8 Great Double Film Features

5. "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" and "R.E.D."

Mi ImsWhy "Ghost Protocol"?: Marking longstanding Disney director Brad Bird (The Incredibles)'s live-action directing debut, the fourth entry in the Mission: Impossible franchise succeeds on every possible level. The script is snappy, action-packed, and fun; the cast is great; and the action set pieces, including Dubai's tallest building in the world, are literally breathtaking. Ghost Protocol continues the tradition and storylines of the previous entries in the franchise, but crucially it also stands on its own as a coherent and interesting film. Why "R.E.D."?: Bruce Willis battling Karl Urban to the strains of Aerosmith's "Back In The Saddle Again" not good enough for you? Fine. Dame Helen Mirren with a machine gun. John Malkovitch as a wacky guy with a stuffed pig. Morgan Freeman. RED puts all this and more together to create a fun, often self-aware flick about retired CIA agents who are suddenly made targets by their own government - but refuse to go down without a fight. The film has just the right mix of humor, action, and Mary Louise Parker to satisfy every viewer. Why Double Up?: Both R.E.D. and Ghost Protocol are action comedies at the top of their game. It's not always easy to find an actioner that's fun, clever, and filled with great action - oftentimes you'll get two out of the three (Ex: The Expendables - fun and action-y, decidedly not clever). These two films are high quality, but different enough that it won't feel like you've just watched the same movie twice - a crucial element of any good double feature.
 
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Matt is a freelance writer and aspiring TV and film scriptwriter. He has a bizarrely eclectic skillset, and the interests to match. Find more of his work and ramblings over at the Breakwater Industries page on Facebook. He is a regular contributor to WhatCulture.com, and his work has also appeared in the essay collection "Joss Whedon: The Complete Companion", published by Titan Books.