MovieChat Forums > Mission: Impossible (1966) Discussion > I like it, but it's Preposterous

I like it, but it's Preposterous


I like this show a lot, but it is preposterous. Here's why:

1) Jim always accepts the mission, so why does the tape even suggest that he might not? Also, why does he have to go to different public places each time to get the tape? Can't someone drop it off at his house? I just saw an episode where he pulled his car into a tollbooth, and the tollbooth attendant marked the booth as out of service, then walked away while Jim went into the tollbooth and listened to the tape there. Helloo!!! Highly Noticeable!!! At least go behind the tollbooth main office and listen to it in an alley!!!
2) As soon as Jim accepts the mission, the next scene is always him and Barney and the others finishing up with the plan. Even though the vast majority of missions take place in other countries, they always know the detailed blueprints of every building and have every crawlway and wall they have to drill through figured out.
3) Even though the vast majority of missions take place in Eastern-bloc countries, Mission Impossible team members are instantly highly-placed government officials, or military people whom nobody ever challenges on the grounds that "Who the F are You and why do you speak with a bad Czeckoslovackian accent?" Also, even though these countries have no black people in them, nobody ever notices Barney sneaking around in the electrical closets.
4) The plans are highly farfetched and not very believable. In real life it's more likely that they would just put a bullet in the villain or at worst poke him with a poison umbrella.

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Well, I can tell you the answer to #1: there are missions he chooses not to accept, which are probably passed on to a different agency or handled some other way. So we don't see those, just the ones he takes.

You've got me?! Who's got you?!

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I saw your sig, and I smiled. One of my absolute favorite movie moments from my childhood.

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I was in college when that came out. I watch it whenever it's on. It and Lois and Clark are my favorite iterations.

You've got me?! Who's got you?!

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"You've got me?! Who's got you?!"

I wasn't in college yet, but not much behind you.

Great movie line & yeah, also enjoyed Lois & Clark. At least they let him fly, unlike with Smallville.

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in regards to #2, the show is called "Mission: Impossible", NOT "Mission: Planning & Logistics" LMAO!

in regards to #3, i'll agree with you on that note.

in regards to #4, out and out "killing" on tv shows back then wasn't something they wanted to focus on. Sure there were some "deaths" that occurred in the world of Mission: Impossible but the main premise is to achieve missions covertly without much incident. Dropping in and gunning down whomever you wanted to stop would make for a stupid and boring show.

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Fred and Molly - LOL

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[deleted]

Your points are all valid but in cases like this the Mystery Science Theater rule applies.

It's just a TV show so we all should relax.

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[deleted]

1) Well if we saw him NOT accepting a mission. Then what.........There would be no episode. The premise of him having the option to accept it probably means there may be other M:I teams out there that would accept the mission if Phelps team declined it. I've always assumed the team we see is considered the #1 team and most likely never turns down a mission, thus are given the most difficult assignments.

2) The planning of any mission is probably extensive, with other people in places making sure they have everything needed for sucess. We see, thankfully, a very edited version of the preparation.

3) You sorta got me on that one. Probable alot of prep is prepared for them to be in those positions.

4) If they went around killing people, you could possibly make a matyr out of them. It's more about discrediting that person, and if need be, having them "offed" without anyone knowing they were involved or was ever there.

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Valid, gavbrown01.

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1. Jim sitting around his apartment watching a ball game instead of going on a world-saving mission would make for a very exciting episode!
2. It's a hour-long show. The mission itself is more interesting than the preparation. Again, staring at blueprints. Very exciting.
3. Really the most unbelievable part is that everybody speaks English in every country they go. As far as Barney goes, he usually sneaks around in the dark or at night. See?
4. We already have people that do that. It's called the CIA. This is the IMF, motherf---a!

George Carlin: It's all bullsh-t and it's bad for ya.

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