Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)

Probably the best of the series. Bird handles live-action just fine, pulling off a polished movie with good action and effects.

Unfortunately, the characters and performances in this one aren’t too memorable. An aging Cruise, funny-looking body and all, still pulls it off. Patton is very nice. I imagine that it’s a challenge to make someone beautiful at IMAX resolution.

I wish the Mission: Impossible films had a unique and unifying style. The only constant to the franchise is Tom Cruise and the token “This mission, if you choose to accept it…” line, and that’s not enough. In the end, the Mission: Impossible franchise is an unremarkable collection of unremarkable action movies.