Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

When a terrorist known as “Cobalt” schemes to start a nuclear war, veteran IMF agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is sprung from a Russian prison to stop him. A trip to the Kremlin to unearth Cobalt’s identity goes disastrously wrong, and Ethan’s team is framed for a terrorist attack and disavowed. Now, it is up to him, agent Jane Carter (Paula Patton), technician Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) and mysterious analyst William Brandt (Jeremy Renner) to stop Cobalt (Michael Nyqvist) before it is too late.

If there is one defining feature to the Mission: Impossible films, it is that you get something different every time. All four films have had different directors, and each one has left a different imprint on the series. This one is helmed by Incredibles director Brad Bird (in his live-action debut), and he takes a back-to-basics approach. Because Ethan’s team is cut off from funding/support, you won’t see nearly as much technological wizardry and heavy firepower as previous films, though a fair amount of gadgetry is still on display. Pair this with some breathtaking visuals – we are treated to a bird’s eye view of the 2,700-ft tall Burj Khalifa tower – and a few clever nods to the original TV series, and Bird acquits himself quite well behind the camera.

Alas, not everything in the film works quite as well as the car chases and fisticuffs. The plot is a throwback in the worst way, simplistic and clichéd (nuclear war with Russia? Really? What decade is this?), Nyqvist’s Cobalt makes for a bland, dull villain (particularly compared to Philip Seymour Hoffman’s turn in the previous film), and Renner, ever the maverick, feels miscast as the reluctant, hyper-logical Brandt.

On the plus side, Patton plays a convincing second-in-command and imbues her character with vindictive edge. Pegg, as always, can be counted on for well-timed comic relief. And say what you want about Cruise as a person, but the controversial couch-jumper owns this role. Watch him run, jump, fight, drive, climb, adopt accents and disguises, and do all the other things that Ethan Hunt is known for, and you’ll instantly forget you’re looking at someone who is only 5’7” and rapidly approaching 50.

All in all, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is satisfyingly nostalgic entertainment, but the weak links and the contrived ending prevent it from being one of the best in the series.

7.5/10

Spring Garden Bar & Pizzeria (CLOSED) and Fat Dogs Grille & Pub (MOVED)

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NOTE: Spring Garden Bar & Pizzeria closed and gave way to Hops Burger Bar while Fat Dogs moved down the street to 3021 Spring Garden.

I am always amused/perplexed when I encounter direct competitors situated across the street from one another. You see it with gas stations, with pharmacies, and on Spring Garden Street in Greensboro, you see it with bars. SpringGarden Bar & Pizzeria (2419 Spring Garden St.) and Fat Dogs Grille &Pub (2503 Spring Garden St.) are so close that you can practically double-jump from one parking lot to the next. And while both specialize in different things (pizza and Italian dishes for Spring Garden, hot dogs and wings for Fat Dogs), both offer a similar sandwich/salad/burger-based menu. But for all their superficial similarities, eating at either yields a markedly different experience.

Food

Spring Garden easily puts the lie to the notion that bar food is bad food. Dishes are homemade and utilize fresh ingredients, something that shows in the end result. Fried ravioli came piping hot slathered in a chunky, flavorful tomato sauce, and an herb-infused grilled chicken breast sandwich was juicy and well-seasoned. Even a side salad proved satisfactory. The pizza, which I have yet to try, is supposed to be even better, and my expectations for it are high.

Fat Dogs, on the other hand, disappointed tremendously. A cup of potato bacon soup (they were out of the “always available” chili) was both salty and bland while Cajun chicken tenders were overseasoned, substituting sheer spice for good flavor. In all fairness, I have yet to sample the signature dogs or wings, but my initial visit did little to inspire a return.

Décor and Ambience

Both Spring Garden and Fat Dogs stick to the requisite neighborhood bar accoutrements: glowing beer signs and multiple TVs on the walls. The addition of a large clock, a few well-placed lights, and some old-timey signs gave Spring Garden a touch more character. Fat Dogs offered better music, but the surroundings felt noticeably cheaper and lonelier.

Service

Don’t go into Spring Garden expecting to get food right away. Though wait times were not long, the two servers on duty were definitely kept busy. They were nevertheless still personable, knowledgeable about the menu, and attentive to refilling drinks.

Fat Dogs, on the other hand, offered bar service. I visited on a slow night, and food came out very quickly. The sole bartender seemed friendly enough.

Pricing

Both establishments are reasonably wallet-friendly though Fat Dogs offers a slight edge. Sandwiches with a choice of side run in the $7 to $8 range at Spring Garden and from $4 to $7 at Fat Dogs; burgers occupy a similar range. Both establishments offer discounts among their daily specials. Spring Garden does 1/2 off appetizers on Wednesdays, for example, while Fat Dogs takes $1 off a different category of food depending on the night. Given the number of appetizers that work as light meals, this may very well make up for Spring Garden’s higher base prices.

Overall, both Spring Garden and Fat Dogs offer cheap eats and a casual atmosphere. If you are looking to grab a quick bite to eat with friends or to watch a game, either one will do. But if you are going primarily for the food, Spring Garden alone is worth your while.

Spring Garden Bar & Pizzeria: 8/10

Fat Dogs Grille & Pub: 6.25/10