Brad Bird Talks Ghost Protocol and Making Great Movies: Since the turn of the century, director Brad Bird has galvanized Hollywood with animated masterpieces The Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ratatouille. Now he's boosted a sagging spy franchise with Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol, his live-action thriller that has ironically blown past comics-based blockbusters like Captain America and Green Lantern to become the year's finest action film.