Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol (Bird, 2011)

[ayaa1977]

It was just confirmed that Brad Bird the Academy Award winning director of The Incredibles and Ratatouille is going to direct the next installment of the highly successful franchise. The story is by J.J. Abraham the director of the third film, and Tom Cruise will revive his role as Super Agent Ethan Hunt.

British director Edgar Wright was also considered, but since he is still tied up with post production of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, the gig was finally given to Bird. MI 4 will be his first non animation film, and I must say it is an inspired choice, but keep in mind that he made an awesome action film, albeit being animation, for The Incredibles was a really fun action-packed ride.

MI4 is slated for release in May 2011.  

[ozzylogic]

As long as the retard who directed MI2 isn't doing it, I'm game!

[ayaa1977]

As long as the retard who directed MI2 isn't doing it, I'm game!

John Woo is not a retard, you are talking about the same guy who made Face/Off and many iconic Hong Kong films like The Killer and Hard Boiled. Just because MI2 was not as good doesn't mean you dismiss him,  

[kaytee]

Ayaa dont forget the great Windtalkers...

[ayaa1977]

Ayaa dont forget the great Windtalkers...

I didn't say the man was perfect. Anyway, although MI2 had a shitty plot, but it has some iconic shots, like the opening with Tom Cruise in Grand Canyon, and the car chase scene with Thandie Newton which was memorable to say the least. The Final Bikes battle between Cruise and Dougray Scott was amazing too. In conclusion, when it comes to action, John Woo really knows his shit.

[shariqq]

I think it's a pretty good choice. I remember discussing this possibility with Fizz sometime back (offline) -- if the movie has anything like the scene where Dash is being chased by the hover-craft, or more in vein with Mission Impossible, the scene of Elastigirl's entrance to Syndrome's hide-out, then we have a winner!

1 was noir(ish)-action. 2 was stylized-action. 3 was more drama-action. 4 will probably be light-hearted-action. I'm glad for this choice of director.

[ozzylogic]

MI:2 isn't primarily about action (although MI:3 had loads of it), hence John Woo should not take it up again. I've fallen asleep watching MI:2 twice, and couldn't get past the first 30 minutes both times.

But I LOVE John Woo's OTHER films: Hard Boiled, Face/Off, The Rock.

[ayaa1977]

MI:2 isn't primarily about action (although MI:3 had loads of it), hence John Woo should not take it up again. I've fallen asleep watching MI:2 twice, and couldn't get past the first 30 minutes both times.

But I LOVE John Woo's OTHER films: Hard Boiled, Face/Off, The Rock.

The Rock is not a John Woo film, it is Michael Bay's.

[fizz]

Bird is an interesting, if risky, choice. We've heard of directors going from live action to animation (even an astute auteur like Wes Anderson did it, beautifully too I might add, with last year's fantastic Fantastic Mr. Fox) but I can't remember someone with only exclusive animation credits under his belt doing big live action franchise films. Like I said, big, big risks on Paramount's part. I hope it pays off, and we all know Bird is very gifted, very original and very talented - but big budget action working with real actors is completely alien territory to him. I'll remain skeptical till I see it.

[ozzylogic]

MI:2 isn't primarily about action (although MI:3 had loads of it), hence John Woo should not take it up again. I've fallen asleep watching MI:2 twice, and couldn't get past the first 30 minutes both times.

But I LOVE John Woo's OTHER films: Hard Boiled, Face/Off, The Rock.

The Rock is not a John Woo film, it is Michael Bay's.

Oops. My bad. I also loved Broken Arrow.

[animatedude]

Bird is an interesting, if risky, choice. We've heard of directors going from live action to animation (even an astute auteur like Wes Anderson did it, beautifully too I might add, with last year's fantastic Fantastic Mr. Fox) but I can't remember someone with only exclusive animation credits under his belt doing big live action franchise films. Like I said, big, big risks on Paramount's part. I hope it pays off, and we all know Bird is very gifted, very original and very talented - but big budget action working with real actors is completely alien territory to him. I'll remain skeptical till I see it.

Argh phleeeeez.they picked him so they can shove him down the critics throats,how much they pay him?

[fizz]

Bird is an interesting, if risky, choice. We've heard of directors going from live action to animation (even an astute auteur like Wes Anderson did it, beautifully too I might add, with last year's fantastic Fantastic Mr. Fox) but I can't remember someone with only exclusive animation credits under his belt doing big live action franchise films. Like I said, big, big risks on Paramount's part. I hope it pays off, and we all know Bird is very gifted, very original and very talented - but big budget action working with real actors is completely alien territory to him. I'll remain skeptical till I see it.

Argh phleeeeez.they picked him so they can shove him down the critics throats,how much they pay him?

Can you bring something more fruitful to the discussion apart from the usual cynicism? I don't think studio execs are so gullible and neither is someone as savvy as Cruise (this is still his baby). I think for a director to just do a project because of the pay is putting his career at risk. I think Bird can do the job, how well, I'm not sure of because he lacks expertise in directing actors on set.

[shariqq]

He'll probably rely heavily on pre-viz

[kaytee]

I kinda agree with Fizz, making animation and making a real summer blockbuster with actors on sets is going to be a difficult transitition for him. But clearly he convinced Cruise, so he must have something unique that he will be bringing on the table.

[X.]

Like I said, big, big risks on Paramount's part. I hope it pays off, and we all know Bird is very gifted, very original and very talented - but big budget action working with real actors is completely alien territory to him. I'll remain skeptical till I see it.

They'll pair him with a really experienced DP and he'll be fine. This is the modus operandi for all newbie directors in Hollywood.