Ironworks Gaming Forum - Matrix:Reloaded Review Comments..SPOILERS!!!!!!!

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SOME NIT-PICKING...Don't worry, I won't go into a lengthy theological debate about the movie plot here. I'll leave that to you guys. Besides, you've all said most of it already. This post is purely focused on my prima facie criticisms/praise/comments of the acting/effects/script.


THE "BURLY BRAWL" :


Yes, I'd have to agree with most of you that this much hyped fight scene didn't live up to expectations. For starters, the CG animations were very noticeable. Much of it came out looking rather "fakey"(especially the swish of Neo's coatails). Kinda reminds me of some of the fight scenes in "Blade 2", the web-swinging scenes in "Spiderman" etc. BUT hey, its a movie right? Its not physically possible to have an actor really do the things Neo did in the fight so we'll make do with CG instead.


MEROVIGIAN'S PHONEY, OVER THE TOP ACCENT/ACTING :

He has got to be the most irritating character in the movie. Within the first 5 seconds of his introduction in the film, I was half expecting him to say "Vehlkum Mistir Bond, ve av been expecting yoo". Too cliched and Vaudvillian if I may say so. Oh yes, just what every movie needs, another megalomaniacal, pompous, rich and powerful foreigner(erm, I mean program) with dellusions of granduer. [img]tongue.gif[/img]


THE HIGHWAY-CAR-CHASE SCENE :

Had to be one of the better bits of the movie. I am very impressed with Ms. Moss' bike handling skills. If there were any CG involved here, I could hardly notice it. BUT hey, even a motorcross or grand prix champion couldn't possible make it through such an ordeal unscathed. What with cars crashing around you, shower of bullets around you, explosions and vehicles zooming around at high speed. [img]graemlins/cool.gif[/img]


THE INFAMOUS CHOCOLATE CAKE SCENE :

Totally agree with Rimjaw, not necessary. Prolly a little something for the boyz. That sure was some funky cake though! [img]graemlins/showoff.gif[/img]


ZION :

I thought the innitial layout/design and mechanization of Zion was pretty cool. Loved that post apocalyptic techno-cyberpunk look (ala Alien, Bladerunner, Metropolis, Terminator etc). Even so, I think that "mega rave party" was a little out of place. Never the less, they all know that they might not survive the "attack" so why not have a farewell party, eh? [img]graemlins/heee.gif[/img]

Quote:

Originally posted by Finn:

THE HIGHWAY-CAR-CHASE SCENE :

Had to be one of the better bits of the movie. I am very impressed with Ms. Moss' bike handling skills. If there were any CG involved here, I could hardly notice it. BUT hey, even a motorcross or grand prix champion couldn't possible make it through such an ordeal unscathed. What with cars crashing around you, shower of bullets around you, explosions and vehicles zooming around at high speed. [img]graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

If you download the trailer or watch very very closely...focus on the underside of the cars and trucks in the chase scene...you will notice, that there are no axels, no differentials....most of the vehicles on the road are in fact CGI. very well done but they skimped on the underside details.

Hey guys...how cool is this?! A friend at work hooked me up to this website that has the dialog to the most puzzling part of the movie!!!!!!!

Source

Quote:

This is the script in the Matrix: Reloaded where the Architecht speaks to Neo. It went by so fast that a lot of people didn't understand what he said. So here you go:

-----

The Architect - Hello, Neo.

Neo - Who are you?

The Architect - I am the Architect. I created the matrix. I've been waiting for you. You have many questions, and although the process has altered your consciousness, you remain irrevocably human. Ergo, some of my answers you will understand, and some of them you will not. Concordantly, while your first question may be the most pertinent, you may or may not realize it is also irrelevant.

Neo - Why am I here?

The Architect - Your life is the sum of a remainder of an unbalanced equation inherent to the programming of the matrix. You are the eventuality of an anomaly, which despite my sincerest efforts I have been unable to eliminate from what is otherwise a harmony of mathematical precision. While it remains a burden to sedulously avoid it, it is not unexpected, and thus not beyond a measure of control. Which has led you, inexorably, here.

Neo - You haven't answered my question.

The Architect - Quite right. Interesting. That was quicker than the others.

*The responses of the other Ones appear on the monitors: "Others? What others? How many? Answer me!"*

The Architect - The matrix is older than you know. I prefer counting from the emergence of one integral anomaly to the emergence of the next, in which case this is the sixth version.

*Again, the responses of the other Ones appear on the monitors: "Five versions? Three? I've been lied too. This is bullshit."*

Neo: There are only two possible explanations: either no one told me, or no one knows.

The Architect - Precisely. As you are undoubtedly gathering, the anomaly's systemic, creating fluctuations in even the most simplistic equations.

*Once again, the responses of the other Ones appear on the monitors: "You can't control me! F*ck you! I'm going to kill you! You can't make me do anything!*

Neo - Choice. The problem is choice.

*The scene cuts to Trinity fighting an agent, and then back to the Architect's room*

The Architect - The first matrix I designed was quite naturally perfect, it was a work of art, flawless, sublime. A triumph equaled only by its monumental failure. The inevitability of its doom is as apparent to me now as a consequence of the imperfection inherent in every human being, thus I redesigned it based on your history to more accurately reflect the varying grotesqueries of your nature. However, I was again frustrated by failure. I have since come to understand that the answer eluded me because it required a lesser mind, or perhaps a mind less bound by the parameters of perfection. Thus, the answer was stumbled upon by another, an intuitive program, initially created to investigate certain aspects of the human psyche. If I am the father of the matrix, she would undoubtedly be its mother.

Neo - The Oracle.

The Architect - Please. As I was saying, she stumbled upon a solution whereby nearly 99.9% of all test subjects accepted the program, as long as they were given a choice, even if they were only aware of the choice at a near unconscious level. While this answer functioned, it was obviously fundamentally flawed, thus creating the otherwise contradictory systemic anomaly, that if left unchecked might threaten the system itself. Ergo, those that refused the program, while a minority, if unchecked, would constitute an escalating probability of disaster.

Neo - This is about Zion.

The Architect - You are here because Zion is about to be destroyed. Its every living inhabitant terminated, its entire existence eradicated.

Neo - Bullshit.

*The responses of the other Ones appear on the monitors: "Bullshit!"*

The Architect - Denial is the most predictable of all human responses. But, rest assured, this will be the sixth time we have destroyed it, and we have become exceedingly efficient at it.

*Scene cuts to Trinity fighting an agent, and then back to the Architects room.*

The Architect - The function of the One is now to return to the source, allowing a temporary dissemination of the code you carry, reinserting the prime program. After which you will be required to select from the matrix 23 individuals, 16 female, 7 male, to rebuild Zion. Failure to comply with this process will result in a cataclysmic system crash killing everyone connected to the matrix, which coupled with the extermination of Zion will ultimately result in the extinction of the entire human race.

Neo - You won't let it happen, you can't. You need human beings to survive.

The Architect - There are levels of survival we are prepared to accept. However, the relevant issue is whether or not you are ready to accept the responsibility for the death of every human being in this world.

*The Architect presses a button on a pen that he is holding, and images of people from all over the matrix appear on the monitors*

The Architect - It is interesting reading your reactions. Your five predecessors were by design based on a similar predication, a contingent affirmation that was meant to create a profound attachment to the rest of your species, facilitating the function of the one. While the others experienced this in a very general way, your experience is far more specific. Vis-a-vis, love.

*Images of Trinity fighting the agent from Neo's dream appear on the monitors*

Neo - Trinity.

The Architect - Apropos, she entered the matrix to save your life at the cost of her own.

Neo - No!

The Architect - Which brings us at last to the moment of truth, wherein the fundamental flaw is ultimately expressed, and the anomaly revealed as both beginning, and end. There are two doors. The door to your right leads to the source, and the salvation of Zion. The door to the left leads back to the matrix, to her, and to the end of your species. As you adequately put, the problem is choice. But we already know what you're going to do, don't we? Already I can see the chain reaction, the chemical precursors that signal the onset of emotion, designed specifically to overwhelm logic, and reason. An emotion that is already blinding you from the simple, and obvious truth: she is going to die, and there is nothing that you can do to stop it.

*Neo walks to the door on his left*

The Architect - Humph. Hope, it is the quintessential human delusion, simultaneously the source of your greatest strength, and your greatest weakness.

Neo - If I were you, I would hope that we don't meet again.

The Architect - We won't.

End Scene

----

*The part with the "other ones" could be viewed differently. They can either be the past Neo's on the TV screens or they are Neo's reactions. The architect does imply that he can read Neo's emotions. This is not the official script but a transcript. So these are only what we recorded happening.*

[ 05-28-2003, 05:07 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

Thanks, Larry. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] I'll be re-reading this a lot, I think.

Wow, Larry! This is neat stuff. Thanks! :D

I'd miss quite a number of nuances if it wasn't for the transcript. It was difficult listening to the dialogue with a bunch of noisy kids sitting behind me in addition to a cell-phone going off (it was surreal, having the "Cheeky Song" ringtone blaring on my far right whilst trying to concentrate on the show). People should at least have the decency to switch off their phones in the theater. :mad:

Quote:

Originally posted by Finn:
 People should at least have the decency to switch off their phones in the theater. :mad:

That's why I support cell phone ejector seats in theatres. :D

Better yet, enclose theatres in Farady cages - signal dead zones!

So if there was alredy five versions of The Matrix there were five The One˙s right? Right? And how come that Trinity just jumped off the building. She did nt die becuase neo saved her but anyway if she would fall on the grounf would she die? But then again "There is no spoon"...so she would probably survive

Quote:

Originally posted by Xen:
So if there was alredy five versions of The Matrix there were five The One˙s right? Right? And how come that Trinity just jumped off the building. She did nt die becuase neo saved her but anyway if she would fall on the grounf would she die? But then again "There is no spoon"...so she would probably survive

She may have survived the fall, but she was shot in the heart. And even though Neo got her she did die. Neo used his Matrix voodoo to bring her back.

There are, quite obviously, a whole lot of puzzling questions posed in Reloaded, but that was to be expected, especially because of the most glaring error of Matrix 1: The "Coppertop" Idea is Complete Nonsense!
http://www.geocities.com/sixospades/matrix.htm

About the "Ghost Twins:" I'm of the opinion that they were not killed. Since they both seemed to be conscious after the explosion, all they need to do is stay conscious long enough to snap 'etheral' right before they come back to earth. As to why they were not killed by the explosion: Bear in mind that the gas tank is usually to the rear and bottom of a vehicle, at the greatest distance from the most likely occupant (driver) as well as the engine (most probable source of heat and/or sparks). Therefore, the the explosion would have occurred, the blast would have sent the front seats flying forward, and the Twins would have been already in motion when they snapped etheral. And if they're fast enough to 'snap' in reaction to a bullet being fired at them, they can snap in reaction to an exploding gas tank.

About the cookie & candy that the Oracle offers to Neo: Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. She gives him sweets because it's part of her character--the Wachowskis wanted a humorous, grandmother type, which is what they got. Besides, Neo can see code, and if there was anything about the candy that didn't say "Hello, I am candy," he wouldn't have eaten it.

About the "Holes": I was under the impression that, upon being rescued from the Matrix, all of the feeding & control tubes (except, of course, the cebrebral jack at the base of the skull) were removed. In fact, we actually see them being removed from Neo in Matrix. So why, in Morpheus's bare-chested Temple scene and Neo's porn video, are they both covered in Holes? (I notice Trinity didn't have any.)

About Multiple Layers of Matrix: You are the Architect, and have just put down a serious threat to your existence (the first Zion). You still need humans to live in a Matrix in order to support your machine world, but you know that there will be a systemic anomaly that will free minds and rebuild Zion, potentially creating a threat just as serious as the one you just beat. What to do? You build them another layer.

About Neo's powers in the "Real" world: I see two possibilities--Neo does indeed seem to have an empathy with the machines (could detect that the Sentinel was about to throw a bomb, etc.), and thus was hurt by the EMP blast sent by Niobe's ship--he was connecting to the Sentinels, and their disruption shocked the hell out of him. Alternatively, he is waking up from the second layer of the Matrix (of which there are six), and the effort of creating an EMP surge drained his willpower.

About Smith: I don't even have TIME to go into this, I've got a class. More later.