November 12, 2003
The Matrix Revolutions
Today Lileks posted an excellent article on the third Matrix movie. Click here to read the article.
I do have to quote one part of his analysis:
I took away something else from the Matrix trilogy: it is a product of deeply confused people. They want it all. They want individualism and community; they want secularism and transcendence; they want the purity of committed love and the licentious fun of an S&M club; they want peace and the thrill of violence; they want God, but they want to design him on their own screens with their own programs by their own terms for their own needs, and having defined the divine on their own terms, they bristle when anyone suggests they have simply built a room with a mirror and flattering lighting. All three Matrix movies, seen in total, ache for a God. But they can’t quite go all the way. They’re like three movies about circular flat meat patties that can never quite bring themselves to say the word “hamburger.”
Interesting take on the series that I think hits the nail pretty much on the head. Thanks to The Mighty Barrister for pointing this out. I even copied the same quote as he did (it was the best quote in the article), but I wanted to make sure it was seen.
By the way, I've seen the movie and was very disappointed. I disagree with Lileks on one point: I would wait for the rental.
Jay
Posted by Jay at November 12, 2003 05:03 PM | TrackBack |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Thanks for the kudos. I'll add you to my blogroll when I get to my site tomorrow. Peace.
Posted by: The Barrister at November 12, 2003 11:34 PMAfter seeing the first movie, and choosing to not waste time on the second one, I wouldn't even wait for the third one to come out on video. All we have is time, don't waste it.
Posted by: Maria at November 14, 2003 12:48 AMWas i the only one that realised that the references to christianity were more symbolic than actually leading anyone to any closer to the spiritual truths mentioned in the Matrix movies..?
For example,
"Maya" - Illusion.
"Karma" - Cause/Effect.
"Dharma" - Duty.
"Sati" - Sacrifice.
"Cosmology" - Quantam mechanics & Human mind.
"Yoga" - Meditation.
are fundamental tenets of Hinduism, a 5000 year old Indian philosophy (of which Buddhism is based on.)
Posted by: truth at November 20, 2003 10:13 PMtruth,
My point is that there aren't any "spiritual truths" in the movie - it's all gloss without substance. I think the quote above says it all.
Jay
Posted by: Jay at November 20, 2003 10:31 PMObviously you do not understand the movie enough to make a truth analysis. There is evidence in the movie that gives out truth to Christians, but you have to be willing to see the truth. Yes, it is a hollywood movie, and hollywood gets in the way on how they show movies but there is still enough evidence in the movie to support Christianity.
Posted by: Mark at November 25, 2003 03:27 AMMark,
The directors have said many times that this is an inherently buddist movie. In fact, the Christian themes are more related to gnostic Christianity (an early heresy) than to what we consider Christianity today. I agree that they were setting up Neo as a Christ figure, but the overall point of the movie is very buddist, which is almost the opposite of Christianity.
Click here to read a good article on the religious undertones in the Matrix.
Jay
Posted by: Jay at November 25, 2003 07:42 AM
