So, it's been a while. No one has seen the last few posts... it's also likely no one will see this one. I think the ftp thing on polylog is on crack.
Who knows? In any case, I went and saw the new Matrix. It was okay. I wasn't expecting really that much; and I didn't really get that much. The movie was really just more of the same. I think everyone (me inclusive) went in expecting the same types of crazy revelations that made the first so popular. We were of course disappointed. I don't know what I was hoping for, but nothing can quite compare to that "Holy Crap!" moment when you first realized what the Matrix actually was...
The action scenes however were superb. I couldn't have asked for more, my only complaint was the computer animation. It was pretty, it sure as hell was expensive... but it didn't look right. They promised seamless integration of actors and graphics... I honestly didn't see it... The Smith/Neo fight for example. To me, it was very easy to tell what scenes in it were animated, and which weren't. Why? Because of the motion. It never looked right. The models were beautiful, but the motion looked spongy. Neo's actions were too planned, too forced. It was pretty, it was exciting... but it wasn't super.
The Matrix Reloaded is dominated by the theme of power. Through the use of Neo, the Councilman, the Marovingian, the Oracle and the Fleet Commander five conflicting views on its nature are presented. The viewer is guided by these three to reach the ultimate conclusion that power is really a sum of all ideas.
Neo's view of power is that power is the ability to destroy. This pedantic view shows us that Neo, while still "The One", has a lot of travel yet down his road to enlightenment. His view is best exemplified by his conversation with the councilman. "We could shut them all off if we wanted" he responds to the councilman's question of how to define power. "That's it! You've hit it right on the nose; we could smash them all to bits if we wanted... but you'd have to consider the consequences" the councilman responds. Neo's view on power is one of action, shown constantly in his "Do first, think later" type attitude. Through both of the movies thus far we've seen Neo's impulsive, puerile methods of descision. His giving the finger to Agent Smith, his showdown in the building, his fight with the 100 agent Smiths, and many more add up to show us a character that believes in action first and questions later. A character who believes that the ability to destroy is true power.
The councilman acts as a reflection of Neo, as if he once thought the same as Neo; but now wonders if power is embodied in the consequence of action. While Neo sees power in act of committing, the councilman sees it in the ultimate end of an action. Neo sees that one has power because one can destroy all the machines on the engineering level. The councilman sees that they have no power, because if they destroyed the machines it would only end in their deaths. This is shown again in his descision to send the Nebuchadnezzar(sp?) off in lieu of it staying to defend Zion. He sees greater potential for power in that descision. The councilman always chooses the best action for the final end.
The Fleet Commander offers another view. He sees power personified in accumulation. He short sightedly only sees his need for ships for the defense of Zion. Two times he fights tooth and nail to keep every ship he can docked. Early in the film, he berates Morpheus for leaving a ship behind to maintain a presence in the Matrix. Even the state of his office reveals his need for accumulation. His desk and surroundings are covered with personal effects, revealing a man who sees power in possession.
The final view of power presented is represented by the Marovingian (who's name I cannot spell). This ancient program sees the accumulation of goods as a child-play. After his conquest, confronted by his wife he states "It is only a game!" The Marovingian sees power in purpose. "You come before me with out 'why', powerless" he tells Neo, Morpheus and Trinity.
His counter-part; the Oracle presents the opposing view. She sees that power is gained through understanding. "You've already made the choice, you're here to understand why you made it" she advises Neo. Through understanding why we do something, she belives that is the path to power.
Neo, eventually must choose between these four paths. The Marovingian's wife reveals that "he used to be just like you, so long ago". Neo's peurile method of descicion isn't suffered by the image of the One, so he must grow; and he must choose his path. "I won't do it!" he tells the Oracle; "But you must, that is the path of the One" she replies. Neo must change, he cannot continue to be a being driven by instinct and impulse if he is to truly be the One. So be it the path of understanding, the path of accumulation, the path of purpose or the path of consequence; Neo must change.
Yet it is not to be, Neo is saved from the choice by having his options taken away by the architecht. He takes away all options, and forces Neo into a position defined as powerless by all others. Neo's path is the chosen path of impulse is the only one that allows him an option, and he chooses as his character ought; he chooses what he wants at the moment...
The new Matrix movie was okay, but the ideas behind it are awesome. Granted, the ideas are old; but set in an arena with explosions and nipples... what could be better?
Who knows? In any case, I went and saw the new Matrix. It was okay. I wasn't expecting really that much; and I didn't really get that much. The movie was really just more of the same. I think everyone (me inclusive) went in expecting the same types of crazy revelations that made the first so popular. We were of course disappointed. I don't know what I was hoping for, but nothing can quite compare to that "Holy Crap!" moment when you first realized what the Matrix actually was...
The action scenes however were superb. I couldn't have asked for more, my only complaint was the computer animation. It was pretty, it sure as hell was expensive... but it didn't look right. They promised seamless integration of actors and graphics... I honestly didn't see it... The Smith/Neo fight for example. To me, it was very easy to tell what scenes in it were animated, and which weren't. Why? Because of the motion. It never looked right. The models were beautiful, but the motion looked spongy. Neo's actions were too planned, too forced. It was pretty, it was exciting... but it wasn't super.
The Matrix Reloaded is dominated by the theme of power. Through the use of Neo, the Councilman, the Marovingian, the Oracle and the Fleet Commander five conflicting views on its nature are presented. The viewer is guided by these three to reach the ultimate conclusion that power is really a sum of all ideas.
Neo's view of power is that power is the ability to destroy. This pedantic view shows us that Neo, while still "The One", has a lot of travel yet down his road to enlightenment. His view is best exemplified by his conversation with the councilman. "We could shut them all off if we wanted" he responds to the councilman's question of how to define power. "That's it! You've hit it right on the nose; we could smash them all to bits if we wanted... but you'd have to consider the consequences" the councilman responds. Neo's view on power is one of action, shown constantly in his "Do first, think later" type attitude. Through both of the movies thus far we've seen Neo's impulsive, puerile methods of descision. His giving the finger to Agent Smith, his showdown in the building, his fight with the 100 agent Smiths, and many more add up to show us a character that believes in action first and questions later. A character who believes that the ability to destroy is true power.
The councilman acts as a reflection of Neo, as if he once thought the same as Neo; but now wonders if power is embodied in the consequence of action. While Neo sees power in act of committing, the councilman sees it in the ultimate end of an action. Neo sees that one has power because one can destroy all the machines on the engineering level. The councilman sees that they have no power, because if they destroyed the machines it would only end in their deaths. This is shown again in his descision to send the Nebuchadnezzar(sp?) off in lieu of it staying to defend Zion. He sees greater potential for power in that descision. The councilman always chooses the best action for the final end.
The Fleet Commander offers another view. He sees power personified in accumulation. He short sightedly only sees his need for ships for the defense of Zion. Two times he fights tooth and nail to keep every ship he can docked. Early in the film, he berates Morpheus for leaving a ship behind to maintain a presence in the Matrix. Even the state of his office reveals his need for accumulation. His desk and surroundings are covered with personal effects, revealing a man who sees power in possession.
The final view of power presented is represented by the Marovingian (who's name I cannot spell). This ancient program sees the accumulation of goods as a child-play. After his conquest, confronted by his wife he states "It is only a game!" The Marovingian sees power in purpose. "You come before me with out 'why', powerless" he tells Neo, Morpheus and Trinity.
His counter-part; the Oracle presents the opposing view. She sees that power is gained through understanding. "You've already made the choice, you're here to understand why you made it" she advises Neo. Through understanding why we do something, she belives that is the path to power.
Neo, eventually must choose between these four paths. The Marovingian's wife reveals that "he used to be just like you, so long ago". Neo's peurile method of descicion isn't suffered by the image of the One, so he must grow; and he must choose his path. "I won't do it!" he tells the Oracle; "But you must, that is the path of the One" she replies. Neo must change, he cannot continue to be a being driven by instinct and impulse if he is to truly be the One. So be it the path of understanding, the path of accumulation, the path of purpose or the path of consequence; Neo must change.
Yet it is not to be, Neo is saved from the choice by having his options taken away by the architecht. He takes away all options, and forces Neo into a position defined as powerless by all others. Neo's path is the chosen path of impulse is the only one that allows him an option, and he chooses as his character ought; he chooses what he wants at the moment...
The new Matrix movie was okay, but the ideas behind it are awesome. Granted, the ideas are old; but set in an arena with explosions and nipples... what could be better?
<< Home