(2) Mission Impossible - Thriller Analysis

Mission impossible 2 opening scene textual analysis

Various camera angles, sounds, camera views and mis en scene devices are used to create the opening scene of mission impossible 2.

     The first camera view is an established shot of the setting, a large, empty setting with large rocks; this denotes loneliness, danger, and lack of help and a sense of mystery. This then zooms into a wide shot of tom cruise climbing a huge rock which seems to the reader as pretty much impossible. This ironically fits in with the title, however is it that ironic? Because climbing up such a large rock pretty much sums up the character and film in a few seconds, especially as he does it in such confidence.

    The music starts of slowly with a very very gradual increase, but low volume so that the audience can hear the heavy breathing, and how silent the setting/scene really is. This denotes tension, a sense of mission and heroism by Tom cruise.  The camera then shows a pan shot of tom cruise climbing up to denote his progress, the camera cuts straight to this scene to show that he is still climbing, representing time.

The camera then goes to a long shot and the actor is using no hands climbing up this huge rock to denote to the audience that he is a skilled man and is going to be a part of this ‘mission’.  Overlapping the quiet music is the sounds of a hawk, this denoted that he is very high up, perhaps in danger as only hawks will dare go this high, and that he may share properties of a hawk, daring and top of the food chain, perhaps capable of this mission impossible. 

For 1 second the camera shows a close up of his hand edging on the rock, his fingers flitching to denote struggle, tense and a sense of edge. Then to a bird’s eye view/Ariel view to show how high up he is, all of these camera angles are showing the audience what kind of man he is, and what the theme of the film could be about. Mission, strength and a man who is superior and a hero type of character. Long shot shows a full view of his body when climbing, looking tanned and large biceps tensing as he is climbing, denoting what kind of man he us, strong and capable. This attracts the female audience to as he comes across as your typical Hollywood thriller actor with the looks and personality.

After these camera cuts it zooms out for a few seconds to show the scale of the rock and the progress since the first scene. Then a few close ups of his face to show the struggle building up to the part where he slips.

The camera shows an Ariel view of him doing nothing, perhaps hesitating or struggling creating tension. Then Tom jumps from rock to another, in slow motion to create tension giving the audience that “will he make it” question.  Once he lands and the tension is less he slips so the audience questions the safety of him. Whilst he is slipping off the edge of the rock the camera switches through various camera shots and angles. The camera points down on Tom Cruise (high angle) so he looks like he is in trouble, manipulating him so it emphasises and denotes that he is powerless. He then hangs with one arm this denotes his strength and capability.  He then grab the other rock and enters the same position as Jesus did on the cross, and looks at the landscape. As soon as he entered this position I noticed that the music increase and vocals come in to show that the way he is hanging represents the film and the type of role the plays, as the music shows that his journey starts here. A wide shot pans around him making him look god like as he hangs there in such calmness, showing the subject in his environment denoting that he is a hero like character. Then forward tracking towards his face until a close up shows him heavy breathing and the determination in his eyes, also appealing to the female audience.

Once he reaches the top of the rock a high angles panorama shows him reaching the top. The music that is playing does not suit the mood that’s being created during the visuals, this is called contrapuntal. This creates a feeling that something is soon to happen that relates to the music’s mood. In this case it does not suit the tense mood of rock climbing but does match the mood of when he reaches the top.

The fact its daytime in this opening scene with the establishing shot denotes it’s early in the day and shows he has a certain time frame to do the mission.

                      He stands at the top smiling denoting that he is proud and confident and sort of a sarcasm showing the reader he knew he could do it and it is as he expected, denoting a sense of pride. I know this because it is a high angle pan shot denoting that he is powerful and successful.

A sound of a helicopter blends in with music and becomes apparent that tom cruise may be in danger, denoting that after the struggle he may be in trouble.  It shows the helicopter coming with men in black suits, sunglasses and a firearm in his arms lowering towards tom cruise. This denotes perhaps men from the government or secret service. Suggesting he is in trouble or some form of danger.

The man in the helicopter then fires a small care package torpedo like bullet that sticks in the ground near him, once this item is sticking out the ground the helicopter majestically swoops off into the distance with an established shot of the helicopter flying away suggesting they were on toms team and that they were of high importance.

The close up on tom cruises face shows he was half expecting it as he is shaking his head sarcastically as the mission impossible film tune music comes on as he comes towards the torpedo shaped thing and it’s an over the shoulder view so the camera can show tom walking towards the object, from a low camera angle to show that tom is not afraid of what this might be which denotes safety to the audience. He opens the object and a high tech gadget releases some glasses. A high tech gadget with some high developed technology in that time is being introduced within the first two minutes of the film to suggest to the audience that there will be a lot of high tech during this film, denoting a very important mission perhaps.  He then puts the sunglasses on and it shows a point of view (POV) shot of the glasses with a high tech screen on with a HUD and a ladies voice whilst he is being briefed. This is a good way to inform the reader of what may this film is about, as the audience hears his mission. It also shows that the mission will be through his person as are hearing it through his ears; this is a type of diegetic sound.