Wireless Waffle loves a good action or science-fiction movie. James Bond, Star Trek, Jason Bourne, The Matrix, the dozens of Marvel universe films and, of course, Mission:Impossible. And so it was with great expectation and anticipation that a ticket to see the new M:I movie (Dead Reckoning, Part One) was purchased, premium seating no less. After 10 minutes of trailers for forthcoming movies (none of which seemed as interesting as M:I), and an advert for the local curry house, the film began.

How was it? The simple answer is 'dumbed down'. Replete with the usual car chases, fights on moving trains, clinging onto flying aircraft, sword and knife fights, lots of shooting and other action movie staples, it was the dialogue that let the movie down. The following actual discourse taken from the script of the movie itself, for example (warning: no spoiler alert)...

Highly Paid US Computer Nerd: "We created this digital software thing that was meant to work for us and do anything digital that we wanted but it has gone rogue."
US Security Bod: "So you mean that this thing can take control of any digital system anywhere in the world, at any time?"
Highly Paid US Computer Nerd: "Yes, it could take over banks, the electricity grid, traffic systems, military hardware, anything that is digital and we would not be able to stop it because it's digital."
US Security Bod: "Are you saying to me that this thing could take over the world, by controlling anything that has a computer in it, such as iPads, washing machines, nuclear weapons and other digital things?"
Highly Paid US Computer Nerd: "Yes sir. Anything that is digital and has a computer in it could be taken over by this thing, and we wouldn't be able to stop it, because it's digital and, you know, that makes it dangerous what with artificial intelligence and that."
US Security Bod: "This thing is an intelligent electronic organism that could take over the world if it wanted to, because the whole world is connected digitally and it is a digital organism that understands digital and electronic things better than humans do?"
Highly Paid US Computer Nerd: "And it could also control water and oil pipelines, power stations, central heating thermostats and fridges because they are electronic and also digital."
US Security Bod: "How do we stop this electronic digital thing from taking over all things that are connected digitally in the world?"
Highly Paid US Computer Nerd: "We can't because it's a digital organism that understands electronic and digital things that are connected digitally and we are powerless to stop it, that's kind of the point of it."

And so forth...

It felt a lot like watching a modern TV documentary where, after each commercial break, the announcer provides a synopsis of what happened before the advertisements in case you had somehow forgotten inbetween times. In previous movies, it has been left to the viewer to interpret a little of what is happening and putting your personal spin on what you watched makes things, it could be argued, more enjoyable. Having every last nuance explained takes away the mystery and also added at least 30 unnecessary minutes to the movie.

If you like action movies, go and see it, it's still a lot of fun. But if you haven't slept for 27 hours, have drunk a bottle of whisky and don't know your arse from your elbow, don't worry. It will all be explained to you.