The Matrix

Released in 1999 First movie in a three part series – The Matrix Trilogy: The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions Directors: Andy Wachowski and Larry/Lana Wachowski – Film directors, writers (comic books, scripts, and games), and producerscomic booksgames – Influences: comic books, Tolkien trilogy, science fiction – Wrote for Marvel comics and did house construction work – Reclusive (have a deal w/Warner Bros. That they don’t have to talk to press) – Dropped out of college after two years – Wrote script Assassins, which flopped – Bound: Warner gave them the green light and small budget. Critics loved it.

Summary Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) is a computer hacker who learns about the true nature of reality: it is controlled by sentient computers that are using humans’ bodies for electricity. These computers have created a false reality in order to pacify the humans, so they are passive while the machines steal their lives. With help from a group of rebels who have awakened from the « dream reality » they try to free the other humans.

Themes Man vs. Technology Frankenstein Theme: Humans create the machines to serve them, but the machines end up in control Reality as simulation: Where does the real leave off and the simulation begin? « The desert of the real.» Religious themes: Christianity--three (trinity) as important; the Oracle; Neo as The One; Zion as a sort of promised land; Buddhism—the spoon; the self as controller of the world; Gnosticism Fate vs. Free will: Neo has the choice to learn about what’s real and what’s artificially constructed. Neo chooses to learn the truth, but the true reality is less pleasant than the artificial and Cypher yearns to go back. The Oracle. The relationship between the body, brain, and mind

Motifs and Symbols Sunglasses/mirrorshades The color green that often suffuses the movie Plato’s Allegory of the Cave Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am” and evil deceiver The number 3

Movie Reception / Awards Academy Awards 2000: – Best Editing – Best Effects–Sound Effects Editing – Best Effects–Visual Effects – Best Sound Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films, 2000: – Best Science Fiction Film – Best Directors American Cinema Editors, 2000: – Best Edited Feature Film–Dramatic And many more… Books about The MatrixThe Matrix

Well-Known Quotations / Scenes Morpheus: “You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.” Young Monk: “Do not try and bend the spoon—that’s impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth.” Neo: “What truth?” Young Monk: “There is no spoon.” Oracle: I'd ask you to sit down, but, you're not going to anyway. And don't worry about the vase. Neo: What vase? [Neo turns to look for a vase, and as he does, he knocks over a vase of flowers, which shatters on the floor] Oracle: That vase. Neo: I'm sorry... Oracle: I said don't worry about it. I'll get one of my kids to fix it. Neo: How did you know? Oracle: Ohh, what's really going to bake your noodle later on is, would you still have broken it if I hadn't said anything?

Connections to Our Class “Robbie” “There Will Come Soft Rains” “Will Robots Inherit the Earth?” “Cyberpunk” “Burning Chrome” “Ender’s Game” “We Can Remember it For Your Wholesale” “The Precession of Simulacra”

Trailor

Works Cited “The Matrix.” IMDB. Amazon, n.d. Web. 8 April “The Matrix Trilogy: Facts.” SparkNotes. Sparknotes, LLC, Web. 8 April “The Matrix Trilogy: Themes, Motifs, and Symbols.” SparkNotes. Sparknotes, LLC, Web. 8 April Miller, Mark. “ Matrix Revelations: The Wachowski Brothers FAQ.” Wired. Conde Nast Digital, November Web. 8 April 2011.