Review of The Mission (1986) by Kevin R — 14 Sep 2010

A surgeon must often hack off a limb to save the body.

In 1758 South America the Spanish have begun developing missionaries in what is now Portugal. The natives, who are known as Indians to the Spanish, initially agree to abide by the Spanish wishes and build their missionaries and take residency on the missionary land; however, when the Spanish change their tune and tell the natives they will need to leave the missionaries and start over, a war threatens to breakout. The Spanish that have been residing with the natives will need to decide whether to take the side of their homeland or their new home.

?This is a child of the jungle, an animal with a voice. They will need to be subdued by the sword and forced to labor by the whip.?

Roland Joffe, director of Super Mario Brothers, The Scarlett Letter (1995), Goodbye Lover, Vatel, and Captivity, delivers The Mission. The storyline for this picture is fascinating and well delivered; however, it does fall in line with several other movies with similar plots. The acting is fantastic and the cast includes Robert De Niro, Jeremy Irons, Liam Neeson, and Aidan Quinn.

?What was he before he met you??

?A mercenary of the slave trade.?

The Mission is a film I came across while flicking through the channels after waking up with my daughter. This was a very entertaining picture with compelling characters and primary storyline. There are no flaws in this movie other than the plot is similar to other films such as The Last Samurai, The Robe, The Last of the Mohicans, and Apacolypto. This is definitely worth your viewing.

?Little in this world unfolds as we predict.?

Grade: B+.