"Mission: Impossible-Ghost Protocol"

 It's rare that movies get better as the amount of sequels increase, but that's exactly what the creators of the Mission Impossible franchise have done with their fourth installment "Ghost Protocol."
 Tom Cruise reprises his role as Ethan Hunt and it is well worth the $16 to see this gorgeous looking film on an IMAX screen. And by gorgeous, I don't just mean the charismatic Cruise and his mega-watt smile; locations like Moscow, Dubai and India are scene stealers.
 It's a thrill ride from start to finish with enough good twist and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. With the IMF dealing with Russians throughout, it has the feel of a throwback Cold-War era James Bond flick. And it isn't just Cruise as Bond trying to save the day-it is truly a collective effort. Cruise repeats the mantra  "We can do this" so much I almost expected the timeworn "there's no I in team."
 Joining Cruise are agents Jane (Paula Patton), Brandt (Jeremy Renner) and Simon Pegg (Benji).
 The sexy Patton and Cruise have good chemistry onscreen, Brandt is good as the semi-mysterious Brandt and while Pegg is slotted as comic relief, he more than holds his own in the various action sequences. Kind of like a Q with field chops.
 Much credit should be given to the writers and first-time live action film director Brad Bird who lay waste to the disappointment that was MI III. Cruise doesn't have to play it straight the whole time; he gets a few well-timed quips and gets to flash his million-dollar smile instead of being serious and brooding throughout. I thought his marriage in MI III would cause problems, but they turned it into an asset. The only thing wrong with Cruise's performance is something he has had to live with thoughout his career. He looks bad running. He doesn't exactly waddle like a penguin, but he certainly isn't a vision of grace and fluidity either.
 This is definitely a summertime movie that would have bested it's competition had it been released during that time frame, and it is a nice advance on the upcoming "Oscar" worthy movies that are sure to be filling cineplexes soon.