Textual Analysis of ‘Mission Impossible 2’

Textual Analysis of ‘Mission Impossible 2’

At the start of ‘Mission Impossible 2’ we can see a lot of red Cliff Rock (What looks like the grand canyon) we don’t yet know what is happening until the camera then zooms into the character free climbing up the cliff ‘Establishing shot – with added zoom’ there is then a pan shot of the character climbing up the cliff (this can be an aerial shot or a P.O.V ‘Point Of View Shot) as you can hear the sound of an Eagle once the frame changes which is symbolic for ‘Freedom and the thought of feeling like a bird’ – as he his high up hanging onto a cliff without feeling scared but has a lot of adrenaline. As he is climbing up the cliff side a lot of aerial shots/P.O.V shots can be seen until the camera changes to a Medium Shot of the characters hands which are covered in chalk. The chalk can tell us a bit more about what is happening as if he was hanging onto the cliff accidentally trying to run away from someone or something his hands would be dirty and potentially covered in cuts/ blisters and maybe even blood due to the extreme realism of how high he actually is. But as he has chalk on his hands it shows us that he was meant to climb up the cliff side – link to the feeling of adrenaline. There is a high angle shot of the Character looking down on a certain area of the cliff side, the angle was used to emphasize how he thinks he has power as he’s looking down at the spot (he thinks he can make the jump). The character then jumps, lands on the spot but slips in which the camera then changes to a Low Angle Shot to show how the power he had has now gone and he’s in a very dangerous situation. The character extends his left arm and tries to hold himself onto the edge, by doing so it looks like a religious symbol (looks like Jesus Christ hanging on a cross) the light of the sun is also shining on him which can show us how the light is shining on him 'Hope - Heavenly sign' this can tell us that the character is maybe a hero or a savior 'linking to the thought of Jesus'. The Character then pulls himself up onto the top of the cliff and stands proudly staring into the ibis. as the camera 'Establishing shot/P.O.V' moves towards the character, the sound of the 'Helicopter' Fades into the scene and the Helicopter is in shown in the next frame. The Sound use of the Helicopter and using the P.O.V Shot helps figure out what is happening in the scene. The P.O.V Shot we associated with a Bird such as an Eagle - Links to 'Bird Of Prey/Predator hunting Prey. We didn't know that the camera wasn't a bird so we initially assumed that the camera was the Eagle to blend in with the environment but actually its more than that. Once the helicopter comes into frame we see two men in Black Suits and Black Sunglasses which is related to 'The Men in Black - Secret Organisation' but the fact that one of them is holding a gun gives us a feeling/sense that he is evil and trying to kill the character but really once a close-up of the characters face and the character theme tune is shown we realize that they are on his side when he goes up to the missile and pulls out some sunglasses which is a message (delivering 'Ethan Hunt' a Mission) he then throws his glasses towards the camera lens which blows up, blending into the title sequence. The CGI Title Sequence shows some added mini pieces/images of things relating to the film E.G - The Knight and the Dragon (This can symbolize the fact that Ethan Hunt is the hero trying to defeat a threat/villain) also there are some body elements shown E.G - What look like Blood Cells and like an X-Ray vision of someone’s Chest (This can tell us a bit about the film as Ethan Hunt has to try and destroy a virus/make a cure for the virus to save the world - linking to the Blood Cells). The CGI Title of Mission Impossible II can be seen with like an added flow like mist which builds up the text.