The Mission

I watched this show as a kid, and it stuck. This show was different than twilight zone, macgyver, knight rider, and ALF. this episode made me fear mortality. Amazing cast, amazing performances, Amazing Stories.

THE MISSION is one of the better known episodes of the AMAZING STORIES TV show, which is down to the fact that it was directed by no less than Steven Spielberg. I saw it as part of the anthology film AMAZING STORIES: THE MOVIE, where it was paired with the one featuring Christopher Lloyd as a wacky teacher. THE MISSION is a WW2 adventure set entirely within a bomber plane as an American crew find themselves caught up in a life or death situation with seemingly no solution.

I have to say that this episode looks quite good on a low budget. There are a lot of effects, a lot of smoke and explosives, and a decent cast to boot. Both Kevin Costner and Kiefer Sutherland are present here before they hit the big time in their careers. I liked the plot, which is simple and allows the viewer plenty of thinking time to try and work out a solution - a bit like a detective story. What a pity, then, that Spielberg absolutely ruins things by including one of his mawkish, sentimental endings which turns the whole thing on its head and comes off as completely laughable. It was so ridiculous that I was frankly repulsed by the whole thing.

I remembered a good job and a great day for me. It was this day. I am pleased to announce that this day a man who made ET made this show. It was cool. Fake. Cartoonish. But cool. Like ice cream cool. Meaning cold. Like ice. Like how ice and ice cream is cold. That type of metaphor anology cold type weather. You know like awesome without being cool. But rad without being so chill.

This is mostly a real cliffhanger. There is a certain mystique when a story takes place on board a plane, particularly when some sort of malfunction occurs. This episode is really about a man of great talent who has the power to turn his drawings into reality: draw it and it will come true. The real suspense is like that of any story taking place high above the ground. The tail gunner is stuck in the bowels of the plane and the landing gear is inoperative. If the plane does a belly landing, he will be crushed. Every avenue is explored but to no avail. Though it never quite makes it and the conclusion is a bit too much, we try to guess all along the way. Good cast. Just kind of a silly premise.

I saw this for the first (and last) time back in the late 1980s, when you could rent Amazing Stories in sets of 3 episodes. I was probably about 14 years-old at the time and absolutely loved this episode. 30 years, I was surprised at how well it's aged. My 13 and 10 year-old daughters really enjoyed it too.

The cast is fantastic, the tension palpable and Spielberg deftly moves his camera through the tight confines of the plane.

Is the pay-off a little schmaltzy? Well I guess that depends on how how you feel about Spielberg. Personally, I love the charm and innocence of this episode, as well as the boyish hope that Spielberg uniquely delivers.

The only change I'd make is the title. 'The Mission' is a little bland - 'Lucky 24' would have been much more fitting.