Source Code

Renee P

22 March 2013

This week I had to watch Source Code and wasn’t sure if it would be just another movie 

that I had to watch for class and wouldn’t enjoy at all.  To my surprise, this wasn’t the 

case at all!  I was totally thrown and confused for a while and wondered if the whole 

movie would be the same thing over and over again.  It wasn’t until the end of the movie 

when we finally learned what was truly happening.  However, it kept me interested and 

curious about what would occur next.  Captain Colter Stevens was killed in action as an 

American helicopter pilot while on a tour of duty in Afghanistan.  Dr. Rutledge was a 

scientist trying to use a new technique and used Stevens brain to do so.  Colleen Goodwin 

was the military officer who was in charge of communicating with Stevens.  She learned 

that Stevens didn’t want to be used in this experiment and wanted to officially be put to 

rest.  When Dr. Rutledge learned this he told Stevens he would grant this wish once this 

“mission” was over but he never attended to do so.  So what is the right thing to do?  

Should Goodwin terminate Stevens brain activity because it was his wish or should she 

continue as Dr. Rutledge wants because he thinks it will be for the greater good?  In this 

case, I would say that the way the movie ended was the right decision.  Goodwin followed

Stevens wishes and let him finally rest in peace.  Even though the Source Code could 

potentially save lives in the future, it wasn’t right to use someone who wasn’t a willing 

participant.