Thursday, May 15, 2003
Member since:
March 2002
March 2002
I saw it Wednesday night at one of the special preview screenings. I am sorry to say that 'The Matrix Reloaded' builds upon the worst aspects of its predecessor. First of all, we see lots and lots of fights--but to what end? If Neo is just going to fly away or raise his hands to stop things, then why bother? Does he enjoy a good workout? I tell you, 'The Matrix' series is turning out to be an exercise in the pornographication of violence, inviting viewers to gawk at mayhem that is usually not seen (or possible) in real life.
My second problem with the movies involves its circular logic. Scene after scene, we have people talking about if-this-were-that-but-maybe-there's-this-in-which-case-oh-but-aha. If that is the case, then why say anything at all?
Finally, when you realize the 'reality' of what you are seeing, then you'll see right through 'The Matrix' movies for what they are--cop-outs. Remember how the Oracle told Neo that he was not The One in the first movie but turned out to be The One later? It made sense, yes, but when everything in these movies is based on that conceit, then what's the point? Something is true only to a certain extent until you believe...
Which leads back to point number two--chasing our own tails. We can't believe because we already have been set on a certain path--thus we don't need to believe. But if we believe, then something new will occur. WTF? I'm sorry, but even Kierkegard and Kant weren't so in love with obtuseness.
All in all, 'The Matrix Reloaded' lets style run bulldozers over substance. To me, the movie is a failure--and not because it ends with a cliffhanger nor because it's the second movie in a trilogy. The movie is a failure of ideas, and no amount of narrative savvy can save a headless creature from falling into a pit.
I'm going to get rid of my copy of 'The Matrix' ASAP.
My second problem with the movies involves its circular logic. Scene after scene, we have people talking about if-this-were-that-but-maybe-there's-this-in-which-case-oh-but-aha. If that is the case, then why say anything at all?
Finally, when you realize the 'reality' of what you are seeing, then you'll see right through 'The Matrix' movies for what they are--cop-outs. Remember how the Oracle told Neo that he was not The One in the first movie but turned out to be The One later? It made sense, yes, but when everything in these movies is based on that conceit, then what's the point? Something is true only to a certain extent until you believe...
Which leads back to point number two--chasing our own tails. We can't believe because we already have been set on a certain path--thus we don't need to believe. But if we believe, then something new will occur. WTF? I'm sorry, but even Kierkegard and Kant weren't so in love with obtuseness.
All in all, 'The Matrix Reloaded' lets style run bulldozers over substance. To me, the movie is a failure--and not because it ends with a cliffhanger nor because it's the second movie in a trilogy. The movie is a failure of ideas, and no amount of narrative savvy can save a headless creature from falling into a pit.
I'm going to get rid of my copy of 'The Matrix' ASAP.
Thursday, May 15, 2003
Member since:
July 2002
July 2002
I'm starting to think you're anti-matrix just to piss people off. [:(]
Thursday, May 15, 2003
Member since:
March 2002
March 2002
Actually in my oppinion your post does contain spoilers!
Thursday, May 15, 2003
Member since:
March 2002
March 2002
Monkey--not really. I have better things to do than to make people angry. Besides, what would be the point of me posting negative opinions about the 'The Matrix' series if I liked the movies?
Per--if anyone says anything about a movie, then it is a spoiler. If I only told you that I liked or didn't like a movie and didn't give you any reasons, that would already be a spoiler because you would be going into a movie knowing how another person felt about it. It's really impossible to write a 'spoiler-free' review. :-P
Per--if anyone says anything about a movie, then it is a spoiler. If I only told you that I liked or didn't like a movie and didn't give you any reasons, that would already be a spoiler because you would be going into a movie knowing how another person felt about it. It's really impossible to write a 'spoiler-free' review. :-P
Friday, May 16, 2003
Member since:
October 2002
October 2002
Although Matrix Reloaded has garnered mixed reviews everywhere, it doesn't seem to have stopped the film from doing brisk business. Warner Bros. just announced that MR just set a record of $42 million in ticket sales for its opening day.
Friday, May 16, 2003
Member since:
March 2002
March 2002
I have my suspicions as to why posters5 is not a big fan of the movie, but the main one is mainly this: I believe he may be afraid of the black power undertones of this film. Before you dismiss this as an idiot's rant, note the following facts about the movie:
1. With the exception of Neo and Trinity, the main characters of the human resistance are all African-American.
2. Taking a cursory look at the gathering in Zion, if that crowd is a random sampling of the Zion population, I would ascertain that over 50% of Zion's inhabitants are African-American.
3. Neo, although he is the one, is still subservient to Morpheus, who serves as his mentor. Also, the leader of the human resistance is African-American as well.
4. All of the Matrix's agents are of European descent, going after a primarily black population: the metaphor is the oppression of blacks by whites, aka The Man keeping them down.
All these facts could point to (at least with a little bit of a stretch of brainpower) an unintentional undertone of black power/militancy reminiscent of the Black Panther organization in the U.S. during the civil rights movement.
I am not in the least implying that posters4 is racist, however, I do feel that perhaps subconsciously, he does not agree with these undertones, perhaps even afraid of them... after all, who wants to see the rise of another militant and violent empowerment group like the Black Panthers in a civil society?
By the way, the Matrix Reloaded rocks my world. All hail Niobe and Persephone!
Just my thu cents.
1. With the exception of Neo and Trinity, the main characters of the human resistance are all African-American.
2. Taking a cursory look at the gathering in Zion, if that crowd is a random sampling of the Zion population, I would ascertain that over 50% of Zion's inhabitants are African-American.
3. Neo, although he is the one, is still subservient to Morpheus, who serves as his mentor. Also, the leader of the human resistance is African-American as well.
4. All of the Matrix's agents are of European descent, going after a primarily black population: the metaphor is the oppression of blacks by whites, aka The Man keeping them down.
All these facts could point to (at least with a little bit of a stretch of brainpower) an unintentional undertone of black power/militancy reminiscent of the Black Panther organization in the U.S. during the civil rights movement.
I am not in the least implying that posters4 is racist, however, I do feel that perhaps subconsciously, he does not agree with these undertones, perhaps even afraid of them... after all, who wants to see the rise of another militant and violent empowerment group like the Black Panthers in a civil society?
By the way, the Matrix Reloaded rocks my world. All hail Niobe and Persephone!
Just my thu cents.
Friday, May 16, 2003
Member since:
March 2002
March 2002
Tim, you're posting in a public Forum. Don't be too surprised to see addresses to you. [:)]
Friday, May 16, 2003
Member since:
March 2002
March 2002
I think you may be right, John. I saw something on the Discovery channel a few years ago about that very topic. I remember something about scientists saying we were of African decent. They even pointed out that, genetically, we were all black at one time, as well.
(All this as I sit here and say to myself: It's only a movie - It's only a movie - It's only a movie)
[:)]
(All this as I sit here and say to myself: It's only a movie - It's only a movie - It's only a movie)
[:)]
Friday, May 16, 2003
Member since:
March 2002
March 2002
Well, Tim, Leni Riefenstahl's 'Triumph of the Will' was also 'only a movie', right? Why are people so afraid of showing it, then?
Also, rdm12's post made libelous hints that I have problems with people of African descent. I'm making a big deal out of HIS insidius insinuations. 'The Matrix Reloaded' is a mediocre movie, and I'm content to leave it at that.
John, perhaps we are all of African descent, but that's like saying that we all need to live before we can die. Have you ever heard of the term 'reductio absurdum'?
Of course, this direction of discourse points out failures in the English language. For example, people of Asian descent are still called Asians even if their families have been in the United States for generations. However, we use terms like 'black' and 'white' for people of African and European descent. What's really inaccurate is calling people from the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent 'Asian', too--scientifically, they're actually as Caucasian as Jacques Chirac of France.
Also, rdm12's post made libelous hints that I have problems with people of African descent. I'm making a big deal out of HIS insidius insinuations. 'The Matrix Reloaded' is a mediocre movie, and I'm content to leave it at that.
John, perhaps we are all of African descent, but that's like saying that we all need to live before we can die. Have you ever heard of the term 'reductio absurdum'?
Of course, this direction of discourse points out failures in the English language. For example, people of Asian descent are still called Asians even if their families have been in the United States for generations. However, we use terms like 'black' and 'white' for people of African and European descent. What's really inaccurate is calling people from the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent 'Asian', too--scientifically, they're actually as Caucasian as Jacques Chirac of France.
Friday, May 16, 2003
Member since:
March 2002
March 2002
Hey Rodney, if I have a problem with powerful people of African descent (which I don't), I'd admit it without you speaking for me. My problems with 'The Matrix' are clearly stated and have to do with concepts, not race. Then again, what's to be expected from you anyway? I'm not the one spreading lies about people being involved in plea bargains.
By the way, referring to the blacks in 'The Matrix' as African-American is erroneous. If the film is indeed set in the future, then there is already no such thing as a United States of America. We don't even know if Zion is located directly beneath either North or South America. Therefore, if you want to be anthropologically correct, then call those characters 'of African descent'.
By the way, referring to the blacks in 'The Matrix' as African-American is erroneous. If the film is indeed set in the future, then there is already no such thing as a United States of America. We don't even know if Zion is located directly beneath either North or South America. Therefore, if you want to be anthropologically correct, then call those characters 'of African descent'.
