Reviews

If you didn't get the early 2000's cult classic Napoleon Dynamite and if you think Amazon's The Boys is too vulgar, HBO Max's Pacemaker is not for you.

The humor is crude and juvenile and the lead character, Peacemaker is off-putting, self absorbed, socially awkward and a caricature of toxic masculinity...but if you're not too prude, it's hilarious. Many of the jokes are funny simply because of the shock value. It's intellectual slapstick with a good lick of physical slapstick for good measure.

And, then there's the dark side. Robert Patrick plays a KKK-esque Grand Wizard type character who is a unapologetic, explicitly offensive, verbally, emotionally and probably physically abusive bigot and is the obvious villain of the show. He's beyond offensive and many people will hate the show because of the hurtful, foul things he says about homosexuals, people of Asian decent, Black people and any other non-white hetero male demographic. Dude is foul, but I have faith that this despicable character development is so viewers know who to root against when the protagonist is such a failed hero. Not an anti-hero, but a failed hero.

Don't look for this to be more than what it is. It's either for you or it isn't. If you can differentiate between being uncomfortable and being offended you'll probably enjoy the show but if you don't understand the nuance between the two you're going to hate it.

End Of Watch is approximately 99 minutes of potentially pulse pounding action and suspense and 10 minutes of "This is it?!?!"" payoff. 

The movie has been advertised in the above trailer and others as a gritty, action packed movie about two cops who through the course of duty cross a Mexican drug cartel and now must "watch their 6" (slang for watch your back) from violent retribution. 

This, by itself is a very interesting, compelling premise. Then add in the fact that the film was written and directed by David Ayers , the man behind (either as writer or director) other successful LA cop movies such as Training Day , Dark Blue , Street Kings , Harsh Times , S.W.A.T.  and even was the screenwriter of The Fast and Furious, it's a very exciting movie to look forward toward. Unfortunately, the execution of the idea got buried in over an hour and a half of attempting to build a rapport between the audience and the main characters. Except for a high-speed chase that opens the first three minutes, almost all of the action happens, literally, at the very tail end of the movie. 

We're subjected to extended time and conversations with Gyllenhaal and  Peña as they unsuccessfully attempt to establish believable chemistry between their characters. Although, as typical of a David Ayers script, the dialog is crisp and believable and captures (what I imagine) realistic cop jargon, the supposed friendship of the two characters feels forced, artificial and contrived.

The majority of the movie focuses on that relationship between LA police partners Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal ) and Mike Zavala (Michael Peña ) over the course of many months. (Since there is never a reference to a time-line anywhere throughout the film, which was a bit annoying, I originally thought the movie took place over a few days.) We see the officers' daily routine via lapel video cameras and a hand-held camera Taylor carries for a class project in which he's involved. The cameras document the officers as they serve warrants, make traffic stops & drug busts and assist fellow officers (including an almost unrecognizable America Ferrera  from Ugly Betty ) policing Precinct 13. The neighborhood is sometimes dangerous and difficult to patrol since a small Hispanic street gang's presence and influence grows as Mexican drug cartels infiltrate South Central Los Angeles. 

Colorful background characters are littered throughout the film including a Ayers' film regular casting: former LA Blood Gang member Cle Shaheed Sloan  as Mr. Tre.  As Sloan's face is recognizable to fans of director David Ayers' previous films and from Sloan's work in the LA  police TV drama Southland , this film is just as familiar. It's not as gritty, intriguing, complex nor exciting as any of his other, better films; just as familiar. The frantic ending is so similar to at least three other Ayer films that at the point of the film where the poorly built tension should finally peak, that it generates about as much suspense as a National Geographic special documenting zebras crossing a den of lions. A

Set in 1960s against the backdrop of the explosion of R&B thanks in large part to Berry Gordy and Motown Records, Sparkle is an artistic homage to the original 1974 film with it's own unique voice.

Looking to become the next Berry Gordy, a young man named Stix, played by Derek Luke (Friday Night Lights) helps three talented sisters form a R&B group which he hopes to get signed to a major record label. But as fame comes their way, it becomes more of a challenge for the family to stay together. Among those standing in the way of success is the girls' mother, Emma, a jaded and bitter former singer who now wants nothing more for her than "a respectful education and a relationship with the Lord."

American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks gives a adequate performance in her film debut as Sparkle, the youngest sister of the trio and Stix best chance at realizing his dream. It doesn't hurt they share the dream and a lot of chemistry. Carmen Ejogo channels Lonette McKee (Half & Half) and gives a stellar performance as Sister, the oldest, most defiant sister and the one most desperate for fame and fortune. The sister that the mother Emma fears will most likely follow in her footsteps.

Irony permeates a supporting part that was supposedly designed to be Whitney Houston's "comeback role" but instead sadly became her swan song. Although this was not a starring vehicle for Whitney, that fact, may be testament to her skill as an actor; not upstaging newcomer Sparks while still making her presence felt through her character's personality.

Surprisingly it's Mike Epps (Next Friday) who steals the show as Satin,a paradoxically evil stand-up comedian with whom Sister falls in love. His command of the screen displays his growth as an actor since his first roles as nothing more than comedic relief or bit parts early in his career. The fact that Epps who is a hilarious comedian in real life gave such a strong performance that was intentionally not funny but intensely dramatic should speak volumes to future casting directors who may have previously seen him as a one-note actor who would forever play sidekicks like "Black Dougs" as in The Hangover and Day-Days like his character in Next Friday and its sequel.

More than anything, Sparkle is a soulful musical complete with feel good R&B songs from the original like the Curtis Mayfield penned "Something He Can Feel" and "Hooked on Your Love" which are beloved classics today. Other catchy original songs for the film, like the melodic "One Wing" were produced by none other that R. Kelly himself. It's the gospel cornerstone "His Eye Is On the Sparrow" however, that provides Whitney an opportunity to provide yet another (but sadly her last) powerful performance that would make her mother, gospel legend, Cissy Houston proud.

Maybe it's that real life tragedy of that underlines the plot that also undermines it. Every time Whitney is on screen, one cannot help but feel a twinge of grief knowing she is no longer alive, ultimately because of the same showbiz demons that her onsceen daughter was battling.

Film: The Campaign Studio: Cast: Will Ferrell, Zach Galafanakis, Jason Sudeikis, Dylan McDermott Rating:R Running Time: 85 minutes

If Will Ferrell is the king of outrageously ridiculous characters set in plausible situations (See Old School, Anchorman or Step Brothers) then Zach Galifinakis is the heir to the throne. The comedian who shot to fame after his role as the oddball brother-in- law Alan in the hit The Hangover is fast becoming Hollywood's go-to guy to play extreme eccentrics. (See Due Date or Dinner for Schmucks).

You would think the pairing of these two hams in the political comedy The Campaign would be a recipe for the most hilarious movie of the year but unfortunately issues with the script hold this movie back from realizing its full potential.

Ferrell plays Cam Brady an incumbent North Carolina congressman who is running for re- election unopposed a fifth time. As a career "America, Jesus, Freedom" platform politician, Brady is acclimated to a lifestyle that few can afford. He's corrupt, he's a philanderer and he's out out of touch with the common man.

One doesn't have to look deep to see intentional parodies of politicians like John Edwards or even Mitt Romney. Ferrell  borrows from his experience lampooning G.W. Bush during his years at Saturday Night Live and the HBO special You're Welcome America: A Final Night with George W. Bush and creates a genuine amusingly dislikable character.

Galifanakis plays Marty Huggins, an innocent effeminate who owns a company that provides tours of Hammond, North Carolina, a town so small it's lone celebrity visitor was Rosie Perez when she got "turned around on the highway". Marty longs for a chance to make his politically powerful father (The Bourne Supremacy's Brian Cox) proud.

He gets his opportunity when two unscrupulous businessmen decide to invest in his unlikely campaign against Brady. They plan on having the politician in their pocket to essentially own the town of Hammond.

Not only facing an opponent for the first time but one with tons of money and a skilled mysterious campaign manager (Dylan McDermott), Brady attempts to one up his challenger at every turn. He succeeds in imploding and creating collateral damage around him including innocent babies and pets.

The premise of The Campaign provides plenty of opportunity for the talented cast to be as funny as we know they all can be. There are campaign speeches that focus on conversations between Chinese Pugs named Muffins & Pound Cake and there are hilarious candidate approved commercials and drunken high speed chases.

All in all this is a funny and entertaining movie. Director Jay Roach (Meet the Parents) conducts this film in the same key as oddball comedies like Billy Madison complete with eccentric characters like the Asian maid who speaks in Black antebellum dialect.

There was a ton of potential for this to be one of the funniest movies ever with a supporting cast full of "A-list" co- stars including Saturday Night Live star Jason Sudeikis and comedy legends Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow.

Disappointingly though, a few huge plot holes and an ending that feels rushed and a by-product of lazy writing prevents this from being as successful and entertaining as I hoped it would have been.

I was going to write up a glowing review of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, a movie so good I actually screened it twice earlier this week.

I told a friend who was "hyped" about seeing the movie at midnight Thursday, that he wouldn't be disappointed.

In my rough draft I mentioned that the IMAX version was larger than life.

In my notes I mentioned that in this highly intense PG-13 film most of the violence occurs off-screen.

I also wondered if the parallels in the plot to the real world conflict of the 99% versus the elite 1% were intentional.

But to paraphrase comedian Kevin Hart $@%$ just got real.

I woke up this morning to the shocking news that at a movie theater 2.6 miles away from my house a gunman opened fire in a midnight showing of TDKR.

As of this writing, 12 people have been killed and approximately 50 people have been injured including a 3 month old baby. The injuries range from gunshot wounds to exposure to some type of chemical agent.

Witnesses say the gunman entered in the theater through a fire exit dressed in what has been described as riot gear including a bulletproof vest. He then released one or two canisters of teargas before opening fire on the unsuspecting audience.

Reportedly the killer began the slaughter just minutes into the film which added to the confusion. Many people thought the man standing in the front of the screen with guns and teargas was affiliated with the movie whose main protagonist is a ruthless mercenary/terrorist named Bane.

But sadly no, the heartless madman causing the terror inside theater 9 was all too real.

Although having not attended I even feel a twinge of anxiety knowing that more than most, that easily could've been me and my family. As I write this a father has just confirmed his 6 year old daughter is among the dead.

So, now I submit this as my review of the The Dark Knight Rises - a movie about a hero who rises up against the crime and evil taking over his beloved city.

Yes, it's a really, really good movie - the best of the summer if not the year but in comparison to the chaos that marred it's premiere:

It's not larger than life.

And sadly, most of the violence did take place offscreen.

Movies are supposed to be a temporary mental escape from that reality but as they say; some things are truly stranger than fiction.

No matter how intense the plot - nothing can measure up to or parallel the senselessness and madness that is taking place in my backyard right now.

Reality is, our world doesn't have a Dark Knight to fight the evil that plagues our world.

Thankfully, this morning my friend let me know he was physically unharmed although he is a bit shaken up.

So many people will be affected and touched by this "act of depravity" as Gov. John Hickenlooper described it. If you are able to do so; be there for those folks. Even if it's just lending an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on.

We all need to strive to be better than average.

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Studio: Columbia/Sony Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen, Sally Field Rating: PG-13 Running Time: 136 minutes

One of the only strikes against "The Amazing Spider-Man" is the fact it's a reboot of a very popular and successful film series. That's an issue only because in a summer where two of the biggest comic book based franchises ( "The Avengers", "The Dark Knight Rises")  compete to break and set box office records, few were excited about a do-over of the film series that takes the audience back to the beginning of an already well known story. 

Unfortunately, the very capable Sam Raimi, director of the first three Spider-Man films and Columbia/Sony couldn't agree on several aspects of the future of the franchise so instead of moving ahead with a fourth installment the studio immediately began production on this "re- imaging".

The gamble paid off as "The Amazing Spider-Man" creatively puts a new spin on a story so well known that it is practically a modern-day American fairy tale.

From the opening scene, the score reveals that the tone of the film is going to be much darker than the Toby McGuire/ Kirsten Dunst vehicle.

Since the majority of the characters have been well established on screen over the past 10 years (nevermind the past 50 years of comic book history) in order for the latest film to succeed it was imperative for the new cast to totally own their roles beginning with Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) as the new Peter Parker.

He does an excellent job not only establishing himself as the iconic alter-ego of Spider-Man but he also successfully reinvents the personality of Peter Parker. At the core of the character is his witty one-liners which Garfield delivers with the comic timing of comedy veterans like Billy Crystal. His Peter is still a super smart teen and sort of a square peg but Garfield manages to infuse an aura of cool never before been seen in the character.

Denis Leary and Rhys Ifans seamlessly take over roles previously played by James Cromwell and Dylan Baker as police Captain Stacy and Dr. Curt Conner - relatively minor characters on the previous films. However in this movie both are major protagonists. In Ifans case, he also introduces Conner's alter-ego -The Lizard; a bad guy out of Spidey's rouge gallery whose origins are directly tied to Spider-Man's.

The extremely talented Emma Stone (The Help) takes over the role of Gwen Stacy played previously by Bryce Dallas Howard. However, this film (staying true to the comic) introduces Gwen as Peter's first love interest. Stone and Garfield demonstrate chemistry that in the midst of all the action tells a sweet teenage love story.

Director Marc Webb consulted with 3D guru James Cameron during the planning process which led to the movie bring filmed in digital 3D rather than converted post-production. This brings clarity and crispness to the scenes and the special effects that doesn't detract from nor overwhelm a surprisingly well written script.

(Audiences should be aware that beginning with this movie Sony is charging theaters for the 3D glasses which will undoubtedly result in higher prices at the ticket office. Is the additional price justified? Here's a great article to help you decide.)

While the writers took some artistic license and modernized some elements of Spider-Man's beginnings, the story essentially doesn't stray far from the heart of the classic origin.

Many have said they aren't as excited about this movie as they were/are about the other summer  blockbusters. Had anyone known how good of a movie this would turn out to be I'm sure the Web Crawler's ticket pre-sale would have rivaled all the other heroes of the big screen.

Call me old school but I learned just about everything I needed to know about vampires from the classic mid-80s movies Fright Night and The Lost Boys.Rule numero uno: sunlight kills vampires. Period. If it can tolerate daytime, it's not a vampire. So with this in mind, know that everything that is right about Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, none of it overcomes this flaw in it's premise. By-the- way, there's not a whole lot right with the movie anyway.

Based off the popular novel of the same name by Seth Gramme-Smith, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, the film explores the premise of what if the 16th POTUS was motivated his entire life by a deep seeded hatred and personal vendetta against "vampires". (Please take note of the sarcastic quotation marks).

These (historically) creatures of the night masquerade in 19th century America as inn-keepers, pastors, blacksmiths and among other things, plantation/ slave owners. The last of which is morally reprehensible to "Honest Abe" because his mother was killed by a racist "vampire" and his life long best friend is a abolitionist Black man (The Hurt Locker's Anthony Mackie)

The main problem with this film (besides my beef with the misappropriation of the word vampire) is that it moves way too fast from scene to scene. The pace reminded me of the way a comic book reads resulting in very poor character development and cinematic rhythm. Some scenes were no longer than just a few seconds long; about the time it takes to read a page or two of a graphic novel.

The novel is described as  "mash-up" of comic, horror, historical and thriller genres. Unfortunately, the film just doesn't successfully get the chemistry correct. There is little in the way of comedy, horror, thrills or historical accuracy to be found. The script is full of plot holes and logical inconsistencies that make as much sense as the silent "L" in Lincoln's part name.

There is, however, enough action to almost make up for the lack of real substance and logic. If the film aimed to be a mind numbing action fest rather than a high brow thought provoking, good humored historical, study into the fictional motivations of the"Great Emancipator", I may have been less cynical and more forgiving. Ironically, watching a young Liam Nesson looking Benjamin Walker attempt to be an action hero is mildly comedic. Whether this was intentional or not; only the film makers know.

Timur Bekmambetov who directed the 2008 bullet bending Matrix-esque film Wanted, shoots AL:VH's action scenes once again liberally using that super- slowed- down-then-super-sped-up film style that made movies like The Matrix, Wanted and Sherlock Holmes visually clever and stunning. As a matter of fact, this movie could (arguably) be described as 300 meets Holmes meets Blade although I'm still calling foul in the use of the term vampire! (Yeah, I know, I need to let out go.)

The fact that it was filmed in 3D rather than converted to 3D in post production assists this movie from being a complete disaster as the cinematography is remarkable. The camera picks up the smallest detail of the elaborate period sets and the 3D subtlety enhances those minuscule details.

Despite it's flaws, the movie is still superficially entertaining. It may have that odd quality that one day land it cult classic status. Had it not been rated R this movie could have been perfectly marketed towards a young audience and shaped the vampire experience of todays teenagers like Fright Night and The Lost Boys did for me...as long as they don't mind sunlight tolerant...

Battleship Rating:PG-13 Runtime: 2 hours 11 minutes Staring: Alexander Skarsgard, Taylor Kitsch, Brooklyn Decker, Liam Neeson Review: 2.5/5 stars

I admit that I had no desire to screen what I thought was sure to be another Hollywood executives PG-13 bad idea. It's no secret that over the past few years Hollywood has seemed to run out of original ideas and have turned to rehashing, remaking, rebooting, reimaginig and generally rewarming ideas.

But when we're young we're taught to "never judge a book by it's cover" and that prejudice is wrong in any and every situation. Apparently the new film "Battleship" was made specifically to remind me of these lessons.

Still, as many fun nights as I've had playing Monopoly at the family table,  I've never had the thought "Hey, why doesn't Hollywood spend $200 million making a live- action, CGI saturated movie based off a less fun game?"

But, believe it or not, I'm writing and you're reading a review of that very movie. Surprisingly, it's not as bad as one would expect. Especially considering Hasbro based movies have been (like Battleship game play)  "hit" or miss. (Transformers I and III were huge hits while Transformers II and G.I. Joe was considered by most as complete failures.)

The plot, like the game it was "based on" is simple. Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights) plays Alex Hopper, a bad boy who's attempting to straighten up his act and win the approval of his girlfriend's US Navy admiral dad by following in his big brother, Stone's Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood) footsteps and joining the Navy. Luckily for Alex, he gets the chance to prove himself when aliens from an earth like planet begin an invasion. 

Predictably, these aliens seriously out gun us and upon arrival immediately follow the playbook of all alien invaders who have visited (and destroyed) us in theaters during past summers à la Independence Day but via Transformers-like CGI weaponry.

Also, as with Transformers, one of the highlights of "Battleship" is the humor that paces the film from one fairly predictable scene to the next. But when the story requires  intensity, emotion is manufactured by using slow motion panoramic close ups (straight out of the Micheal Bay's summer school of cinematography) to alert the audience to the gravity of the situation. Confused? Think back to any climatic scenes in the Bad Boys or Transformers franchises and picture Will Smith and Martin Lawrence or Shia LeBeouf with the sunset heroically framing their stoic looks.

By invoking the "We're gonna go in there and kick-ass despite the odds" attitude of films complimentary to the American military (literally The Right Stuff), director Peter Berg (Collateral) gets us to pick a dog in the fight. Instead of just waiting for the predictable resolution of the film, we actually cheer on the heroes moxie and feel patriotic pride while the aliens learn how serious we are about Pearl Harbor, where (not- so) coincidentally, most of the film's action takes place.

The cast, overall does an adequate job even when handicapped with the script's sometime hokey dialog. No one actor's performance is mentionable other than to say that Rhianna's big screen debut wasn't horrible. Liam Neeson is seriously overqualified in a role overtly reminiscent and maybe an unintentional parody of Bruce Willis' character in Armageddon.

Battleship borrows so many elements and clichés from hit films of the past 30 years (like Top Gun, Independence Day, Alien, Transformers, Super 8, Iron Man, Armageddon and to a lesser extent Pearl Harbor) that it edges close to spoofing the respective genres. But it never crosses that line and works (please know I'm using this word generously)  as it's own story because it takes so much from those other, better movies from the same (more or less)  genres. It's a Frankenstein monster of a movie which sum total is stronger than it's parts. Although rated PG-13 for violence, Battleship actually can be an entertaining family outing, (for those without young  kids.)

Based off the Steve Harvey bestseller, the film "Think Like A Man"opens with the legendary sound of James Brown singing "It's A Mans World". Anyone familiar with the song knows the true message of the song is in the lyrics; "but it wouldn't be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl".

That song choice serves as a perfect theme for this conventional romantic comedy that chronicles the timeless war of the sexes. Now I realize that the description "conventional" may come across as negative but that's not my intention entirely. I mean conventional as in "not a Madea" movie. This quality film falls more in line with Hollywood's traditional romantic comedy formula rather than Tyler Perry's "play adapted for film" approach to movie making. There are plenty of laughs interspersed through out romantic conflicts that are resolved without any significant twists or surprises.

The plot revolves around the love lives and relationships of six male friends who fall into very specific roles; the player, the mamas boy, the dreamer, the non-commiter, the happily married man and the happy divorcée.

For the most part these guys are blissfully ignorant of the dissatisfaction that the significant others in their lives silently suffer through.

That is until the women discover and read Steve Harvey's book "Think Like A Man, Act Like A Woman". Acting on the advice of the book, the women manipulate the men into becoming the type of man they each want and getting the relationships they desire. So can the "player" be tamed by the girl who keeps her "cookie" on lock down for at least 90 days? Can the single mom get the "mama's boy" to cut the emotional umbilical cord he shares with his overbearing, over nurturing mother (played pitch perfect by Jennifer Lewis)? And what happens when the fellas realize that they've been "betrayed" by Steve Harvey and then use the book against the ladies like a sports team with knowledge of the opposing teams plays.

Although the majority of the cast is Black, the story (due to Steve Harvey's source material) and the comedy (thanks mostly to Kevin Hart) is broad enough to appeal to almost all audiences unlike some of Tyler Perry's movies which tend to cater  specifically to Black women.

Every actor and actress does an adequate job in their various roles and move the film easily from scene to scene. There are plenty of cameos that make the film fun but Kevin Hart deserves special recognition because he absolutely shines! He redefines the term "scene stealer" by being the most enjoyable character every time he appears on screen.

Although many people will consider this a Black romantic comedy, this film is really too strong to be pigeonholed into that genre.  But if you must classify it as such, then know that this movie breaks Tyler Perry's stronghold and breaks out of the Madea mold of what Black entertainment is.

Wrath of the Titans (review by Jonathan McMillan) Studio: Warner Bros. Run time: 99 minutes.

Plot: Perseus braves the treacherous underworld to rescue his father, Zeus, captured by his son, Ares, and brother Hades who unleash the ancient Titans upon the world..

Cast: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson and Rosamund Pike

Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of fantasy violence and action

Bottom Line: ***

Review : I have to admit I was very apprehensive when I got the call to review the screening of this sequel to the 2010 lackluster remake. Although the first movie was somewhat entertaining, it didn't live up to the expectations of my 10 year inner-child who fell in love with the 1981 original. As a matter of fact in my review of that film I stated that remaking the cult classic was a classic example of not knowing when to quit while you're ahead.

And to top it off, in an attempt to capitalize on the success that Avatar, the producers of 2010s remake added 3D effects in post-production which made the movie a visual train wreck that was absolutely torturous to watch. However after seeing the trailer to Wrath of the Titans, my interest was piqued by the scope of the special effects and the hopes that Warner Bros. studio learned from their mistakes.

I'm very glad to say; my hopes were not dashed.

Finally, movie making technology has advanced to do justice to the stories that the Greek storytellers captured our imaginations with for thousands of years. Wrath of the Titans is 99 minutes of 3D computer generated imagery that accurately projects on screen what the world of "gods and titans" must have looked like. Rather than the original intent of the Greek myths to serve as moral parables, the plot of Wrath of the Titans serves only to show the truly awesome capabilities of what Hollywood technology can do now-a-days. The cinematography renders astonishing beautiful landscapes upon which two- headed fire spewing monsters and the sort, wreck havoc and attempt to kill our Perseus (Sam Worthington of Avatar) and his crew.

Technically the film is about Perseus' heroes journeys to save the Olympian gods Zeus, Possiden and Hades (respectively played by super actors: Liam Neeson, Danny Huston and Ralph Fiennes) from the wrath of their mythological father the titan Cronos.

Nevermind the plot and it's stars though. The movie really is just a vehicle showcasing a world of amazingly "realistic" rendered one-eyed creatures 20 stories tall called cyclops' who attempt to smash our protagonists with towering tree trunks. A world where a half man/ half bull creature called a minotaur stalks our hero's in a bafflingly M.C,Escher-esque ever shifting labyrinth. I whole-heartedly believe scenes like these are what todays 3D technology is made for.

Unlike the 2010 movie, the audience which will enjoy this movie will be broader than (as I said in my last review) "a very specific target audience – those made of snips of snails and puppy dog tails" because the CGI and 3D special effects are so awesome that this movie is overall, very entertaining. Don't look for it on the the list of Best Picture nominees during Academy Award season, however I wouldn't be surprised if it did win some Oscars in some of the technical categories.

In 1966 there was a hit television show called Mission: Impossible about an elite covert unit which carried out their assignments with high-tech equipment and elaborate deceptions. Some may argue that this show may have drawn the blueprint for most spy TV shows and movies to follow. 

30 years later, Paramount Pictures brought the Mission: Impossible to the big screen with Tom Cruise as the major star headlining the action which had been cranked up several notches. The gear the unit used was now ultra-high-tech and the deceptions were mind blowing. Almost all spy/action movies that followed, including the two Mission: Impossible sequels were built based on the design of the 1996 blockbuster. 

But the times, they are a'changin'...well, sort of. 

In recent years the James Bond franchise was rebooted, making it more "contemporary" by casting Daniel Craig as the latest actor to play Bond in a long line of 007's. For the better part of the last decade, Jason Bourne, played by Matt Damon has pretty much dominated the spy movie genre with Hollywood's rendition of The Bourne Trilogy, a series of novels by Robert Ludlum. Damon has gone on record as stating he will not return for another turn as the amnesiac assassin.

I bring up these two points because Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol, the fourth installment in the Mission Impossible saga that has spanned 15 years, was rumored to be a reboot due to the feeling from critics that the "franchise is played out and its star over- exposed" after the Mission Impossible III was released. Well, Tom Cruise is back as not only the star but also a producer along with J.J. Abrams who also directed the the last installment. With that being said, not much is different about "Ghost Protocol" (which obviously not a reboot) from the three previous films.

What it is however, is a convincing testament to the capabilities of IMAX technology to capture breathtakingly beautiful landscapes and adrenaline pumping action sequences. Thankfully both director, Brad Bird (The Incredibles) and cinematographer Robert Elswit showcase how IMAX is a serious rival to the over-saturation of 3D movies that have flooded theaters in recent years. As with any successful spy film, the script toes a fine line between being too complex and intricate for audiences to follow and too simple and superficial to adequately motivate viewers into committing their time and money. In this case, Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and the entire Impossible Mission Force has been disavowed by the US Government for alleged terroristic acts against the Russians. It is up to Hunt and his team to prove their innocence while simultaneously save the world from a mad man bent on starting a nuclear war.

As I mentioned earlier, not much is different from this film than the others (or any "good" spy film for that matter) other than the team of agents whom Hunt works with. Paula Patton (Just Wright) plays Jane Carter, an agent with a personal grudge motivating her involvement with the team. Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) plays as IMF analyst who gets accidentally gets involved in the mayhem. Rounding out the team, is Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn, the teams technical analyst, a role he reprises from the last Mission: Impossible III. And although Ving Rhames has been mentioned as being the only other actor other than Cruise who has been in all four "Impossible" movies, I was very disappointed that he only has a minuscule cameo about the same length of Josh Holloway's (Lost) brief role.

Last year Tom Cruise spoofed his Ethan Hunt character in last years "Knight and Day" showing a bit of a comedic side to his often criticized image, but in M:I Ghost Recon, it is Pegg who at many times serves as a welcome comic relief, playing foil to Cruise's stoic demeanor and attitude. 

Unfortunately, Patton who flirted with an action role in "Deja Vu" never looks completely comfortable or convincing in her portrayal of an super secret agent just never comes across as more than her "pretending". However there is a scene where she does shine briefly, sharing the screen with Anjil Kapoor from Slumdog Millionaire. 

Renner on the other hand, may be the one who reveals Paramount's hand as far as the future of the M:I franchise. Once Cruise or studio executives or audiences decide its time for someone other than Ethan Hunt to lead the team, William Brandt will be a capable replacement, assuming the capable Renner is the actor playing the part. 

Overall, Mission:Impossible Ghost Protocol plays to its strengths; action, action and more action but I cannot understate how much the IMAX experience really enhances the viewers immersion into the film. Not only visually, but the sounds of the film come across as another character.

If you're already a fan of Mission: Impossible franchise, go see this installment which is up to par with the others (and the other aforementioned action/spy movies). If you aren't however, don't be afraid to venture out and be amazed at the technology that elevates this movie to being the most memorable out of the Mission: Impossible movies.