"...and the little door is for Muffin to go out and piddle."
One of the fascinating things about the Matrix movies is that they lend themselves to constant re-interpretation. Originally, I despised the last two installments to the movie series, but after thinking about them and watching them again, I absolutely love them.
Why?
To be sure, there are parts where I can't help but laugh out loud at Keanu Reeves' horrible acting job. Oh, and there's always that unwarranted "Neo, I believe!" line uttered by the clingy 16 year old buffoon as he shoots open the gate with his APU. Or the fact that at the end of Revolutions, it would have been completely feasible for everyone to break out guitars and start singing "We are the world."
But seriously, the positive aspects of the films have finally proven to me that they're worth watching AND enjoying. The deep symbolism, amusing plotline, and well crafted mythology help keep the films fresh and unique, and their thorough survey of philosophical thought lend a credibility to the overall movie project as a substantial intellectual endeavor. I was completing the requirements for my bachelors in philosophy at the University of Kansas when Revolutions opened, and after walking out I couldn't help but feel that I had just sat through a two and a half hour debate between Analytical and Continental philosophy. When I watched them again this weekend, I saw an argument between determinism and free will during Reloaded and scientific materialistic reductionism and religious thought during Revolutions. And as I thought about them again earlier today, all I could think about is how cool it was to have a bunch of octopus-like machines fight with little dudes in armored suits with guns. Freaking awesome.
Ahhh, the levels at which the human mind operates. ;)
Why?
To be sure, there are parts where I can't help but laugh out loud at Keanu Reeves' horrible acting job. Oh, and there's always that unwarranted "Neo, I believe!" line uttered by the clingy 16 year old buffoon as he shoots open the gate with his APU. Or the fact that at the end of Revolutions, it would have been completely feasible for everyone to break out guitars and start singing "We are the world."
But seriously, the positive aspects of the films have finally proven to me that they're worth watching AND enjoying. The deep symbolism, amusing plotline, and well crafted mythology help keep the films fresh and unique, and their thorough survey of philosophical thought lend a credibility to the overall movie project as a substantial intellectual endeavor. I was completing the requirements for my bachelors in philosophy at the University of Kansas when Revolutions opened, and after walking out I couldn't help but feel that I had just sat through a two and a half hour debate between Analytical and Continental philosophy. When I watched them again this weekend, I saw an argument between determinism and free will during Reloaded and scientific materialistic reductionism and religious thought during Revolutions. And as I thought about them again earlier today, all I could think about is how cool it was to have a bunch of octopus-like machines fight with little dudes in armored suits with guns. Freaking awesome.
Ahhh, the levels at which the human mind operates. ;)
posted by Raoul The Destroyer at 12:24 AM
6 Comments:
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
And once again, a FREAKING AD.
DEATH! DEATH I SAY!!!
I got that word verification thingy going on mine to keep the ads away. Has so far worked.
Pre-determinism in the Matrix? Too bad the writers never pre-determined a good script for the sequels (oooooh dis). Sorry. I finally saw the last half of the last one. Didn't care for it either. I couldn't stand the second one though. I just think they should have left it at one. Simplify :)
and who the heck is Muffin?
Muffin: The cat in the MTV skit that made fun of Reloaded.
Actually, I really like Reloaded a lot more now that I've seen it again. The Architect scene is fantastic. As for the script, I understand why people don't like it, but part of the problem is that it's a bit too metaphysical for most people's tastes. Oh, well.
Paul... you are a geek. Unfortunately, the philosophical aspects of the Matrix 2&3 are just not enough to redeem them in my sight.
Post a Comment
<< Home