Tell me about The Matrix

[Out of the Blue]

I looove, the Matrix movies. In fact, today I watched all three of them with one of my friends.

But, I've always had some trouble understanding the entire story line.

Would anyone here be willing to explain it to me?

I don't quite get Neo's involvement with the real world, why the machine's stopped, what Zion actually is, who the oracle is and how she knows what she does, and why the hell is Trinity so ugly and why didn't Neo dump her for the Vampire Persephone chick?

[skysaw]

why the machine's stopped
Neo is developing psychic abilities that are connected to his control over the matrix. His mind can reach out to the machine world even without the help of the electronics on the ship. He doesn't have a lot of control in this regard, which is why his mind gets stuck in the machine-world loading program (the subway).

what Zion actually is
It's the last city on Earth where humans live free. But it's also some sort of mystical breeding ground that the machines leave in place long enough to breed a new "One." Then they kill all but a few of them and repeat the cycle. Neo breaks the cycle by being more powerful than they expected.

I'm not really clear on why the cycle is supposed to be important to the machines. It has something to do with them using the free will of the One to help reprogram the matrix, by forcing him to make a choice (save Zion or save Trinity). The machines apparently have no free will of their own, so they must use a human for this ingredient.

who the oracle is and how she knows what she does
She is simply a program that runs inside the matrix. One assumes she knows a lot because the program has access to all of the data inside the matrix.

and why the hell is Trinity so ugly and why didn't Neo dump her for the Vampire Persephone chick?
Trinity is not ugly... she is ugly-sexy, and there is a huge difference! Sure, she's a little too goth, but who isn't in the world of the matrix? Persephone is of course only a program, so Neo couldn't have much fun with her in the real world. ... besides, it's twue wuv!

[Barnsey]

Have you seen The Animatrix? I recommend it.

Another little thing that everyone knows but i'll say anyway, Neo is an anagram of One (The One)

[skysaw]

I liked most of the Animatrix, especially the story about the girl and her cat and the one where the humans kidnap the machine and teach it about love.

The best thing is you can pick this DVD up for around five bucks these days.

[Asymptote]

Yeah, the one where they kidnapped the machine was excellent...probably my favorite on the whole disk.

I liked most of the Animatrix, especially the story about the girl and her cat and the one where the humans kidnap the machine and teach it about love.

The best thing is you can pick this DVD up for around five bucks these days.

[Neruo]

Have you seen The Animatrix? I recommend it.

Another little thing that everyone knows but i'll say anyway, Neo is an anagram of One (The One)

NO WAI! RLY?

(no way, really?)

-

Yes way. Kind of obvious to be honest.

Now, how does the ending of the Matrix 1 connect with the sequels? >: (

[Out of the Blue]

Mkay mkay, thanks skysaw. I was trying to explain everything (somewhat) logically. I was thinking that Zion and Machine City were just part of another simulation or somethign along those lines, which would explain Neo's powers. But I guess real psychic power does that too.

[Amethyst Star]

I liked most of the Animatrix, especially the story about the girl and her cat and the one where the humans kidnap the machine and teach it about love.

The best thing is you can pick this DVD up for around five bucks these days.

I'd have to say that "Kid's Story" and "The Final Flight of the Osiris" (obviously) were my favorites, followed closely by "Matriculated" and "Beyond.".... it's not like I know them all by heart.

Oh wait, I do.

[Asymptote]

Mkay mkay, thanks skysaw. I was trying to explain everything (somewhat) logically. I was thinking that Zion and Machine City were just part of another simulation or somethign along those lines, which would explain Neo's powers. But I guess real psychic power does that too.
It always seemed to me that it was entirely possible that the machines were living in their own sort of Matrix, set up by their masters, who were also living in some sort of Matrix, and so on ad infinitum.

[Flinte]

I like "A detective story" the best

[skysaw]

This is kind of interesting...

I had a dream last night where I came up with a theory about the Matrix. In the dream, I was explaining to my wife the parallels between the movie and the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory movie (with Gene Wilder). I was explaining the similar imagery, storyline, and characters, and it all made perfect sense.

I woke up, and it still works. :)

I won't go over it all here, but if you know the two movies, imagine Charlie as Neo, his uncle as Trinity, and Willy Wonka as Morpheus. The other chosen kids are the crew of the ship (picked off one by one).

In the beginning, Neo and Charlie both live pitiful existences, and are searching for more. Little do they know, that Morpheus/Wonka are searching for them!

As a reminder, Wonka is looking for someone to take over the factory, but only a child will do. Morpheus tells Neo that it is hard after a certain age to be unplugged. I'm thinking the oompa-loompas (who were "liberated" by Wonka) relate to people Morpheus has helped rescue

The dollar Charlie finds can be either money or a chocolate bar... the decision = blue pill/red pill. Willy later sings about a "world of pure imagination" (it's all in your mind!)

There are even very similar visuals. Think of Neo going down the slimy tube and getting dumped into the water vs. The fat kid getting sucked up through a tube from the chocolate river. Think of the very end of each movie... Neo comes out of a phone booth and flies straight up into the air; Charlie steps into the glass elevator (looks like a phone booth) and flies straight up into the air.

I'm going to watch the old Charlie movie today to remind myself of more. I think Willy even says something to the effect of "You're the one" after Charlie gives back the ever-lasting gobstopper, and is chosen to take over the factory.

[Asymptote]

Skysaw, I think you just blew my mind! I'd never thought about it, but there are an awful lot of parallels there. I'll never look at "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" the same again!

[RooJ]

I'm not really clear on why the cycle is supposed to be important to the machines. It has something to do with them using the free will of the One to help reprogram the matrix, by forcing him to make a choice (save Zion or save Trinity). The machines apparently have no free will of their own, so they must use a human for this ingredient.

I always thought the point of reprogramming the matrix was for the architect to try and iron out the flaws, the flaw being the anomaly that results in the one.... Actually thinking about it the architect said the first matrix was perfect and it was rejected, choice was the key to its success but it created the anomaly... So is he trying to rid the matrix of the systemic anomaly and keep choice or is he... no im just lost now, i need to watch it again.

I love the animatrix, the haunted house was probably my favourite but they're all good.