn't go well and they come back empty handed and the building is bombed. The blame lands squarely on Ethan's team. The IMF is disavowed. With no friends and no IMF back up the rouge team must get their hands on COBALT and the codes before its too late. That takes them from Russia to Dubai to Mumbai, where it all ends. Suicide mission or Mission possible?

Good news first:
The movie has us hooked from the very first scene. The long winding fuse that leads into the opening titles just give you a sense of what you can expect with flashes of scenes to come.

Cruise and his aging body have you wishing you could rewind the clock and go back to MI-2, but the action makes up for that disappointment in spades.

Special agent Jane (Paula Patton) and Benji (Simon Pegg), the comical British technician from the previous installment hack into the Russian Prison security and with Dean Martin music playing in the background, Ethan all but saunters out of that Prison. pffft ..it's like stealing candy from a baby.

Well it's much like watching a Rajinikanth movie really. Cruise gets bonked on the head, has several mild concussions and still manages to walk out without spilling a drop. So get this. If your one of those indi movie freaks. This ain't for you.

After the third installment you think... well we've seen him jump from one building to another, what more can he show us? Director Brad Bird, whose earlier stints in animated hits like Ratatouille and the incredibles could not have possibly prepared him for the adrenaline pumping blockbuster franchise, but somehow finds a way to step it up. And how!

How about Cruise climbing from the 123 rd floor of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai with nothing more than Spidey gloves? It will literally take your breath away.

You're in for a doozy! They break into the KREMLIN, with of course fake ID's and Russian accent.DA it's true, the masks always work. One thing that strikes you here is that the team is not perfect, they make mistakes. Lot's of them. And you'd think equipment failure doesn't happen in high budget secret ops. Oh but it does! And inconveniently when you are over a 100 stories above the ground.

The KREMLIN is blown up and Ethan lands at the hospital, but manages to get out of handcuff the old fashioned way- a paper clip. Ah simplicity, it's refreshing.

But throughout the movie Cruise goes about wrecking beautiful BMW's. It's painful to watch them get smashed.

The car chase scene in the middle of a sand storm, a routine happening in Dubai all but restores your faith in action movies.

While the plot itself was uninspired, the actors, the surprising bursts of humour and the thrilling action sequences make this a flat out popcorn entertainer. So buy a tub and settle down.

Brant (Jeremy Renner) of hurt locker fame really took the cake in terms of performance. So believable and likable. What a trouper.

The bad and the ugly:
Anil Kapoor was for me the biggest disappointment. Having proved his potential in 24, the hugely popular TV series in America, he played a billionaire bimbo, that quite frankly belied his true abilities.

And what's with showing all Telegu sign boards, when your are supposed to be in Mumbai? Bird, I know Americans really don't care. But really, research please. Or you could've just asked Anil Kapoor!And MH comes in front of a bloody license plate.

Oh the details do matter! But I did get a kick out of watching them set the nuke from the Sun Tv office. Symbolic really :) But the Chennai audience did get a kick out of watching Ktv and Sun Tv up on the big screen for just a min.

The climax was shoddy in it's execution and ruined the otherwise perfect build up. The frantic pace toward the end was really its undoing.

But you gotta admit its a visual feast and I only wish I had an IMAX theater here to do it justice.

Bottomline: There's a tub of popcorn with your name on it. Go get it.

An absolute ripper - HP7 part one

Movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part1)

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

Plot:

After the death of Albus Dumbledore, a heartbroken Harry is determined more than ever, to end Voldermort's life. But killing once is not enough, because Lord Voldermort has spilt his soul into 7 pieces and hidden them, they are called Horcruxes. And so, when Harry Potter turns 17 the protective spell on Pivet Drive will wear off and he can no longer be safe from the Dark lord. So the order of the Phoenix come together to transport harry to a safe place. He then goes on a Journey with his dear friends Ron and Hermione in search of these Horcruxes. Trouble is, they have no idea, where they are or how to destroy them. With no one to guide them they travel far and wide in search of Harry's destiny.

A fan's delight:

If you have read the books, then you will absolutely love the movie. If you havn't, then you'll love it anyway as this movie is a treat for the senses. By sticking to the original, they have brought out the characters dilemma and complexities beautifully. Some may complain that the movie was slow, but that very immobility gives the movie a chance to really concentrate on the relationships between the main cast.

The locations were breathtaking with hues of dull grey, green and white to keep us all hooked. The Forest of Dean and the frozen lake are exactly as described in the book, and gives one goosebumps. They have surpassed any expectations anyone had on the technical department, the special effects were near perfect. The idea to recreate the tale of the three brothers in the movie without using actors, was ingenious and added a class to the story. The actors for the most part have done a reasonable job. Rupert Grint was the surprise element here, he proved he actually has some acting chops.

The movie is interlaced with humour, wit and a whole lot of adventure. Director David Yates has recreated the magic and the anticipation, of what will happen next, never lets up till the last scene.

Minor hiccups:

The scene at the Ministry for magic could have been better executed. The actors in these scenes were not convincing and it was a disappointment because, its one of the most exciting scene in the book. Whether it was an attempt at authentic filming or the result shoddy editing, some chase scenes (the one with the snatchers) were very disturbing and was almost painful to watch. In the last scene with Beatrix Lestrange, the exchange of wands must have been given more focus, because it was difficult to discern what went on.

Bottomline: In Ron's words "It's bloody brilliant!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EC2tmFVNNE