MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL (2011) - "LIVING FOR THE CRUISE" SERIES

Our ongoing series of reviews of Tom Cruise vehicles leading up to Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 is almost over with the release of that long-awaited sequel next month.  So what better time to revisit what many consider to be THE seminal entry of the franchise?  By the time this movie was released in late 2011, Cruise's star had faded somewhat as had the demand for another Mission Impossible sequel after the disappointing box office of Mission Impossible III in 2006.<br/><br/>But something was different this time....for one thing, this was the live action feature directorial debut of Brad Bird who over the previous 15 years had directed some of our most beloved animated films including The Incredibles, Ratatouille, and The Iron Giant.  Also there was less focus on the personal life of Cruise's protagonist Ethan Hunt and more focus placed on the rest of the TEAM - the cast for this one included Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, and Paula Patton.  We get to know them a bit more than previous entries.  And.....the movie was released initially in IMAX highlightin some seemingly jaw-dropping stunts featuring The Cruise Missile seemingly risking his life this time around.  So our mission - should we choose to accept it - will be to determine just what made THIS sequel so special almost 14 years ago.....<br/><br/>Host: Geoff Gershon<br/> <br/> Editors: Geoff and Ella GershonProducer: Marlene Gershonhttps://livingforthecinema.com/<br/><br/>Facebook:<br/>https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578<br/><br/>Instagram:<br/>https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/<br/><br/>Letterboxd:<br/>https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/