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What is the plot?
Imagine yourself in a world where the boundaries of humanity and technology are pushed to the limit. Welcome to "Mickey 17," a 2025 science fiction film directed by Bong Joon Ho, based on the novel "Mickey7" by Edward Ashton. Let's delve into this captivating narrative.
Beginning: The Journey Begins
In the year 2050, Mickey Barnes, played by Robert Pattinson, and his friend Timo escape a deadly loan shark by joining a spaceship crew bound for the ice-planet Niflheim. Mickey takes on the role of an "Expendable," a perilous job where death leads to a new clone, or "reprint," being created with restored memories. As they journey through space, Mickey develops a romance with Nasha, a security agent.
Arrival at Niflheim
Four years pass, and the spaceship finally reaches Niflheim. The crew utilizes multiple iterations of Mickey for dangerous tasks, including developing a vaccine for the planet's pathogens. Mickey's seventeenth iteration is sent to capture a native life form known as "Creepers." However, things take a surprising turn when Mickey 17 falls into a fissure. Instead of dying, he is carried to the surface by the Creepers, who unexpectedly spare his life.
The Discovery of Mickey 18
Upon returning to the ship, Mickey 17 is confronted with a new clone, Mickey 18, who has been created in his absence. The ship's leader, Kenneth Marshall, has decreed that in the event of multiple clones, all but one will be eliminated. Mickey 18, driven by aggression, attempts to kill Mickey 17, but the two are interrupted. Mickey 17 proposes a plan to secretly rotate duties and deaths to ensure their survival.
Unfolding Chaos
Timo's betrayal and abuse of power become apparent when he sells flamethrower fuel as drugs. Mickey 18's anger boils over, and he attempts to confront Timo, but Nasha intervenes, temporarily diffusing the situation. Meanwhile, Mickey 17 is invited to dinner with Marshall and his wife, Ylfa, where he reacts severely to experimental meat and painkillers. Kai, a security agent, saves Mickey 17 from execution but later tries to seduce him, prompting Mickey to flee back to Nasha.
Climax: The Contest
In a twisted game devised by Marshall, Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 are forced to compete in a deadly contest. Each must collect 100 Creeper tails while wearing explosive vests. The first to succeed will be allowed to live. This brutal contest is further complicated by Ylfa's sinister plans to use the Creeper tails for culinary experiments.
Turning Point: The Mutiny
As the contest unfolds, tensions between the crew and the political figures on the ship escalate, leading to a mutiny. Outside, Mickey 17 warns the Momma Creeper about the impending danger, revealing that the Creepers are intelligent and can use sonic attacks to defend themselves. Mickey signals to Nasha to return a stolen Creeper baby to its mother, hoping to prevent further conflict.
Resolution: Sacrifice and Redemption
In a climactic moment, a mutiny erupts against the ship's leadership. Mickey and his allies manage to return the Creeper baby, fulfilling a life-for-life agreement with the Momma Creeper. In a final act of sacrifice, Mickey 18 attacks Marshall and detonates his bomb vest, seemingly killing them both. This selfless act ensures the survival of Mickey 17 and preserves the fragile peace with the Creepers.
As the story concludes, it leaves viewers with a sense of hope and resilience, highlighting the deep character arcs of Mickey 17 and Mickey 18, who navigate the complexities of identity, loyalty, and sacrifice in a world where the lines between humanity and technology are blurred. Robert Pattinson's performance brings depth and intrigue to the dual roles of Mickey 17 and Mickey 18, gripping the audience with their unique personalities and conflicts.
What is the ending?
Short, Simple Narrative Ending
Mickey and his allies manage to return the baby creeper to its mother just as the conflict reaches its peak. In a final act of sacrifice, Mickey 18 attacks the expedition leader Marshall, detonating his explosive vest and apparently killing both of them. This fulfills a deal with the intelligent creepers to exchange a human life for the safe return of their baby, ending the immediate confrontation.
Expanded, Chronological Narrative of the Ending
The movie's ending begins with Marshall, the expedition leader, setting up a deadly contest: both Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 are sent out with explosive vests, each ordered to collect a hundred creeper tails to determine who gets to live. Ylfa, Marshall's wife, supports the hunt, interested in using the creeper tails for culinary experiments back at the ship.
Meanwhile, inside the ship, Nasha, the security agent and Mickey's love interest, attempts to change the power dynamics. She confronts Ylfa, choking her with her legs in a bold move to try to rescue a captured creeper baby.
Outside, Mickey 17 encounters the Momma creeper, the leader of the native life forms. He warns her that Marshall plans to gas her kind. The Momma creeper, revealed now to be highly intelligent, threatens to use sonic attacks that could liquefy human brains unless their stolen babies are returned. With one creeper baby already dead, the Momma creeper demands a human life in return for justice.
Mickey 17 communicates with Nasha using a coded phrase, instructing her to bring the surviving baby creeper outside. Nasha manages to get the baby out just as the conflict escalates.
Marshall, wanting to take charge of the situation personally, drives out in a convoy of massive vehicles to confront the Momma creeper. Around this time, the crew aboard the ship begins a mutiny against the political leadership, dissatisfied with their decisions and brutality.
Outside, the creepers rally around their mother, stacking themselves into massive mounds to shield her from Marshall and his soldiers. The atmosphere is chaotic and tense, with both sides preparing for the worst.
As the standoff reaches its climax, Mickey and his allies--now including Nasha--succeed in returning the baby creeper to the Momma. Satisfied, the Momma creeper still demands a life in return for the one lost, honoring the deal.
It is Mickey 18 who steps forward. In a final act of self-sacrifice, he attacks Marshall and detonates his own explosive vest. The explosion kills both Mickey 18 and Marshall, fulfilling the bargain with the Momma creeper and ending the immediate conflict.
With the leadership in turmoil and the crew in revolt, the movie leaves the settlers' future uncertain. The story ends with the alliance between Mickey 17 and Nasha, the sacrifice of Mickey 18, and the fragile peace with the intelligent creepers, all set against the backdrop of corporate exploitation, colonialism, and the struggle for survival on a harsh alien planet.
Is there a post-credit scene?
The movie Mickey 17 (2025) does not have a post-credits or mid-credits scene. Viewers can leave the theater as soon as the movie ends without missing any additional footage.
Instead of a post-credits scene, the film concludes with a significant ending sequence where the title "Mickey 17" flickers between "17" and "18," then changes to "Mickey Barnes," symbolizing the protagonist's journey toward reclaiming his identity and selfhood. This transformation is part of the film's thematic closure rather than a separate scene after the credits.
What is the nature of the relationship and dynamic between Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 throughout the movie?
Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 are clones of the same man but have distinct personalities: Mickey 17 is good-natured and people-pleasing, while Mickey 18 is arrogant and aggressive. After Mickey 17 survives a mission and returns unexpectedly, violating the rule against multiples, the two initially face conflict, with Mickey 18 attempting to kill Mickey 17. They eventually agree to secretly rotate duties and deaths to survive, navigating a tense coexistence marked by rivalry and reluctant cooperation.
How does Mickey 17's relationship with Nasha develop and influence the story?
Mickey 17 develops a romantic relationship with Nasha, a brave and loyal security officer. Their bond grows despite the harsh conditions on the ice planet Niflheim and the political tensions aboard the ship. Nasha supports Mickey 17 in critical moments, including during conflicts with other characters and the dangerous missions. Their relationship adds emotional depth and personal stakes to the story, contrasting with the political and survival challenges they face.
What role does the politician Kenneth Marshall play in the plot and his interactions with Mickey 17?
Kenneth Marshall is the expedition leader and a disgraced politician running the mission to colonize Niflheim. He enforces a strict rule that all clone multiples must be eliminated, which creates tension when Mickey 17 and Mickey 18 both exist. Marshall orchestrates brutal contests, such as forcing Mickey 17 and 18 to compete in dangerous tasks wearing explosive vests. He personally leads a convoy to confront the native Creepers, showing his authoritarian and self-serving nature. His political ambitions and harsh decisions drive much of the conflict and danger in the story.
What is the significance of the Creepers and their interactions with Mickey 17?
The Creepers are native lifeforms on Niflheim, initially thought to be simple creatures but revealed to be highly intelligent. Mickey 17 is sent to capture them but falls into a fissure and is swarmed by Creepers, who instead of killing him, carry him to the surface. Later, Mickey 17 warns the Creepers' Momma that Marshall plans to gas their kind. The Creepers threaten humans with sonic attacks unless their stolen babies are returned, leading to a tense standoff. Mickey 17 plays a key role in returning a surviving Creeper baby, which is pivotal in the climax and the life-for-a-life agreement with the Creepers.
How does the film portray the cloning and 'reprinting' process of Mickey, and what are its implications for his identity?
The film depicts Mickey as an 'Expendable' who dies on dangerous missions and is then cloned through a process called 'reprinting,' which restores his memories. Each iteration, such as Mickey 17 and Mickey 18, retains core memories but develops distinct personality traits, leading to internal conflict and questions about identity and individuality. The existence of multiple Mickeys challenges the mission's rules and raises ethical and existential issues about selfhood and disposability in the context of the colonization effort.
Is this family friendly?
Family-Friendliness of "Mickey 17" (2025)
The movie "Mickey 17" is not family-friendly due to its content. It is rated R for reasons including:
- Strong Language: The film contains strong language, which may be objectionable to some viewers.
- Violence: Although specific details are not provided, the R rating suggests that there may be some violent or intense scenes.
- Sexual Content: The R rating also indicates that there could be some sexual content, which may not be suitable for all audiences.
For sensitive people, the film's themes and tone, which include elements of dark comedy and sci-fi thriller, might be unsettling. The tone can be jarring and may not appeal to everyone, especially those who prefer lighter content.
Overall, while "Mickey 17" can be considered solid in terms of its production and performances, its content is not suitable for all ages or sensitive viewers.