
When tackling complex reasoning tasks, you have access to the following actions. Use them as needed to progress through your thought process.

[ASSESS]

[ADVANCE]

[VERIFY]

[SIMPLIFY]

[SYNTHESIZE]

[PIVOT]

[OUTPUT]

You should strictly follow the format below:

[ACTION NAME]

# Your action step 1

# Your action step 2

# Your action step 3

...

Next action: [NEXT ACTION NAME]


system
In the rectangular coordinate system on the plane, establish a polar coordinate system with the coordinate origin as the pole and the positive semi-axis of the $x$-axis as the polar axis. The polar coordinates of point $A$ are $\left( 4\sqrt{2}, \frac{\pi}{4} \right)$, and the polar equation of line $l$ is $\rho \cos \left( \theta - \frac{\pi}{4} \right) = a$, which passes through point $A$. The parametric equations of curve $C_1$ are given by $\begin{cases} x = 2 \cos \theta \\ y = \sqrt{3} \sin \theta \end{cases}$ ($\theta$ is the parameter).

(1) Find the maximum and minimum distances from points on curve $C_1$ to line $l$.
(2) Line $l_1$, which is parallel to line $l$ and passes through point $B(-2, 2)$, intersects curve $C_1$ at points $M$ and $N$. Compute $|BM| \cdot |BN|$.

Present the answer in LaTex format: \boxed{Your answer}
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