The only reason I chose to accept this Mission
was and is Jeremy Renner. I’ve never been a fan of Cruise, but there
has to be a point at which a film can have enough other assets to
outweigh the distaste of Tom Cruise. I decided that Jeremy Renner and
Simon Pegg as co-stars, with J.J. Abrams producing, and Brad Bird
directing his first live-action action film.
Let’s face it, Tom Cruise is not only the most senior member of IMF, but clearly the most senior member of the acting ensemble. I guess that’s why they had to break him out of prison before pursuing the next mission. Somewhere in his contract, it must say that no Mission goes on without him. Cruise is starting to look like a little like Christian Bale, but without the gravitas. Maybe an action figure version of Bale, slightly plastic. It doesn’t matter - he’ll never be as crazy or tough as Jeremy Renner was in The Hurt Locker. Which brings us to the team. I really can’t speak for Simon Pegg’s role in M:I III, but it should suffice to say that his presence is always welcome. He’s immensely more interesting than Cruise - even more than Cruise’s character Ethan Hunt. Before picking up Renner’s character, Cruise leads Pegg and lady agent Carter (Paula Patton) on a mission to retrieve intel from the Kremlin. One small relief is the fact that the screenwriters have wisely kept Carter out of any romantic entanglements with the characters. It’s nice to have a female character that’s not a total bitch and not just pretty. She kicks some serious butt, too.
Ah, Jeremy Renner. Renner’s character is an analyst whose only hope for a normal life is to help IMF clear their name - Ghost Protocol being the procedure for unofficial mission to reveal the true culprit of the bombing at the Kremlin and the theft of nuclear launch codes. Did you know Renner is funny? It seems to be something of a surprise to the filmmakers; either that, or he was asked to be less amusing so as not to overshadow Simon Pegg as the obvious comedic presence. I much prefer a solid action/comedy, so it’s disappointing that so many laughs suffered because of an attempt to focus on another actor. Or maybe I just expected that the real plan for Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol was to open the door for Renner to take over the franchise. He’s already got the Bourne reboot, why not M:I too? With any luck he’ll get his own film as Hawkeye of Avengers fame, and then he’ll be set for life.
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is rough and tumble entertainment, it’s almost unfair to comment on it. The most interesting aspect of the film hit me after it was over, reading the cast list. Our villain, our nemesis for the last two hours was none other than Michael Nyqvist, leading man from the Swedish Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series. Not only is Nyqvist unfamiliar in his villainous role, but his talent is wasted in quick cut-away shots and a lifeless, cookie-cutter role.
Needless to say, all the actors in M:I - GP have done better. It’s all Noelle Stevenson’s fault for making me watch this... her and her obsession with Jeremy Renner... but seriously? Check out her tumblr for witty and/or amusing Avengers comics. And if you haven’t seen Jeremy Renner in The Avengers, do that instead.
Let’s face it, Tom Cruise is not only the most senior member of IMF, but clearly the most senior member of the acting ensemble. I guess that’s why they had to break him out of prison before pursuing the next mission. Somewhere in his contract, it must say that no Mission goes on without him. Cruise is starting to look like a little like Christian Bale, but without the gravitas. Maybe an action figure version of Bale, slightly plastic. It doesn’t matter - he’ll never be as crazy or tough as Jeremy Renner was in The Hurt Locker. Which brings us to the team. I really can’t speak for Simon Pegg’s role in M:I III, but it should suffice to say that his presence is always welcome. He’s immensely more interesting than Cruise - even more than Cruise’s character Ethan Hunt. Before picking up Renner’s character, Cruise leads Pegg and lady agent Carter (Paula Patton) on a mission to retrieve intel from the Kremlin. One small relief is the fact that the screenwriters have wisely kept Carter out of any romantic entanglements with the characters. It’s nice to have a female character that’s not a total bitch and not just pretty. She kicks some serious butt, too.
Ah, Jeremy Renner. Renner’s character is an analyst whose only hope for a normal life is to help IMF clear their name - Ghost Protocol being the procedure for unofficial mission to reveal the true culprit of the bombing at the Kremlin and the theft of nuclear launch codes. Did you know Renner is funny? It seems to be something of a surprise to the filmmakers; either that, or he was asked to be less amusing so as not to overshadow Simon Pegg as the obvious comedic presence. I much prefer a solid action/comedy, so it’s disappointing that so many laughs suffered because of an attempt to focus on another actor. Or maybe I just expected that the real plan for Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol was to open the door for Renner to take over the franchise. He’s already got the Bourne reboot, why not M:I too? With any luck he’ll get his own film as Hawkeye of Avengers fame, and then he’ll be set for life.
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is rough and tumble entertainment, it’s almost unfair to comment on it. The most interesting aspect of the film hit me after it was over, reading the cast list. Our villain, our nemesis for the last two hours was none other than Michael Nyqvist, leading man from the Swedish Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series. Not only is Nyqvist unfamiliar in his villainous role, but his talent is wasted in quick cut-away shots and a lifeless, cookie-cutter role.
Needless to say, all the actors in M:I - GP have done better. It’s all Noelle Stevenson’s fault for making me watch this... her and her obsession with Jeremy Renner... but seriously? Check out her tumblr for witty and/or amusing Avengers comics. And if you haven’t seen Jeremy Renner in The Avengers, do that instead.
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