So I have seen Matrix one and three about three or four times each, but I only had seen the second movie when it came. I was pretty surprised when I watched it again. The scene with Neo and the architect is really important for understanding the plot and putting together exactly what is going on. One interesting thing that struck me on the second watch was that in some sense, Neo had become a computer program. Indeed, most of the characters in the movies are programs, just think about the agents, the Architect, the Oracle, and Smith. While Neo remains human there is a real sense in which he is part machine program, which is pretty weird to think about.
The other interesting aspect of the second movie was Neo’s decision to save Trinity instead of humanity. In it crazy to think that Neo would have forsaken humanity in some vain attempt to save himself and Trinity. However, the movie obviously couldn’t progress that way. However, from Neo’s point of view and with Neo’s knowledge the choice is incredibly selfish and a bit out of place.
One last thing to think about is the end game to the matrix trilogy. It ends with a peace between the humans and machines such that all those wanting to get unplugged from the matrix could leave. This implies that there will still be humans mined out as energy for the machines. Is this an equilibrium outcome that the humans are willing to live with? It seems not, if we understand the premise of the first movie, in which to goal of the pirates, or freed humans is to bring down the matrix and eventually free all the minds.
The idea that Neo exists as both a human and a computer program makes me recall the theory of existence interpreted by the Atomists. In The Matrix there are obviously two world, the real world and the Matrix. In accordance with the Atomists the characters of the film are still separated from actual reality. To those who have not been "unplugged" they can cannot see the the real world all they see is The Matrix and this is perceived as reality to them.
ReplyDelete