Mission Impossible 2 - Opening Scene Analysis

At the beginning of the scene there is an establishing shot showing that the main character is at the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is a very high and dangerous place therefore it shows that the character in the scene if a very dangerous person which is also shown by how he is climbing the rocks with no safety equipment. There are high angle shots and Birdseye view shots which show how high up he is and how dangerous it is

In the scene there are ambient sounds of the wind, which tells us how high up he is.  There are sounds of Eagles flying which shows that the film is set in American as Eagles are associated with American (American eagle). They’re the main predators as they’re top of the food changed. This shows that the character is also a predator and top of his chain.  There is contrapuntal music in the scene as the music does not fit with the scene this creates confusion and tricks the audience into thinking something else is going to happen. The music is holiday music which is very misleading an.

When he rests his knees and leads back it shows that he is very confident in himself and knows that he isn't going to fall. When he jumps to the rocks, there is a slow motion shot. They do this to build tension for the audience, they don't know if he is going to make it or or fall, it shows how dangerous it was for him to attempt to jump.  When he slips and falls he holds on to the rock like he is Jesus on the cross. Jesus was strong and powerful and he was everyone's savior therefore it shows that Tom Cruise is Jesus in the film, Mission Impossible 2.