EDGE Dallas

With probably the worst "sub" title since "The Phantom Menace," the fourth "Mission: Impossible" film - "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" - is memorable not because of its title, but for being the best film in the series - by far. Just when Tom Cruise’s star was starting to tarnish (remember the flop "Knight & Day?" No?), along comes the third sequel to a franchise that people liked, but no one thought had any life left. But attach a well-loved director of Pixar films and give it an added dose of humor and a terrific ensemble and "M:1 -GP" broke records.

This impossible mission continues the adventures of Ethan Hunt and his gang of hi-tech undercover secret agent spies, this time played by Simon Pegg ("Shaun of the Dead"), Paula Patton ("Precious"), and Jeremy Renner ("The Hurt Locker"). While Cruise makes Hunt the straight man - so much so he (as an actor) tries to be so damn serious about the franchise he has created (and focusing on doing his own stunts) that he keeps missing the fun that everyone else around him is having. Director Brad Bird ("The Incredibles") is very inventive and choreographs the action better than any action director since Spielberg.

Thankfully, Cruise does allow the other actors to shine and the action sequences to dazzle. This is finally a popcorn film that wows on every level and totally engrosses you in its story, the characters, and the set pieces. Here, you become part of the action rather than just being a witness to it. Yes "Transformers," I’m looking at you.

The Blu-ray looks fantastic and the sound is spotless - so fans of action, tent-pole movies, Cruise, or just hands-down great entertainment should swipe up this disc. Special features are numerous and actually pretty informative.