The IMF is shut down when it's implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt and his new team to go rogue to clear their organization's name. (from IMDB.com)

Seven years ago, director Brad Bird produced one of the best entries into the Pixar animation catalog with The Incredibles. Now the acclaimed filmmaker is taking his first-ever stab at live-action by picking up the fourth installment into Tom Cruise's hit Mission: Impossible film series. The first sequel to not go by a number, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol is an ambitious spy action thriller that also acts as the first sequel that works as a follow-up to the film that precedes it--more than just including Ving Rhames in the film. Bird proved to be a skilled action director in the animated Incredibles, but he takes it all to the next level - sometimes in brutal ways - in Ghost Protocol.

Love him or hate him, Tom Cruise still makes a great action hero. He was humorous and charming in last year's underrated Knight and Day, and he has done well to carry the Mission: Impossible film franchise--even if the first sequel is a blight on an otherwise strong spy action series. Once again, it's clear Cruise has done his own stunts here, as he even really dangles from the Burj Khalifa tower, the tallest building in the world, himself (it's obvious too, and looks incredible on an IMAX screen). It's Cruise's dedication to these films and these stunts that give the movie a certain genuine quality you don't typically find in such films. Granted, not all of the movie's special effects are on par (the Kremlin's destruction and a gigantic sandstorm sequence don't always look entirely convincing), but most of the action sequences are exciting and, in most ways, fresh. Still, Bird has taken on a massive project for his first live-action venture, and the filmmakers, which includes Cruise as a chief producer, have made wise decisions in the direction it takes and the script it's based on.

Mission: Impossible III, which had been directed by rising star J.J. Abrams, was arguably the best in the franchise at the time and it introduced new characters like Simon Pegg's Benji and Cruise's character's wife-to-be Julie (played by Michelle Monaghan). While Monaghan's character's absence here is explained, Pegg's very brief appearance in III is beefed up in Ghost Protocol to give him a much more prominent role this time around. It's a change that actually works really well because, unless you're strongly opposed to Pegg's schtick, his added humor helps relieve some of the tension that the action and plot-driven thrills produce. Paula Patton is a nice addition to the IMF team as well, bringing a well-rounded feminine spy character to the series, which the previous installment seemed to lack. And finally, Jeremy Renner's Brandt is introduced, too, to bring a unique spin to the franchise (and reportedly may take over the franchise when Cruise is officially finished with it). The core four work exceptionally well together and this alone brings a great deal to the film. The end result feels like a mix between the first and third M:I movies and the action and gadgets just make it feel all the more like a Bond film, but without being a one-man show.

Action film lovers will find a lot to like about Ghost Protocol, but as can be expected in such films, the violence is pretty tough at times. Things don't ever get explicitly graphic, but there are ample amounts of characters being shot, kicked, stabbed, having their limbs twisted, getting banged up and thrown into rugged objects, and some of it is indeed cringe worthy. The film's climax gets especially violent when Cruise's Ethan Hunt gets his showdown with the bad guy in a parking garage tower. All of it adds up to the kind of thrills and "impossible" events you expect from the franchise with perhaps a bit of the current Bond and Bourne trilogy grit thrown in for "good" measure. There is some mild language present, as well, including 2 "s" words, but the script sticks mostly to smarter writing than just expletive-laden dialog.

While not perfect, Ghost Protocol is a heck of a lot of fun for action film fans. If you've enjoyed the Mission: Impossible series so far, you're likely to walk away from this fourth show wearing a grin. Fans of the Daniel Craig's James Bond films may also find this to be a nice flick to tide them over until next year's Skyfall. I never expected a fourth Impossible film to top the last one--and it may be too early to make this statement official--but Ghost Protocol may just be the best Mission yet.