“Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” (Paramount Pictures)

Forget about all those other blockbusters from 2011. Ethan Hunt’s latest adventure blew the competition away, lifting the fourth member of the “Mission Impossible” franchise to great heights last year. With dazzling action, incredible set pieces, lots of personality and a gripping storyline, “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” is a remarkable example of why we go to the theater. Tom Cruise is back in the role of Hunt, and he’s got some help in Benji (Simon Pegg), Jane (Paula Patton) and William (Jeremy Renner), as the crew of IMF agents are forced underground after being linked to a fatal explosion at the Kremlin. Hunt’s squad turns out to be the last team in the field, and they take it upon themselves to clear the IMF from assuming Russian blame. In attempting to find a culprit, they uncover a plan to bring the world to nuclear war. With limited resources and a handful of reliable contacts, Hunt, Benji, Jane and William face long odds in making their mark. It’s truly an impossible mission. The flick’s a great score for director Brad Bird, who carved out a rep with animated features. Fans looking for more punch in a DVD package should look into the three-disc package. Paramount has packed it with some superb extras, including some solid featurettes that look at each area of production. Deleted scenes are also available in the three-disc pack. One- and two-disc packages are also available. PG-13; 2011. 3 Stars.

“Shame” (20th Century Fox)

Around Oscar time, there was plenty of talk about snubs, and a name that kept coming up was Michael Fassbender. The Irishman was unforgettable in the controversial “Shame,” a film in which Fassbender commands the screen as a sex addict living in NYC. Brandon’s life is a private one that allows him to indulge in his addiction, but it all changes when his sister — wonderfully played by Carrie Mulligan — drops in for an indefinite stay. As she takes up residence, Brandon is forced to take his desires outside the apartment, and it is a great struggle. As he tries to feed his addiction, Brandon’s relationship with his estranged sister continues to derail, turning both of their lives upside down. The movie’s the second collaboration between Fassbender and visionary director Steve McQueen, as they worked together on 2008’s “Hunger.” With his latest flick, McQueen continues to hone his style, and finds a real handle on an unflinching addiction. Taking advantage of his an incredible eye and memorable performances from Fassbender and Mulligan, “Shame” is a film that gets to the bottom of its subject, and that’s more than you can say for most flicks. Blu-ray and DVD packages are different, as standard sets carry no extras. A making-of featurette teams with presentations on Fassbender and McQueen on Blu-ray. NC-17; 2011. 3 Stars.

OTHER MOVIE RELEASES

— “Paul Goodman Changed My Life” (documentary, 2011, NR, Zeitgeist Films) Jonathan Lee makes his directorial debut with this picture about Paul Goodwin, the writer of the popular 1960’s book “Growing Up Absurd,” and the face of the new Left in the same decade. Extras.

— “The Last Rites of Joe May” (Dennis Farina and Jamie Ann Allman, 2011, NR, New Video/Tribeca Film) Joe Maggio wrote and directed this picture about a washed-up hustler who’s forced to turn his life around after losing everything. It’s a resurrection of sorts for a fellow from the streets of Chicago. Extras.

— “The Flaw” (documentary, 2011, NR, Docurama Films) Yet another documentary on the lousy financial situation, this film from David Sington explains the major causes of the crisis in plenty of depth. The picture mixes in interviews with leading economists, including Robert Shiller and Joseph Stiglitz. Extras.

— “The Man on the Train” (Larry Mullen Jr. and Donald Sutherland, 2011, NR, New Video/Tribeca Film) Mullen, the drummer for the band U2, makes his acting debut in this picture about a retired professor and a mysterious criminal who bond over an unlikely meeting in a small town. Extras.

— “IMAX: Born to be Wild” (documentary, 2011, G, Warner Bros. Pictures) Directed by David Lickley and narrated by Oscar winner Morgan Freeman, this nature-centered film focuses on the bond between humans and animals. More specifically, Lickley’s pic looks at those who help rescue endangered species, one life at a time. Extras.

NEW ON BLU-RAY

— “Buck Privates” (Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, 1941, NR, extras, Universal Pictures)

OTHER TV RELEASES

— “Treme: The Complete Second Season” (Wendell Pierce and Khandi Alexander, four discs, 11 episodes, extras, HBO Home Entertainment)

— “Ben 10: Ultimate Alien Volume 5: The Ultimate Ending” (voices from Yuri Lowenthal and Ashley Johnson, two discs, 10 episodes, extras, Cartoon Network/Turner)

— “Ice Road Truckers: The Complete Season Five” (reality series, four discs, 16 episodes, extras, A&E Networks)

— “Top Shot, The Gauntlet: The Complete Season Three” (reality series, four discs, 12 episodes, extras, A&E Networks)

MISC. RELEASES

— “Baseball’s Greatest Games: 2011 World Series, Game 6” (2011, NR, extras, A&E Networks)

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