MI4 – Ghost Protocol is nothing short of phenomenal with mind-blowing stunts, dazzling special effects, ingenious camera techniques and breathtaking flyovers that will simply amaze the mere mortal filmgoer. The $145 million production budget has been well spent in the hands of director Brad Bird (two time Oscar winner ‘Ratatouille’, ‘The Incredibles’) and producers Tom Cruise, J.J Abrams and Bryan Burk. This is Bird’s first live-action feature and he takes it to the full limits of what is technically and cinematically possible. Maybe it helps that Bird is listed as one of the top 50 smartest people in Hollywood (he was #23). Cruise as Producer/Actor is an expert ‘operative’ having been in the movie industry over two decades with 3 Golden Globes and 3 Oscar nominations. “Show me the money” seems to be his mantra. His films have generated over $8 billion worldwide and still counting. J.J. Abrams is no stranger to the Mission series, making his directorial debut in 2006 with ‘Mission Impossible 111’, starring Tom Cruise. J.J. Abrams is also a genius in the creative department with numerous credits as a producer, screenwriter, director, actor, and composer. His production company is Bad Robot and he is currently working on the untitled Star Trek Sequel.

MI4 location shooting took place in Russia, Prague (standing in for Budapest), Dubai and Mumbai. The film shoot was based in Vancouver, Canada. Locations, super structures and cars share the spotlight as stars of the movie. The Burj Khalifa (formerly Burj Dubai), the world’s tallest building has 162 floors and stands 1000m high. Speeding across the vast sea of sand surrounding Dubai we get a first glimpse of the soaring height of this building. It is breathtaking especially when suspended, as Ethan (Cruise) is, 150 stories up on the sheer glass exterior, battling time and a rapidly approaching sandstorm of tremendous magnitude. An impressive aerial entry is made into India, sweeping over the famed Haji Mosque (one of the 7 wonders of Mumbai). To cap off the adventure try sporting around in the BMWi8 concept car through the busy streets of Mumbai before arriving at the grand hotel where a playboy billionaire is to be seduced for mission impossible to succeed. Now that’s sumptuous – super glam.

Josh Holloway (Lost) is an IMF operative we meet at the opening of the movie. He is about to make an important connection in Budapest when something goes terribly wrong.