Excellent Breakdown of The Matrix(To possibly end the confusion)

[Ash]

WARNING!!!  MAJOR SPOILERS!!!
ONLY READ THIS IF YOU HAVE SEEN ALL 3 MATRIX FILMS!!!

Ok....with that out of the way I found this near perfect explanation of The Matrix and a fantastic breakdown of what it all means.
Hopefully this will clear up most of the confusion surrounding the films.  I just got back from seeing "Revolutions" (saw the 4:00 pm matinee...11-11-03) and boy was I somewhat confused!  
It was an excellent flick by the way....a fitting conclusion to the trilogy.  Now, after reading this, it all makes perfect sense.
I took this explanation from the I.M.D.B. message board....a user wrote it and I pasted his quote directly here..  



"The Earth we know has been devastated by a global calamity, probably of our own making.

Humans have retreated to life-pods and are sustained by advanced machines. They are all "test tube babies" as there is obviously no physical contact between them.

To escape this awful reality the humans have built a virtual reality supercomputer with self-regulating programs. These programs create an illusionary interactive pre-apocalypse version of the world and download it to their somnambulant charges. For efficiency the machines use the humans to power their own lifepods.

The computer was instructed to hide the human races’ guilt for destroying their environment.

The computer has a number of programs to allow the Matrix to run smoothly:

"The Architect" writes the general framework for the virtual world, also known as the Matrix, and directs subroutines to write the detailed imagery.

"The Oracle" assigns the weighted values for the variable elements in the VR world program.

"The Agents" are anti-virus programs designed to contain and eliminate damaged lines of code and virus-type programs running in the Matrix VR.


"The Merovingian" is an example of an early repair program. Designed to write new lines of code to repair errors in the primal version of the Matrix. An earlier Neo himself perhaps.

"The Seraph" is another early repair program designed to protect important subroutines.

"Neo" is an advanced repair program designed to learn how the human renegades function and reboot the computer in case of system-wide program corruption.

The world of the Matrix is of course a virtual reality construct. But the "human world" including Zion, is another VR construct designed to isolate humans who could not bring themselves to accept the Matrix world. The Program allows the humans to "escape" the Matrix reality, transferring to the Zion program where they are allowed to exist in a version of reality they are more likely to accept. Being fatalists, Zion is perfect for them. Of course the actual human beings are still snug in their pods. There are layers and layers of reality here.

When the numbers of humans refusing to accept the Matrix world grow too large it threatens the stability of the Matrix itself. Obviously having all of these people in black leather jumping around like superheroes, shooting up the place and disappearing through phone lines is bound to attract attention. And there are all of those folks bailing from the Matrix and telling their friends and family too.

Ultimately for the human races’ own good the Program must control this insurgence and reboot the Matrix to keep the whole population from finding out the true grave nature of their reality.


While the other humans, Trinity, Morpheus, Niobe and so on may represent real humans sustained by the machines, Neo is entirely a construct like the agents and his Zion self is just another part of that same program. This is why those previous versions have all looked alike. Neo’s character, the systemic anomaly, is a result of the compounding, conflicting choices about the true nature of reality confronting all those souls in the system. He was written to grow up as a human, inside the Matrix, as bait for the Zion renegades, who are drawn to his designed-in angst and apparent computer hacking abilities.

The story is about how things go wrong because Neo has fallen in love with a real human, something his predecessors didn’t do. This causes him to rewrite his own programming to remain with Trinity, and try to protect her world.

Agent Smith is the result of an accidental contamination by Neo’s rogue programming. Smith has gained some of Neo’s self-writing capabilities. He is no longer part of the anti-virus program, having been "killed" by Neo in the first movie. But thanks to his new abilities he hasn’t gone away. Like Frankenstein’s monster he questions the nature of his existence. Unlike Neo he knows he is a program, but as he is not in love he has no reason to care about the continuation of the false Matrix reality, feeling it’s a waste of time. And he finds contempt for Neo’s refusal to accept their true nature.

The Oracle recognizes this version of Neo is different, has strayed from his mission, and uses him to further her own ends. In this case coercing the Architect to allow renegade self-aware programs like the little girl and her "parents" freedom to share the human’s world rather than be erased. Forcing choice on maintenance programs like Neo and Smith obviously can have severe consequences.

After all, that’s where the Merovingian came from. A program that chose to stay rather than be deleted. He fortified himself against the Agents and tried not to cause any trouble outside his little domain. That’s why he was so upset with Neo’s intervention. Rocking the boat would be bad for him as well.

The Machine world that Neo travels to is actually the Source, all of the programs that run the Matrix and Zion. Programs run just below the apparent surface, invisible to the humans it was designed to fool. As Neo is a program, he has the ability to see the true nature of the way the programs work.

As Smith is "unplugged" from the system, the Program has no control over him. It’s not until he absorbs Neo, who is still plugged in and being watched by the system that the Program can delete him.

In the end Neo sacrifices himself to save Trinity’s world, even though he knows it to be only another level of the virtual reality that is the Matrix."



Post Edited (11-12-03 14:40)

[Ash]

The author of the original post also wrote 2 follow-up posts to clarify things a little more...here they are:  

"I believe the Oracle is the very advanced equivalent of a randomizing subroutine in a contemporary computer game.

These program lines assign values to conceptual elements in a game, such as what are the consequences of a character doing this thing rather than that thing. If while playing a computer game you make your character, your "avatar" turn right, how will the game’s program respond to that?

The Matrix is of course many orders of magnitude more advanced than any contemporary computer game, so the lines of programming are advanced enough to be self correcting to accommodate any unforeseen variables the humans might choose, that the machines, being machines, wouldn’t anticipate.

These Matrix programs are so advanced that they are literally self-aware. Some, it seems, don’t want to be deleted after performing their function, or when they have been replaced by a more advanced version. They want to hang around, coexisting with the humans.
Some, like Sati’s parents, have written their own little subroutines, and while the new little program wasn’t ordered into existence by the Matrix’s architectural program, they don’t want to see it erased none the less. These programs are so much like the humans they are written to emulate that they are capable of loving each other.

The Neo program was written to grow up as a human, inside the Matrix as bait for the Zion renegades who are drawn to his designed-in angst and apparent computer hacking abilities. Even he is unaware of his true nature, he believes he is human, it's not until the scene with the Architect that he realizes the truth. Neo is also a program like the agents or the little girl's parents. He knows that Zion must also be a part of the Matrix because his powers also work there. His Zion self is just another level of the same program. This is why those previous versions of Neo the Architect showed him all look alike.
His original purpose was to infiltrate Zion, and reboot the system. It's his falling in love with Trinity that screws things up. The Architect actually says all of this in his convoluted way, while talking to Neo. He points out that this version of Neo is different then the "others", he gets the points faster. The Architect also says that this time is different because, instead of following the plan Neo’s fallen in love with Trinity. The train station scene demonstrates to him that even a program can be in love, and make sacrifices for the ones it loves."

[Scott]

Good breakdown.

[Prophet Tenebrae]

It's an interesting break-down but I have to question it's worth based on the fact it's based on a premise which is entirely unsupported by any evidence. Although as a piece of supposition, it is quite complete within itself.

[Scott]

Well said Prophet.

[Eirik]

I'm just glad I was unimpressed enough by the first Matrix to not bother with the sequels.  Sounds like a long, over-complicated three-picture remake of Tron with another one of those surprise endings that have been so "in" since Sixth Sense.

And I am sick as hell of seeing laff-a-minute comedies trying to pass off Matrix special effects parodies as a laugh-worthy.

[Ash]

Remember, I did not write that info, I merely copied the quote & pasted it here.

Of all the debating that I've read about these films on different forums, the one I posted is by far the best in my opinion.  
Most of the time the thread writers spit out random thoughts that usually add up to nothing and eventually start arguing...and yes...there are also those like one person on this thread that have to show their distaste in ALL of the Matrix films for whatever reason....which doesn't help.  If you dislike them so much then create a seperate thread about why you hate them.  

Anyway, I personally like every Matrix film and consider each of them very good....but very different.  Everyone expected the sequels to be just like the first and were mostly disappointed when they were nothing like it.

I say this.....for these 3 films you must take a step or two back and look at the big picture of it all.  
Not just one movie at a time.
The sequels were not meant to be exactly like the first.  
I use the word "sequel" in the shallowest of terms because I do not believe that each is a sequel, but a continuation of the whole.  Remember that even though it is 3 seperate movies...it is ALL 1 story.
Critics and most people in general are looking at the 2nd & 3rd movies in the traditional sense that people around the world look at most other film sequels...as simply....sequels.  
I think that is just the thing the Wakowski brothers were trying to avoid.  
They thought ahead...and very differently...it's just too bad that alot of the general population failed to see what they were getting at.  (I know I'll get slammed for saying that...Remember, this is my opinion)

Rather than focus on minute details about the films, I write this because I hear about so many people who didn't like the 2nd or final film but loved the first...this is my take on why I think they dislike them...ultimately because they look at each film as an individual when they should be looking at all 3 together as one.  I'm more concerned in this post about general negative audience reaction.

Imagine a jigsaw puzzle that you're working on at this very moment....sitting on your table it is fragmented and incomplete...you have some of it done but not all.  
The piece that you're now trying to put in is similar, but not exactly like the one you just put in before it.
Only by seeing all 3 films and putting the pieces of the puzzle together can you see the whole picture.  Most people are examining each individual piece when they should be focusing on what the finished product will and does eventually look like.  Whether you like what the finished product looks like when it is all said & done is a matter of personal preference...I for one love it!

See what I'm getting at?



Post Edited (11-12-03 13:29)

[dean]

the animatrix and the game 'enter the matrix' are supposed to add more depth to the series.  haven't played the game, but the animatrix only added to what we already knew [at the time of pre-reloaded]

the summary ash has shown us is pretty good, but it is open to opinion and different views.  i especially liked the whole neo is a program part, it certainly puts in perspective why smith could enter the 'real' world.  my criticism of the whole 'matrix inside the matrix' idea is that it could have been explored in a bit more detail [if that is indeed the view wanted by the wachowskis]  

Revolutions, as an ending, seemed to fail, in my opinion, in tying up the series in the mindblowing way that reloaded set up for us.  the series just seemed to promise alot, yet only followed through with a bit: everything in reloaded made me think it was too much of an easy way out, they played it to simple.

don't get me wrong, i love the series, i am still just a little annoyed at revolutions.

so here's my suggestion, albiet a little improperly thought out, on what the matrix should have been about. What is needed is to concentrate a little more on the whole machines developing emotions bit, yet the real world isn't just a measure of control, but the real world.  That could have some pretty cool consequences, with smith, in a sense, becoming more human whilst neo becomes more machine, sort of like evolution i guess; machines evolve more into human [emotions, irrationality, etc] i have no idea how this would work out, but i think it could work a bit better than what actually happened.

either that or put a bit more effort in exploring the matrix within a matrix idea, not necessarily have more hints to it, we don't need to be knocked on the head, but just a deeper exploration of what having another deeper matrix and machines that love would mean to the world, be it the machine world or the human world.

[daveblackeye15]

I think that's why I enjoy all three movies equally. I treat them as one long story, It might be because I'm writing my own comic books and normally the stories are so long they have to be broken up into 5 or 6 issues. So that would make them continuations, not sequals in other words (I know I'm repeating myself and ASHTHECAT.) All three movies ROCK!

[Eirik]

ASHTHECAT wrote: "If you dislike them so much then create a seperate thread about why you hate them."

Um, excuse me, ASHTHECAT, but reading the thread from the guy who wrote that he liked "Puppetmaster (1994)", you chimed right in and said you think it "stank."  

So let me see if I have the rules straight: If a thread starts about a movie, anyone is entitled to express their opinion on that thread... UNLESS the thread is started by ASHTHECAT, in which case all posts to that thread must be in general agreement.  Have I got that right?

10 reasons I didn't bother to see Matrix 2 or 3:

10.  Keanu Reeves was better in the Bill&Ted movies.
9.  Virtual reality storylines are cheap ways in which writers can surprise audiences with plot twists that the audience has no chance of figuring out.  They're a crutch for lazy and uncreative writers.  The summary ASHTHECAT posted shows that the Matrix sequels are no different.
8.  Freeze frame and "bullet time" special effects in the first movie did not advance or add to the plot.  They were a gimmick.  3-D didn't work for me in Jaws 3, Bullet time didn't work for me in the Matrix.
7.  I only saw the first one after the twentieth person told me what an awesome movie it was.  Not one person (in the flesh, not on line) has recommended either of the sequels to me.  
6.  In online forums, the big retort to criticism I've seen of the Matrix sequels has been "Well, you just didn't understand it."  Yeah, right.  
5.  Digitally enhanced karate detracts from the real karate of guys like Jackie Chan and Chow Yun Fat.  It's like using steroids in the olympics.
4.  Someone told me Keanu Reeves' ass gets shown in one of the sequels.  No thank you.
3.  They killed the only interesting character (Joe Panoliano) in the first one.
2.  If the human race ever has to have a refuge somewhere, I hope we don't call it Zion, given how much luck the Israelis have had in finding some peace.
1.  I budget a limited amount of money to see movies in the theater each year.  I would have seen the Matrix pictures, but I have to see Return of the King five times.  The Hulk got bumped too.

These are all OPINIONS.  I welcome any retorts or arguments except the following: "If you don't like the Matrix, go start your own thread."

[Prophet Tenebrae]

My opinion is that essentially, regardless of what fanboys say. There really was no deep philosphy or unifying plot through the "trilogy". That might well have been okay if the films had been the all out action orgies they promised to be - but really, they weren't. Sure Revolutions might have given us maybe about 30-40% of a film which was purely Zion and Smith vs. Neo but never before has action been so dull.

There is no appreciable pacing in the action and let's not even get started on how horrible those mechs looked when we saw the human pilots... If they couldn't make that look decent, they should have at least covered the pilots up. In any case, there are people who love it and people who hate it and ne'er the two shall meet.

[Neon Noodle]

Prophet Tenebrae wrote:
>  In any case, there are people who love it and people who hate it and ne'er the  >  two shall meet.

This is an excellent point. I think that's what makes the forums so good here. If everyone loved these movies (or countless others) we'd never have any variety! it'd be boring as hell.

Yes, I was one of many folks that got a philosophical message from the trilogy, though mine was more personalized than most. And, there were countless others who didn't. I wouldn't presume to change anyone else's mind about the Matrix films any more than I would try to change someone's religious preferences.

Basically, the whole point of this forum is to offer differing opinions. If folks agree with me, it's okay, but if not, I don't take it personal. I got a kick out of a website that I would never have found were it not for Brother R recommending a site while retorting to my thread on Matrix thoughts. While he and I may not agree, I still learned something new, and that's that.

[Eirik]

"Yes, I was one of many folks that got a philosophical message from the trilogy, though mine was more personalized than most. And, there were countless others who didn't. "

I wholeheartedly agree with your post NN, except the quote above where you seem to equate not liking the Matrix movies with not understanding them.  I've seen lots of high-concept movies that I "got" and didn't like anyway.  A lot of the Reservoir Puppies of the early 90s fit this category (Natural Born Killers, Killing Zoe, etc).

[Prophet Tenebrae]

Yes, I feel that it's wrong to assume that just because you "get" a film - you're going to like it. I "got" Ring and I wasn't that impressed with that either. I "got" Revolutions too and for me, although the main message I walked out the cinema was "Wachoski Brothers sellout".

[FearlessFreep]

After watching Reloaded last night and seeing Revolutions, I have to say the movies were mildy entertaining as a few hours of escapism but most of the attempts at any sort of 'deep meaning' were little more the psuedo-new age-religious goobledygook.  Like a Star Trek expisode where they just thrown in stuff because the need  some "trek talk" and it doesn;'t really mean anything but just sounds cool in the moment.  I joked with my wife half way through the second that I could see the scriptwriters sitting around saying "Hey let's put this line in", "What's it mean?", "I dunno, but it sounds cool".  Dialog by fortune-cookie is what it felt like.  It just moves the story from point a  to point b and that's all it needs to do.; don't go home and try to write a thesis on it for your comparative religion class.

I didn't mind the bullet-time effects or the CGI.  A cool looking visual looks cool, I don't care how it was done.  I think they spent  way too much time the CG as padding in the third movie, though  The attack on the city and the "Hammer" in the caves had too much "Look , a billion robot bugs attacking the [port|ship]" ok, we saw it, we see it, we keep seeing it.  Let's move the story along a bit.  

Other than that, what made the movies so much fun to watch was  *in* the Matrix and the conflict between the humans jacked in and the various other programs.  The juxtaposition of the slow-mo and full speed action with the high-power techno music and the just plane looking so cool in black leather with an attitude.  That was primarirly dropped in the third movie in favor of more time in the 'real world' and with that gone it ended up being just another action/sci-fi movie.  Well done, but so much more mundane.  

In the end, it was an entertaining way to spend a few hours.  I still found "Dark City" much more clever and depressing.  Incredible visual presentation but a *lot* more time and thought should've gone on between Reloaded and Revolutions  to allow the third to be more visually stunning and more intellectually stimulating, but still. It was entertaining so I don't regret it