Questions Raised In Matrix Revolutions A Chat between LMI's Jason Kaplan and contributor / visitor Jeremy
----------------SPOILERS! -------------
Is Neo Dead? Jason Kaplan:I saw the entire
movie set in a religious framework, specifically New Testament, but there are a
lot of theories mixed into the Matrix philosophy. In that sense, if Neo is
the second or sixth coming of the savior, Neo is alive. Thomas A. Anderson is
dead. Jeremy:His spirit is still alive,
but his mortal body is dead. I was thinking also about how the leaders of
the ship are the apostles. They follow Neo, but in reality just like the apostles
they truly do not believe in him until the crucifixion.
Jason: I think it's safe to say, Neo "died
for our sins" thereby saving Zion and ultimately the machine world if you buy
the religious framework.
How Does Neo Control Things Outside The Matrix? Jeremy: What do you mean, is
Neo another control or in reality a
choice?
Jason: That was a big question after Reloaded. In this movie, it's pretty
clear: Neo can blow up sentinels, he can see without eyes.
Jeremy: Well he is Christ, that's the best answer anyone can give.
Jason: I thought that since the matrix is based on the same model as the
real world, just as the matrix can be manipulated, so can the real world once
you understand everything just as you can see the source code in the matrix.
Neo could see that in reality. He could see beyond mere appearances.
Jeremy: I mean everything in nature really boils down to codes and
structures, so once you find it you should be able to manipulate it. That
seems like a solid conclusion.
Jason: Likely the most abstract and philosophical stretch in the movie.
How Is Agent Smith Ultimately Defeated? Jason: I've heard at least 4 decent theories...
Jeremy: So what were the theories?
Jason: Basically Agent Smith's function was to destroy anything that
got in his way. Once he died, he had no more purpose and programs that have
no purpose delete themselves. The only thing that keeps non-purposeful
programs going is love. Another is that Neo and Agent Smith neutralize
each other like anti-matter and matter hitting then they wipe each other out. Another is once Neo was assimilated, his code went out throughout the whole
matrix, the thing the architect wanted leading to the reboot and getting rid of
the viruses. Since his code was special, the matrix is more stable.
Another, which I like less is that the Oracle and Neo somehow teamed up and beat
Agent Smith.
Jeremy: Hmm, the Architect seemed pretty reluctant at the end about the peace
process. I definitely agree with the Oracle/Neo aspect, of course
the Oracle was involved, why else would Smith say her line?
Jason: Well, he could see part of the future, but he didn't understand the
choice. Remember how the Oracle was always saying that. The Oracle
sacrifices herself knowing that by giving Agent Smith the power to see future
events, he will eventually use that power unknowingly and it will lead to his
downfall.
Jeremy: Machines don't understand the choice, they only see the outcome.
Jason: Basically, Agent Smith saw the future, but he couldn't use that
information properly. Regardless if the Oracle was helping, Agent smith
was doomed. Remember, every machine-created matrix resulted in a failure,
so once Smith took over the matrix, it was bound to fail. The matrix is
still based on all those humans plugged in. That's another theory I just
thought of. All those people refused to let Agent Smith control them and
the woke up from Agent Smith's control once all choice was taken away.
Where Does Mervigovian And His Club Fit In?
Jason: You might say he is Satan in that he gives into human pleasures or
is at least very fascinated by them. His club people do whatever they
want.
Jeremy: The French guy is one of the evil saints or maybe Lucifer. The
Satan comparison is interesting since he controls the transportation between the
real world and the matrix. The club scene could easily be considered some sort
of hell.
Jason: ...but he isn't important enough to really fit the Satan
role. I would say that, but he basically is a sideshow. I
suppose he could be Satan, banished from the matrix like Lucifer is banished
from Heaven, and Agent Smith could be the anti-Christ. The dictionary says
the anti-Christ is "the adversary of Christ (or Christianity) mentioned in the
New Testament; the Antichrist will rule the world until overthrown by the Second
Coming of Christ."
Jeremy: What was cool was how the kiss
with Monica Bellucci
connected to the club scene, Persephone knew how devoted Trinity was through
that scene and that's why they were able to get Neo. The French guy
probably wouldn't have given up Neo if it wasn't for Persephone.
Jason: Persephone is stuck in the underworld. That's where
the name comes
from, so it's pretty safe to say that it is some sort of underworld/hell. Merv
being Hades, the Greek God of the underworld, in that he controls
the afterlife; the Train is like the River Styx.
Jeremy: It even has the scary man who decides who crosses the river.
Who Is The Little Girl / The Last Exile?
Jeremy: The little girl is the nest reincarnation of Neo, that's why she
says she created the sunrise.
Jason: That makes sense. Why does Agent Smith call her the last exile?
Jeremy: Yeah why else would the
Oracle want to take care of her?
Jason: What does the little girl need to do, though,
if there's no more war?
Jeremy: Well there is always the potential of a second coming of Christ in case
of trouble since sin is not entirely vanquished.
Jason: She is like Neo because she is saved by love. Her parents sacrifice
themselves for her.
Jeremy: Exactly, and also like Neo she resides in both worlds, she appears to be
half human, half program.
Where Are The Machines Going To Get Power From Now? Jason: This really bugs me. If everyone is "freed" from the
matrix, what are the machines going to do?
Jeremy: Not sure if the Architect meant to free all the people,
it
seemed a little vague.
Jason: It doesn't seem like either world
would be able to handle a mass change in population.
Jeremy: Zion could use the extra people to rebuild.
Jason: Where does the food come from? They have no plants or
animals.
Jeremy: Not sure, they seem to just live off that gruel that they make in the
first Matrix on the ship.
Jason: Why would the machine even bother to save Zion?
Jeremy: Just so the rebels wouldn't entirely destroy the matrix when they
tried to free themselves from it.
Jason: So when people pop out of the matrix, the people in Zion will say,
the machines are our friends? We'll stop hacking the matrix? Zion
doesn't seem to have much bargaining power.
What Is The Purpose Of The Architect and The Oracle?
Jeremy: Why was the architect created?
Was he created by the computers?
Jason: I think so. He was responsible for creating the matrix.
He is the
head program.
Jeremy: It seems there would be no reason for humans to create him.
Jason: None at all. Basically, I see him as running the matrix for the big
machine face. The big problems with machines is that the genesis of their
creation is from tools with purposes, so all they know is function
and purpose, whereas humans are less bounded by purpose. People are
always going around asking, "What is the meaning of life? What is my
purpose?" A machine would never have to ask, it probably wouldn't
understand such questions. Agent Smith is always criticizing questions
like these.
Jeremy: I thought the Architect was operating the big
machine face. Do you think there is any possibility that the Oracle could
be mostly human?
Jason: It seemed she makes it pretty clear she isn't human.
Jeremy: She does in
that sense but why would she exist in the matrix unless the humans somehow
created her?
Jason: She's a new program to make up for the difficulties
machines have been having with choice and ultimately will provide some sort of
compromise.
Jeremy: I understood that part, but it seems that the compromise comes at
the expense of the entire matrix program, it makes no sense. She basically
destroys the function of the matrix. That is to keep the humans inside the
matrix and to have them supply power.
Jason: If I was given a choice, I would probably stay in the matrix.
Zion is a dump, just as long as you know the machines are your friends.
Jeremy: It's true, I would reside in the matrix too, Zion seemed like a terrible
living space.
Jason: Maybe they could work something out, take a vacation in the Matrix,
pay for it with body heat. Although, they'd have to get a better way
to connect, those plugs aren't so attractive.
Jeremy: That's one thing they should have done better, Zion should have
been more appealing.
the architect wanted leading to the reboot and getting rid of
the viruses. Since his code was special, the matrix is more stable.
Another, which I like less is that the Oracle and Neo somehow teamed up and beat
Agent Smith.
French guy
probably wouldn't have given up Neo if it wasn't for Persephone.
