Michael Caine and Pierce Brosnan in an actual spy movie. Before Brosnan took on Bond and became yet another silly spy with a bunch of gadgetry, he played a KGB spy in this movie... just a bad, evil KGB agent planning to nuke a US air base. The most exciting chase in the movie is when Caine is following Brosnan in a mini-van. Not speeding. Not crashing through Paris or shooting laser guided missiles from the car ... just following him.
Granted, this movie is outdated in today's world: an old Cold War plot. I'm not sure if it takes memory of the Cold War to enjoy those type of movies, but since I have those memories, I do enjoy them. The Hunt For Red October is one of my all time favorite movies.
Ned Beatty has a throwaway role in the movie. I half expected him to turn up being the bad guy. I wish he had a larger part in the movie. His role in Network (1976) is one of the most classic of all time. Instead, he has about a 10 minute role where he doesn't do very much.
"Fourth Protocol" is just long enough -- a little shy of two hours -- and keeps you interested throughout. That is, if you're actually an intelligent filmgoer that can pay attention for 5 minutes to a movie that has no explosions or dinosaur chases (see next review of King Kong).
RATING: Good/Good. Worth a view.