"Amazing Stories" The Mission (1985)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Steven Spielberg (developer) &
Joshua Brand (developer) ...

TV Series:

"Amazing Stories" (1985)

Original Air Date:

3 November 1985 (Season 1, Episode 5)

Genre:

Adventure | Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

A courageous young World War II gunner and aspiring cartoonist, trapped in the belly of a B-17 aircraft...

Plot Keywords:

Bomber | Miracle | Drawing | Military Officer | Urban Legend Vector

Cast

Kevin Costner	...	Captain
Casey Siemaszko	...	Jonathan
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Static
J.J. Cohen	...	Jake (as Jeffrey Jay Cohen)
John Philbin	...	Bullseye
Gary Mauro	...	Sam
Glen Mauro	...	Dave
Terry Beaver	...	Officer
David Grant Hayward	...	Mechanic #1
Peter Jason	...	Commander
Karen Kopins	...	Liz
Anthony LaPaglia	...	Mechanic #2 (as Anthony La Paglia)
Gary Riley	...	Tail Gunner
Ken Stovitz	...	Lamar
Nelson Welch	...	Father McKay

Runtime:

46 min

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

This episode runs for 60 minutes, as opposed to the usual 30 minutes for the episodes in this series. (See also episode #2.8 "Go to the Head of the Class")

The most beautiful Spielberg work I've ever seen...

Do you believe in miracles?

This is my first time ever writing a review for anything here on IMDb. Though I adore the site, I've just never been much of a reviewer. However, I still couldn't resist when I realized that there was a separate page for the pilot episode of Steven Spielberg's 80s series, Amazing Stories. Since this series (and particularly this episode) is so unknown and overlooked, I just had to stop and pay my respects to one of the most magical movie experiences ever.

Written and directed by Spielberg himself, "The Mission" is an hour-long debut episode of the series. It's the tragic story of a team of World War II soldiers in a fighter plane and the turret gunner who, after a nasty collision with an enemy fighter jet, gets trapped underneath the belly of the plane. The landing gear is damaged and since the plane is also low on fuel and engine power, a horrific fate awaits the belly-gunner just as soon as the plane lands. Kevin Costner stars as the captain of the crew, while Kiefer Sutherland also plays one of soldiers. Rather than give you a more thorough synopsis of the episode (I don't want to give any hints or spoil anything), I'll just be informing you that its themes deal with belief, determination, never giving up, and the power of imagination. There are a few others, but I don't want to give anything away. To this day, this pilot episode of "Amazing Stories" remains the most magical, emotional experience I've ever endured in my short 22 years of movie viewing (and I've seen PLENTY).

Stevie has made it apparent throughout his legendary career that he believes in miracles. Films like E.T., The Color Purple, and plenty of other Spielberg classics have always been among my favorites. But "The Mission" is without-a-doubt the epitome of Spielberg's style and artistry. That's why it's my favorite, and the most enthralling of all his works. Watch this one with an open mind and you'll enjoy it too. But first, you have to believe!!