So Ethan and Julia...are they still married?
Or was he just stalking her at the end?
shareYeah he was just seeing her one more time before he moves on. They faked her death, so that she could live a safe life with another identity. Their marriage ended for that reason.
shareHow do you know this?
Well they said as much in the movie. The couple that Jeremy Renner was protecting in his past was Ethan and her, and when somebody tried to kill them Ethan made an agreement to come back if they would make fake a new identity to her and give him the chance to kill the guys that were after them. That's what Ethan says to Renner at the end. The fact that he works in the field again and only goes to the pier to watch her, without talking to her, and then leaves with the group for the next mission, is also telling us something. He made sure that everybody thought she was dead, so that she could have a normal and safe life away from him and his baggage.
shareSee this is something that never made any sense to me. If Ethan and Julia are going to separate for her own good, there is no need for the whole fake death/new identity concept. All you have to do is get a public divorce. Dummy up some court documents about affairs, maybe add in some alimony payments and no one who hates Ethan would ever think to hurt Julia. It makes more sense that they uprooted her life and gave her a new identity so she and Ethan could stay together. Also the final scene looks to me like they are still together in some capacity. The whole last look/final goodbye argument that often gets stated would make more sense if the scene ended with Ethan watching Julia from afar then turning to walk away. But they specifically added a scene where Ethan and Julia's eyes meet, they smile at each other, and she give him a little wave that suggests see you later, not farewell my love. Have a nice life.
shareGetting a divorce doesn't guarantee her safety. Others could still use her against Ethan, by either killing or kidnapping her, since they know she is a civilian that he knows. Just because you divorce somebody doesn't necessarily mean that you then hate each other or don't care if the other dies.
And about the ending, I kinda took it as a check up from Ethan. Something he probably has done a few times, from afar, to see if she is all right. (and also probably just to see her)
Look, I suppose it's open ended enough you can view it both ways. But if he fakes her death to just dump her for her own good, it's just bad writing. Faking her death is not some simple thing, she had to completely uproot her life. Her family, friends, coworkers all think she's dead, and even if they let her family know she's alright they can never contact her again. This only makes sense if it was a sacrifice to be with someone she loves.
And again I doubt that an ex-wife would ever be a compelling target. I mean, they didn't fake the deaths of all his ex-girlfriends, childhood friends, or any other civilian he knows. Plus if you make it seem that she left him because he was sleeping around, and as I said before make it look like he has to pay alimony, maybe even add in a few late payments that got him trouble with the courts. Do all that and there is no way Julia would look like someone you could use for leverage.
Also I could buy that whole checking up on her from afar (but still think it was bad writing) if both Julia and Ethan didn't share a look and she give him that "hi there" wave. At the very least it seams that they plan to get together after he is done with the IMF for good.
So to you it only makes sense that she fakes her own death, if it's to be with a man? Yeah, it's too much hassle to go through to secure her own well being.. That is just too far fetched!
I don't think you and I'll ever agree, so we'll just continue with our own interpretations.
And again I doubt that an ex-wife would ever be a compelling target. I mean, they didn't fake the deaths of all his ex-girlfriends, childhood friends, or any other civilian he knows.
Owen Davian had no problem kidnapping her in part III. And you don't suddenly let your ex die for you, no matter how bad the divorce might have been.
Not to mention, she now knew about the IMF and was the only one to do so. Sadly, her family would have to mourn her, but she'd still be alive and not used as a pawn to getaafter Ethan.
Also I could buy that whole checking up on her from afar (but still think it was bad writing) if both Julia and Ethan didn't share a look and she give him that "hi there" wave. At the very least it seams that they plan to get together after he is done with the IMF for good.
It really wasn't a wave. It was more of a "he's watching me right now" sort of deal. After all, she knows he's still alive but had to give her up to protect her. This wouldn't be a first for a film or TV show. That was the whole idea behind the Bond film You Only Live Twice.
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"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to exit the doughnut!"---Nick Fury, Iron Man 2 share
The attack of Ethan's wife and the faking of her death was never shown,correct? I just want to make sure I didn't miss something between MI3 & Ghost Protocol.
Also, for there to be an involvement of the story of the wife's fake death & including Ethan watching over her at the end, would some maybe think there will be a link between them both in a later film down the road? Or was it purely used to justify the fake death and allow the other agent to continue working in the field with Ethan & clear up any guilt he's had since and or doubts as an agent since the fake death took place?
But if he fakes her death to just dump her for her own good, it's just bad writing.
Hate to break the news to you, but just because you don't like it, doesn't mean bad writing.
You really weren't paying attention. share