November 11, 2003 Matrix Musings
| Well I finally saw the movie and after reading a few reviews, I expected it to be the Matrix "Convolutions" and I must say I enjoyed it more than the second one, not as much as the first one. Lots of overtly Christian symbolism returns and syncretism rules butall in all it is more positive than I thought it would be- after number two's foray into nihilistic/ marxist ideas. |  |
The final episode leaves much unresolved and if you haven't seen it read no further- lots of spoilers here. My take has always diverged from the average view since I see the machine world as a reflection of and derivative from the human world. There is a machine god but no God to be found for the humans-just a temple and some confused messiah figure that in the end doesn't get raised to glory. Here are a few observations/interpretations from the third installment- Iwon't venture into the past episodes after the fact.
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Symbol |
Attributes |
Shortcomings |
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The created order has it’s own creation (Smith) aspire to overthrow it’s creator |
The One is a collective artificial mind |
The one and the source agre convoluted, The Source is helpless to contol it’s creation |
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The machines build an enormous civilization- the Architect is the designer |
Reflective of man’s attempt to build Babel |
The designer is derivative of the machines themselves-they created him |
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The architect keeps prisoners of his matrix |
This is a Satanic analogy, not deity |
Apparently bound by undefined laws |
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Temple is of an unknown god |
A place of undefined worship |
Matrix never wuite commits to a God concept unless it is derivative |
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The matrix is a creation of the machines to make the slaves happy and productive. |
Satan’s big lie- that there is no objective meaning to life except to die |
It has no meaning yet programs come to believe in love and karma |
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Golden fractals are behind the real world Neo can see them once blinded |
Seeing with the eyes of the unseen- metaphor for faith |
No source defined |
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Trainman |
The occult? |
Illicit movement between real world and matrix |
|
Train station |
Place between the real and the matrix |
Purgatory? The evil Merovingian contolled access to it.. No explanation of how Neo got there |
|
Extra new characters |
Bible does not flesh out all its characters (like the disciples) either |
Most are more like mannikins than real people and not very sympathetic- why should I care what happens to Zion? |
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Agent Smith |
Another derivative demonic archetype- one level removed from the Architect. |
He seems to be having fun. |
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Oracle |
The prophetic voice- trhe Holy Spirit |
Obtuse and not all knowing |
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Morpheus |
The faithful disciple John the Baptist/John/Peter rolled into one |
He mentored the messiah? |
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Machines |
The machines still cannot build a powers source , operate against electical fileds and you still have to drive a ship without autopilot. |
The enemy is still being coopted for man’s use- against the amchines |
|
The matris |
Anyone raising kids and going to church thinks about the meaning of it all. |
Just do your job, be a powersource for socity don’t ask questions |
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The One |
Designed on their own terms “the three movies seen in total “ache for a God” |
Never identified, only aluded to. |
|
Penetration of the walls of Zion |
Spiritual warfare |
Obvious sexual rape symbolism complete with sperm like machines |
And now for a few ponderings?
Why can't Oracle answer a simple question?
Why can't Neo figure out he’s special;?
Why should I care what happens to Zion?
Why can't machines figure out an alternative power source
Why do the human pose such a threat to the machines?
Did Neo die in the real world too?
Where does Sati go? Doesn’t the train run to the real world from the Matrix?
Why was the Merovingian have such a fake french accent?
Why is Morphus so fat?
Why can’t the Logos fly on autopilot?
What kind of meaningful peace does Neo win? The freedom to hold raves?
Did anyone ever think for a minute the messiah would fail?
If the matrix is such a garden of Eden, why is it so screwed up?
Why were so many metaphysical possibilities abandoned.
Why all of a sudden are lots of bullets effective against the machines?
Will here be a Matrix : Resolutions?
|
Death of Neo |
Arms spread withshape of cross, Source states It is done |
No resurrection, Oracle says expect him to return |
|
words |
Have real objective meaning |
Postmoden nihilistic hermeneutics .Have no objective meaning. |
|
The sun |
Symbolic of hope and the real |
It is accessible if you have a powerful enough craft to reach above the clouds |
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The Merovingian’s party |
Eat drink and be merry that is all there is |
Not all that much different than the raves in Zion are they? |
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The final battle |
Antichrist- Has nothing to do with the relationship of Christ to Satan- this is more of a Mormon slant |
Smith is exact opposite of Neo- a Yin Yang relationship |
|
Neo’s assimilation |
Christ becomes sin for us |
This is more of a Jesus goes into hell to become a worm idea like Word of Faith- too simplistic. |
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Neo’s confusion |
Christ was divine and human Neo is more human.Christ knew his mission,how to accomplish it and was in complerte control of it. |
He has no idea of his mission and is in a perpetual state of confusion since he has only talked to the Architect (the machine’s designer) not HIS designer. |
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Trinity |
I vote for her being a Mary Magdalene type who gave up her demons to follow truth |
Becomes very mannish /androgynous as trilogy progresses |
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The Kid |
John maybe? |
Obeisance to youth culture |
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The Cypher/ Neo fight |
Genesis 3: 16-17 prophecy Neo is blinded, Cypher is beheaded.Most see Cypher as Judas |
Bite the heel crush the head is the actual reference follows better than a simple Judas figure |
|
Machine city |
Hell |
Created place where humans are powersouce- all the power used against the Messiah is human generated |
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choice |
God given not man centered |
The most exalted concept |
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Assimilation |
Smith takes on attributes of all he assimilates. Quotes sati and the Oracle |
This is not the first time Neo and Smith have this encounter. Should have known better. The first time it was Smith’s entry into what was possible for him. |
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Final scene |
Sati makes a sunset, Oracle apppears in the place where Neo was standing |
Reference to the Holy Spirit being left in Christ’s place and power in the Spirit’s presence? |