Matrix Reloaded

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by David Floyd
I just saw it for the second time tonight, and am really getting some good ideas on where some of this is going...

1) What the hell is up with the Oracle?

2 a) How was Neo able to kill the Sentinals?
b) Why did he fall into a coma afterward?

3) Why the body Smith took overe spared by the Sentinals?

[David Floyd]

1) What the hell is up with the Oracle?

My current working theory is that she's another "competing interest" (ie, Smith, Merovingian, Keymaker, etc.) who serves some purpose (everyone has a purpose and exists for a purpose).

2 a) How was Neo able to kill the Sentinals?

A strong possibility is the "Matrix with the Matrix" theory.

b) Why did he fall into a coma afterward?

In the Matrix, when his mind was first freed, his head almost exploded, so to speak. This is simply the same thing - he's being woken up a second time.

Of course, the other theory is simply that the other ship EMPed the Sentinels, and Neo fell into a coma because he THOUGHT he was being awoken again.

3) Why the body Smith took overe spared by the Sentinals?

This I don't know, but I do think this lends credence to the theory that Zion wasn't really destroyed - he has to serve a purpose, especially if he was spared.

[DinoDoc]

How much of what the Architect said was a lie?

[David Floyd]

Good question. Almost certainly most of it was untrue/deceiving.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by David Floyd
My current working theory is that she's another "competing interest"

What side does your current theory place her on? Do you see her as an ally or an enemy of the human hackers?

What purpose do you see Seraph serving and why didn't we see him in the first movie?

[David Floyd]

What side does your current theory place her on? Do you see her as an ally or an enemy of the human hackers?

If my theory is accurate, she's out for herself, and will support the side that helps her gain power, relative to other competing interests.

What purpose do you see Seraph serving and why didn't we see him in the first movie?

I don't know - haven't gotten this far yet, only been out of the movie for a coupla hours but my roommate and I have been brainstorming the whole time.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by David Floyd
I don't know - haven't gotten this far yet, only been out of the movie for a coupla hours but my roommate and I have been brainstorming the whole time.

When you have a theory, I'd be interested in seeing it.

[Kaak]

****************Spoilers****************

Okay, this is how i see it after the second time watching it.

There is no matrix within a matrix. This is blatantly obvious. The only way they could make the matrix work, according to the architect, was to give humans the choice of whether or not to accept it, atleast on the most fundamental level. Zion is real, and filled with real people that are not plugged in to a matrix. It is necessary. The people who do not accept the matrix must be taken out to avoid the snowball effect. The matrix was designed to allow this, thus the ability to get in/out of the matrix. Once zion grew too large, it must be irradicated, and replanted. This goes back to what agent smith said in the first one about humans infecting an area and over running it.

The function of the one is to basically reboot the system, or atleast do a "system restore." This keeps the matrix in the desired time frame. "The matrix is older than you believe." They cannot allow humans to reach the point where they develop AI inside the matrix, as this could be catostrophic.

Now, on to specific characters.

The architect: He was not deceiving. I believe him to be incapable of it. His fundamental guiding principles are rooted in perfection, and perfection completely governs his thought process. He is exacting, and this leaves no room for the ability to lie. Things are as he said because a) he cannot lie, b) he has no reason to.

The oracle: She hinted at where she fell. She said that humans and machines needed each other. Her sole goal is to perpetuate the cycle of "reloading" by guiding the one to the source, and thereby restarting the matrix, and allowing humans and machines to coexist. She is neither for or against Neo, and as her programming, though intuitive, is no less rooted in logic.

The agents: I think they are victims of partial revelation. Just like a computer system will not give complete access to programs running inside of it, the agents operate on the information they are given. They serve the function of identifying the one, and that function alone. They probably are unaware that there have been 5 previous "ones."

Agent smithin the matrix) Agent smith is now free from the system. He said he gained something from neo, and I think we were given some foreshadowing on this as well. In the first movie, when smith was interogating morpheus, he said humans were viruses, reproducing until they overwhelm an ecosystem. What else is the matrix but an ecosystem of programs?

smith gained the virul trait, and choice from neo. This gave him power, and as the oracle said, he wanted what all men with power want, more power. He truly thinks of himself as a diety in the matrix. One quote went man:"oh god" smith:"Smith will suffice."

He is trying to take over.

Smith outside the matrix: He has infected a freed human with his "virus." The thing i think is most important here is that the title of the movie suggests repeated action. "Reloaded." As the architect suggests, this is just one more time around. This time, however, things are going differently than they ever have before. An "agent" has made it to the real world, Neo expresses choice, possibly forsaking humanity. As for smith being in the "real world" I believe this gives Neo a tie to the machines. In "destroying" Smith, Smith gained from neo, but as the merovingian said, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Neo also gained from smith. And with smith in the "real" neo, who can control things in the matrix, is a part of something wholy of the matrix in the real world, thus his sudden connection to the machines.

The most perturbing thing about the movie to me is that this is going to end up being another one of those love conquers all things, like harry potter. I think so many people dislike this movie, as MRT said, because they don't understand what is going on. There is a lot more happening on a lot more levels. In the first matrix, they basically came out and stated everything truly philosophical in the movie. in reloaded, you must truly read into the movie, and pay attention to the finer points.

With all of this said, I'm sure that even after the seconjd time, there is a lot i missed. The rewatchability factor on this one is huge, because there is always more to catch.

[DinoDoc]

In "destroying" Smith, Smith gained from neo, but as the merovingian said, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Neo also gained from smith. And with smith in the "real" neo, who can control things in the matrix, is a part of something wholy of the matrix in the real world, thus his sudden connection to the machines.

This actually makes a certain amout of sense. It is much more clearer for me than the Matrix within a matrix theory for me at least.

[Kaak]

one thing i forgot to point out that is quite significant, was what happened at teh beginning of the movie. Neo can sense smith. He knew he was coming. Granted, he can sense what is going on in the matrix, but smith is no longer "of" the matrix.

[Lancer]

There might be a matrix within a matrix, otherwise how did Neo shoot down the attacking robot at the end? Neo has gained access to the next level? Smith has also. He was stuck in the matrix, now I believe he is infecting people from the 'real' world, the next level for him.

[Kaak]

Lancer, it just isn't plausible. It would negate the option of choice, which gives the matrix it's stability. He was able to do that because he truly is "the one." The prophecy that neo would end the war is true, they just couldn't conceive how he would do it...


-----edit-----
besides, neo can see the code. If it were another matrix, he would know instantly.

[Lancer]

Ok, though redundancy has its advantages...

How about Smith in the real world? Do you see any person or persons that might now be the Smith?

Smithy...hmmm.

The Smith being the mutated agent/virus program.

[Kaak]

Of course, that one freed guy; the survivor. Another interesting thing here, is that smith is going to be of very limited power in the real world, especially after being the only survivor. "everyone has their purpose." This was repeated and repeated in the movie, yet it could be possible that we missed the fact that Smith's "purpose" is to enter the "real world" to tie neo to the machines, and give him power over them. There must be a higher "prupose" driving this than that of the machines...

[Lancer]

Smith might have retained his power in the real world, that's why he got hooked up to Neo. Everyone on that ship might be infected by the Smith virus...if you have multi levels...