How did Ethan Hunt know Max's email id?
In the movie Mission Impossible (1996) we see a scene where Ethan returns to the mission base (referred as Crow's Nest by Phelps) and after understanding that Job 3:14 was a reference from The Bible, he sends emails to Max.
My Question: How did Ethan know Max's email id?
My points:
- From just the previous conversation with Kittridge we see Ethan gets to know this name "Max" and the code " Job3:14" for the first time.
- Once he returns, and once he understands that its from The Bible, he accesses "Usenet" and tries opening "Book of Job".
- On entering 3: 14 and pressing enter, an automatic email window opens (which may have been configured by Phelps himself)
- But the email window doesn't open with the recipient email id already, Ethan types "Max@Job 3:14" which implies he knew what Max's email was.
- Ethan sends many emails,but keeps the email id constant. He alters the language only.
I did a quick search in the IMDb plot holes list but the only one entry regarding sending mails to Max, doesn't quite answer this issue.
Best Answer
He guessed*
It should also be noted that Ethan sends many emails to try and contact Max...not just one.
Ethan returns to the IMF safe house, where he uses the internet to find Job. Looking over the screen of his laptop, he sees a Bible on a bookshelf above the screen and deduces that "job 3:14" actually means the Book of Job, chapter 3, verse 14. Ethan begins to email as many web entities with the name Job 3:14 as he can before falling asleep.
*Not that spaces are allowed in email addresses anyway so it would be invalid
It's already established that the arm dealer who is the target of the film is called, or at least goes by the name of, "Max".
Meeting with IMF director Eugene Kittridge, Hunt reveals his awareness of a second IMF team sent to monitor them, and learns the job was a setup to lure out a mole within IMF, who is believed to be working with an arms dealer known as "Max" as part of "Job 314." As Hunt is the only member left, Kittridge suspects him of being the mole, and Hunt flees.
Pictures about "How did Ethan Hunt know Max's email id?"
How did Ethan know Jim was the mole?
Ethan figured that if Jim was looking at the Bible from the Drake Hotel, it was to communicate with Max. This comes out in this scene with Jim and Ethan at the restaurant. Jim Phelps tracks down Ethan and has a discussion in a restaurant explaining that Kittridge was really the mole.Who is the mole in MI 1?
Phelps revealing himself as the mole. James "Jim" Phelps (c. 1939\u20131996) was the main antagonist in the 1996 film Mission Impossible and its 1998 accompanying video game. He was a rogue director of the Impossible Mission Force who tries to orchestrate a conspiration.When did Ethan know Jim was the mole?
During a scene in the movie, while Ethan is looking at a bible with a Chicago stamp on it, he has a revelation that Jim Phelps is actually the mole. How did he come to this idea and how did the Chicago stamp lead him to this?Mission Impossible - Meeting with Max
More answers regarding how did Ethan Hunt know Max's email id?
Answer 2
Let's look at this in chronological order.
First of all, Ethan has no idea what Kittridge is referring to. Job 314? Sounds like a number. He begins searching Usenet. Why? That's not explained either, but as others have pointed out, the Internet was new and mostly a mystery when this movie came out. In fact, in the Sandra Bullock vehicle The Net, they showed an IP address onscreen that began with 792 or something. We all know 255 is the highest they go to. But I digress...
Anyway, Ethan spots a Bible and looks up the Book of Job. He goes to Chapter 3, verse 14. Job 3:14. he goes back to Usenet and searches for Bible. He then searches for a Book Of Job Usenet group, and up pops the Book Of Job Discussion Group. Yeah, that's not how it works, either. He's prompted for a Chapter and Verse, and up pops an email form with nothing filled in. Yeah, that's not likely either. So, Ethan types in the completely invalid email address, Max@Job 3:14. But, what do we know? Ethan knows computers, he's a spy, and 99% of the planet is still on America Online or CompuServe. Is it a real email address? No. Obviously. Did Ethan know Max's email address? No. Obviously. But it's a movie and the viewers weren't too knowledgeable, so it was worth a shot.
Kinda like that whole, "Hey, I know this! It's a UNIX system!" bit in Jurassic Park.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Mikhail Nilov, Christina Morillo, Andrea Piacquadio, MockupEditor.com