Imagine as though your everyday life is nothing but a design created to mask the truth of what reality actually is. The 1999 American-Australian science-fiction-action movie The Matrix, written and directed by the Wachoski Brothers depicts such a world.
The film begins with Thomas Anderson or Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, who lives his life as a computer programmer but doubles as a computer hacker. This soon leads him to the truth about the Matrix and is brought into a rebellion against the machines that have taken over earth and are using human bodies as energy sources.
The Matrix has many references to both religious, philosophical ideas, and homage’s to great novelist, such as Lewis Carol’s The Adventure’s of Alice in Wonderland. Both Alice and Neo are thrown into dream like worlds. Like Alice, Neo is told to follow the white rabbit, which he discovers is a tattoo on a woman’s shoulder. This leads him to a pivotal scene in which he has to make the life altering decision to continue on his journey through the matrix or go back to his life of ordinary ignorance.
The particular scene that is leading Neo to this cross road is when he is meeting Morpheus, the leader of the rebellion, for the first time. Morpheus is enlightening Neo about the matrix. This scene demonstrates Neo’s eagerness to learn about this world, he speaks very little during this scene but is leaning in, on the edge of his seat, which is facing Morpheus, who is much more casual and relaxed into his chair as he tells Neo about this other world.
This scene is one of the most crucial moments in the film because Morpheus gives Neo two options, which will determine the plot for the rest of the film. Neo is offered two pills, one red and one blue. Each pill has a specific purpose, to either make Neo forget any of this had happened or to emerge him further into the matrix. The most power shot in this scene is the view of Morpheus but we are able to see the reflection in his glasses of both Neo’s face and emotions and also both of the pills in Morpheus’ hands.
The film begins with Thomas Anderson or Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, who lives his life as a computer programmer but doubles as a computer hacker. This soon leads him to the truth about the Matrix and is brought into a rebellion against the machines that have taken over earth and are using human bodies as energy sources.
The Matrix has many references to both religious, philosophical ideas, and homage’s to great novelist, such as Lewis Carol’s The Adventure’s of Alice in Wonderland. Both Alice and Neo are thrown into dream like worlds. Like Alice, Neo is told to follow the white rabbit, which he discovers is a tattoo on a woman’s shoulder. This leads him to a pivotal scene in which he has to make the life altering decision to continue on his journey through the matrix or go back to his life of ordinary ignorance.
The particular scene that is leading Neo to this cross road is when he is meeting Morpheus, the leader of the rebellion, for the first time. Morpheus is enlightening Neo about the matrix. This scene demonstrates Neo’s eagerness to learn about this world, he speaks very little during this scene but is leaning in, on the edge of his seat, which is facing Morpheus, who is much more casual and relaxed into his chair as he tells Neo about this other world.
This scene is one of the most crucial moments in the film because Morpheus gives Neo two options, which will determine the plot for the rest of the film. Neo is offered two pills, one red and one blue. Each pill has a specific purpose, to either make Neo forget any of this had happened or to emerge him further into the matrix. The most power shot in this scene is the view of Morpheus but we are able to see the reflection in his glasses of both Neo’s face and emotions and also both of the pills in Morpheus’ hands.
"You take the blue pill the story ends, you wake up in your bed and you believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, you stay in wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes."
This creates not only the whimsical effect of the wonderland feel but also furthers the connection the audience feels to Neo’s emotions in making his decision. We are led to believe we are looking out of Neo’s perspective but we also see his face and his emotions as if we are viewing him from Morpheus' eyes, so we are thrown off guard.
bullet time
One specific visual effect technique that was used for this film that became extremely successful was the shot called “bullet time”. This is the idea of filming a shot in slow motion however, the camera appears to be filming at a normal speed. “Bullet time” was one of the most important visual effects to the story line. This particular effect creates the appearance that the characters can control space and time. This is a trait that the characters developed as they were enlightened about the matrix and what they are capable of doing in it. It plays a key component to the audience's belief in the idea of this other world that is programmed by computers where anything is possible, even dodging bullets.
Work Cited
Photos:
"The Matrix has you" Digital image. Blogspot.com. N.p., 31 Oct. 2010. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.
"Matrix, Morpheus and the Reflexions". Digital image. The Guardian.com. N.p., 1999. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.
"Dodging Bullets- Video Clip" The Matrix. Dir. Lana and Andrew Wachowskis. Perf. Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne. Village Roadshow, 1999. DVD.
Work Cited
Photos:
"The Matrix has you" Digital image. Blogspot.com. N.p., 31 Oct. 2010. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.
"Matrix, Morpheus and the Reflexions". Digital image. The Guardian.com. N.p., 1999. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.
"Dodging Bullets- Video Clip" The Matrix. Dir. Lana and Andrew Wachowskis. Perf. Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne. Village Roadshow, 1999. DVD.
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