I'm not a big fan of the "bash a movie just because it's popular" mentality that you see here on IMDB. It is literally impossible for a blockbuster to appear without hoards of butthurt assholes posting reviews complaining about how it's "the worst movie ever made and it gave me leprosy". So I never want to do this, but this movie.... something about it just pissed me off.

The movie itself is perfectly serviceable as an action movie and well made. Went to see it in one of those interactive D-boxes and for the most part it was fun with lots of crazy set pieces - which is all everyone really comes for in a Mission Impossible movie. In that sense, What I say here probably won't change any minds since people are just looking for a fun time. And hey, if that's you, then go and enjoy yourself with the biggest screening you can find because this movie gets pretty insane.

So what is the problem I'm alluding to? It boils down to two words: Tom Cruise. Christ, does this movie idolize him (he pretty much is Jesus Christ). Behind the crazy action, you start to see what this movie truly is - a $200 million vanity film. I mean, I guess it's not uncommon since a lot of times these movies are made to make these Hollywood actors feel like they're the most awesome and badass human beings alive, but this is just childish. Everyone in this movie cannot shut up about how brilliant Ethan Hunt is; how changed a life, how he is protecting the world, how he cured cancer and saved the rain forest while bringing world peace on his way back from ending hunger in Africa. Oh, but in spite of his irresistible charm and inhuman physical endurance, he is such a tragic and sympathetic character. He has so much weight on his shoulders that we must all marvel and how all he copes with all the hardships he must deal with. What a hero, we must all love him because he is just so wonderful.

If you hadn't noticed, the character worship completely took me out of the movie. I think the moment it truly hit me was when people wouldn't stop yapping about how "Ethan can never make the cold choices and is too merciful". This culminates when Ethan and his entourage are fleeing the French police and almost make it before running into a simple patrol officer. Everyone thinks she should be shot before an alarm is raised, but not Tom Cruise - because he is such a gentle and wonderful soul. And of course since this is just a random patrol officer in the middle of France, she has to be ridiculously attractive with the look like a supermodel, so Ethan does everything he can to let her go. But then the evil bad guys show up and shoot her instead. Oh no! What is Ethan going to do before the bad guys finish her off? Of course he's going to go into "white knight" mode and shoot 5 armed men before anyone can move, and then going to help the supermodel officer before she dies of her injuries. What a wonderful man. Have we mentioned how awesome Tom Cruise is?

In short, everything in this film is done to make Tom Cruise look like the perfect man. If you ever watch "Going Clear" the Scientology documentary, there is a part on Tom Cruise where they say everyone is ordered to treat him like a God. The entire church of Scientology is essentially there to pump up his ego and make him feel like he's the savior of mankind - and wow, do you see that same mentality in this movie. It must be nice to have everyone in your little bubble tell you how great you are, but it is nauseating to sit through a two hour film of it.

This isn't just me being jealous or envious or something like that. I mean, who wouldn't love being a Hollywood actor and make so much money, right? But this is all just stuff I really find pathetic about some people. It's like a 8 year old's idea of a perfect life. I wouldn't be surprised if Ethan sleeps in a race car bed with posters of himself all over the walls. Or maybe that's just Tom Cruise.