Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Fifteen years ago, Brian De Palma set into motion a spy movie franchise that added an action and suspense spin to what would otherwise be a James Bond film. Even though the film didn't land any favours from high brow film connoisseurs, it did become a major hit. The franchise's subsequent two films — MI2 and MI3 — fetched Tom Cruise global box office appeal. The core idea then, behind making an MI film one assumes, is commercial success. And going by what MI4 serves up it's tailor-made to succeed.

Tom Cruise at 49 reprises his long-locked look from MI2. To his credit he looks like he might be in his mid-30s. If the sight of Tom Cruise reminds you of scientology, short men and bad films, then you're not an MI fan. The basic criteria to be able to appreciate this film is that you have to be either a fan of the lead man, the franchise or those high on testosterone action flicks. Cruise plays super agent Ethan Hunt and he teams up with new agents in a bid to save the world and reinstate the IMF (his employing agency).

As always, on the other side there's a man with intentions of blowing up the world. To be honest, the premise of a Russian nuke blowing up a US city seems 30 years too late. While the story is far from imaginative, the direction and dialogue are certainly fresh. The MI series is identified with cult dialogue like 'the mission should you choose to accept it' and 'this message will self destruct in five seconds'. There's that and more. Cruise and his co-star Jeremy Renner parody the perfect movie world spy and question Hunt's flawless ability on more than one occasion.

The real highlight of the film though is the action. It's gritty, in your face and abundant. The effect is almost the same as it was while watching Daniel Craig make James Bond less suave and more edgy. Action sequences on the face of Burj Khalifa, Dubai (world's tallest skyscraper) are edge of the seat. And spy trick with a camera at The Moscow Kermlin puts a fan boy smile on your face.

Film buffs who ask why most apocalyptic scenarios happen only in America, will rejoice because most of MI4 takes place in UAE and India. Anil Kapoor in a 10-minute odd cameo adds some Indian tadka to the proceedings. And then right at the end, the bad guys get defeated, the good guys get beat up and Tom Cruise yells out "Mission accomplished". Most fans will get the chance to take a breather and look forward to another sequel. Others may mull over a tepid twist in the tale. Any which way, you would've got your money and time's worth, should you have chosen to watch this film.