There’s a quick shot where Neo, the one, the christ figure who sees the world in it’s true shape and delivers the people from capitalism/the demiurge, has a pair of doves, a traditional symbol of peace, liberation, and the catholic holy spirit, framed above his head. And opposing him is Agent Elrond, holding a gigantic Israeli designed Desert Eagle Pistol, and directly above that pistol flies the red, white, and blue flag of the united states. In a scene where every single person except the lady in red is wearing black and white that flag is the only other thing with bright colors.
Placed over a gun pointed at the savior.
This movie is so fucking incredible. If you weren’t their in the twilight hours of the end of history, the last days of the century of atomic bombs and digital computers and slinkies, I don’t think you’ll ever really understand.
Also notice how a cop writing traffic tickets is clearly, unambiguously, and explicitly framed as the enemy. They shot so many fucking cops in this movie it was glorious. In the Matrix the terrorists were wise, enlightened, principled, and absolutely correct. They shot cops, blew up buildings, hacked computers, and they were unquestionably the good guys. Their cause was righteous and their means were justified.
Also, compared to Keanu’s role in Cyberpunk 77 decades later; a dreary, vapid story where revolution is unthinkable, liberation impossible, and there’s only empty violence and fancy graphics. And you work for the cops.
it’s one of the few movies I’d give a 10/10. It would probably be even better if it wasn’t hobbled by the studio who made a bunch of changes, but it’s still just so perfect.
It’s so queer too. Neo has a name he’s known by within a subculture, he has to wear a suit and tie during his mundane life. Suits and cops are repeatedly shown as the enemy, it’s great. I’m also really into the set design. Scenes in the Matrix often take place in large, square buildings. The enemy uses brightly lit fluorescent spaces with grids, cubicles, patterns. They want their subjects to adhere to a rigid structure. The hackers hang out in rave clubs or old-fashioned buildings full of dust and crumbling wood. It’s probably a stretch but I always thought this was supposed to evoke the idea that the freedom fighters are like termites or mold on the system. They’re an inevitable consequence of the machine. They’re very weak on their own, but much stronger in groups. That one scene where the rebels are crawling through the wood paneling of that old hotel is very good. Here are the rebels covered in dust, crawling inside of walls like rats being chased by ultra-tactical Pigs with a federal agent commanding them around.
Also how the rebels all have their own names they adopt that the agents refuse to use. Literally being deadnamed.
Yeah. And the point where Neo finally overwhelms and defeats Smith, his line is “My name is Neo”.