If the goal of "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" was to make the latest big screen version of the television series the most eye-popping, bone-shaking, heart-pounding yet, then there's only one thing that can be said: Mission accomplished.

It's been five years since Tom Cruise played Ethan Hunt, the super spy who's never seen a mission he wouldn't accept. Cruise has not lost a step as he again plays Hunt as the closest thing American cinema has to a James Bond figure. He can go from heart breaker to head breaker as fast as the super cars he gets to drive.

The mission this time -- as penned with brilliant complexity by Josh Appelbaum and André Nemec -- is for Hunt and a few rogue members of the IMF team to stop a mad man who wants to trigger a nuclear war. Hunt and company are on their own as the IMF has been shut down after it appears they blew up the Kremlin -- and in spectacular fashion.

Director Brad Bird -- better known for directing animated offerings like "Ratatouille" and "The Iron Giant" -- starts the film at top speed and never lets up.

The only slight pauses are to lay out the next step in what appears to be the most impossible of missions. This is crucial because unlike many of the James Bonds films that use as many exotic locations, fancy devices and twisted plots, there's a logic to "Ghost Protocol" that keeps the story very clear and focused.

Just as impressive as the spy team Hunt's assembled are the actors behind them. Jeremy Renner brings a cold and professional caution to the team and shows such a grasp of the spy role that he could easily take over the franchise should Cruise decide to retire. Paula Patton proves that a spy can be beautiful and dangerous.

The best touch is an expanded role for Simon Pegg who's gone from office-bound geek to field spy. It would be very easy for a film with such a heavy mission to get dark, but Pegg adds just the right touches of humor.

And then there's Cruise. Whether he's running at top speed, dangling from a building or trying to rally his frustrated team, he brings a confidence, charm and energy to the role. He's the fuse that lights every explosive moment.

"Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol" isn't an attempt to squeeze more dollars out of a franchise. It's the best mission yet.