Textual Analysis of Mission Impossible 2

Textual Analysis of Mission Impossible 2
Cathy Maddox

In the opening sequence of ‘Mission Impossible 2’, we learn a lot about the type of character we are going to be watching within the film.
The film starts with secret agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) climbing up the face of a red cliff without safety equipment. This establishing shot lets the audience know that the man they are witnessing is a strong person, someone fearless, and perhaps someone who’s prepared to take a lot of risks.
The red cliffs could symbolise danger, not only because of the colour, but also because of the height. However, this further establishes Ethan Hunt as a strong person as it shows he’s not afraid of danger whatsoever.

Ethan (Tom Cruise), hanging from the rock like Jesus did on the cross.

During the scene, the aerial shot of Ethan could also symbolise an eagle, as various calls can be heard. This shows that he’s invading the eagle’s habitat and doesn’t belong there. Furthermore, it could also show that Ethan is an all-American and is a national symbol of America.
During the opening scene, Ethan jumps from one ledge to another, showing that he’s not afraid to take risks, despite knowing that he could fall a fatal drop and that he doesn’t have any safety equipment. After he slips, he assumes the position that Christ took on the cross. This religious symbolism could show that just like Jesus, Ethan is a saviour, as well as someone who can do the impossible.
Overlapping the scene is non-diegetic funk music, which contrasts a lot with the scene. The audience doesn’t really click onto the purpose of this until the end of the scene, when we’re then told that Ethan is on holiday. This makes the audience feel like Ethan is someone who takes risks for fun and to relax, as that’s what holidays are for.

Ethan wearing the high-tech sunglasses.

When the helicopter comes into the scene, the audience hear it before they see it. This creates tension as we the audience aren’t sure if it’s a threat to Ethan or not. Tension is created even more when the man in the helicopter points some sort of a gun at Ethan, to the audience, this appears as a threat because the audience doesn’t know the person’s motive for pointing the gun at Ethan.
After we learn that the man in the helicopter is not a threat to Ethan, there is a close up the high-tech sunglasses, showing that Ethan is someone powerful enough to have access to such technology.
In the end, we learn that Ethan is a spy, which answers all of the audience’s questions regarding his strength, risk taking, and overall perseverance.