The Matrix

In my opinion, “Matrix” is a movie that is entertainment for any movie-goer because it has something for everyone. Obviously, fans of science fiction movies would like it because of the twists in the plot and the special effects which are incredible. The stop-action of the bullets by Neo is one example of this. The directors also use slow motion, then suddenly fast action. There are so many entertaining components that contribute to the success of the storyline such as suspense, action-packed events, and romance. The directors are creative in how they unravel their story. I, like the rest of the viewers, was led to believe that this was an ordinary story with ordinary characters, such as the character played by Keanu Reeves. Then the directors allow the story to unfold. It’s not an ordinary story. They used a great deal of detail in drawing in their viewers with camera angles that lead your attention to something from above or below, hazy and dim lighting, calculated action to excite the audience, and pulsating music to help add to the drama. I noticed that the color black is used a lot, especially in the clothing, and several of the characters wore sunglasses. To me this hides their eyes and facial expressions. Even though this movie has an ending, the directors leave it wide open for sequels, which seems to be pretty common. In reading the review by James L. Ford, I found his comparisons between Buddhism, Christianity, and The Matrix very interesting. After viewing the movie, I would not have looked so deeply into the philosophical and religious nature of the message in the movie. Ford states that The Matrix is an example of myth-making which can lead to foundational thinking in some religions and building or adding to new cultures. To me, I don’t think the common viewer would analyze it like this. This movie contains a lot of symbolism but it isn’t strong enough to educate the audience on religious theories.