Matrix Reloaded

[Skanky Burns]

The "Agent Smiths" that Neo fought were more like Neo than the original agents. They were closer in ability to Neo because the original Agent Smith copied Neo.

That said, it would have been good if Neo had owned someone in a fight like in the original.

[Stefu]

OK, just saw it. The first half was generally useless, but from the Smith fight scene on it was goooood.

Did anyone pick up the Merovingian bit? Unless I'm reading too much into it, there's a bit of symbolism there.

This has nothing to do with your theories of Merovingian, but I couldn't but help thinking...

"Corinthian" from Sandman.

[Stefu]

Speculation time:

The Councillor is the last One before Neo. The council consists of the people who he chose with him to create the current version of Zion. That's why he had the 'nambla moment', as someone called it, with Neo (he's preparing him for taking his role, see), that's why he undermines Lock's defenses, and that's why there are no young folks in the council (there was something about this during the nambla moment, but seriously, was someone paying much attention?)

[Sandman]

Ok, seen it. Liked it.

Criticisms:

As others have said, the rave scene is too long. Yes, I get it, we're earthy, passionate creatures, now let's move on.

The fight against the Agent Smiths was great to start off with, but the CG was depressingly obvious towards the end. They could have cut it off much earlier.

There were too many fights. I know this sounds crazy, but the time spent on rather irrelevant fights could have been used to ratchet up the tension, and make a better explanation of the plot. In particular, the fight Neo has with the Oracle's protector served little purpose, and was relatively bland, and the seltbelt fight with one of the Twins was also a rather silly low-key affair.

Thoughts:

In the Matrix, there was a single enemy, the Agents, who clearly worked in tandem with the sentinels. In Reloaded, we have the Agents, Agent Smiths, Sentinels and the Merovingian's gang. Some overt cooperation between the Agents and the Sentinels would have made the Agents seem more impressive. On the other had, maybe their apparent lack of direction is a consequence of losing Agent Smith.

I reckon the Merovingian is a program that was defeated by an earlier One, and recieved strange powers like Agent Smith. Whereas Smith can replicate himself, possibly reflecting his own egoism, the Merovingian can collect and store, and possibly create, other programs, like Persephone and the Twins.

I think that the Architect is a fraud. He failed to offer any proof of his identity, or of his story being true. He was relying on Neo's guillibility to save his own neck. If Neo had done the happy chicken dance, the Architect would have said: "The happy chicken dance, how predictably human."

[Lorizael]

There is some proof that what the Architect says is correct. The Merovingian, before Neo finds the Architect, mentions Neo's "predecessors" more than once. This most likely refers to previous Ones. Some of what the Architect said, especially concerning six previous Ones, had to be true.

[Immortal Wombat]

I'm agreeing with Kaak on practically everything so far. Some definite weirdness.

I found some of the fights dragged on a bit as well... Oh, but theory of why Neo's fighting wasn't ultra-fast: Because all the fighting against the 'upgrades' and Smiths was done at ultra-fast speed, so was slowed down for the viewers to see properly.

Possibly he was someone who was absorbed into the system - possibly the One from the first, failed Matrix?

I like this theory, there are clues dropped that he is much like Neo... except that the first Matrix was perfect, and so had no "One" leftover.

Oh, and I'm sure there was a pomegranite on Persephone's dinner table

[Kramerman]

Originally posted by Stefu
Speculation time:

The Councillor is the last One before Neo. The council consists of the people who he chose with him to create the current version of Zion. That's why he had the 'nambla moment', as someone called it, with Neo (he's preparing him for taking his role, see), that's why he undermines Lock's defenses, and that's why there are no young folks in the council (there was something about this during the nambla moment, but seriously, was someone paying much attention?)

very interetsing...

[Lorizael]

The councillor would have to be very old for that to be true.

[Jon Shafer]

The problem with that theory is that the previous One is dead.

[Ned]

I just realized that if there is a matrix within a matrix that the humans who are allegedly plugged into the matrix are themselves only computer programs. The question then becomes are there real humans someplace in a higher level? Or is Neo really just a computer program that has become self-aware?

Neo could be like a Star Trek hologram that became self-aware and wants to become real.

[Kaak]

one more reason it isn't a matrix within a matrix

[Lemmy]

Does anyone by any chance have the full dialogue between Neo and the Architect? Or maybe someone who can completely remember it?

[laurentius]

Here you go Lemmy





**************SPOILERS***************


















Architect: Hello Neo

Neo: Who are you?

Architect: I am the Architect. I created the Matrix. I have been waiting for you. You have many questions and although the process has altered your consciousness you remain irrevocably human, ergo some of my answers you will understand and some of them you will not. Concordantly, while your first question maybe the most pertinent you may or may not realize it is also the most irrelevant.

Neo: Why am I here?

Architect: Your life is the sum of a remainder of an unbalanced equation inherent in the programming of the matrix. You are the eventuality of an anomaly which despite my sincerest efforts I have been unable to eliminate from what is otherwise a harmony of mathematical precision. While it remains a burden deciduously avoided it is not unexpected and thus not beyond a measure of control. Which has led you inexcerably here.

Neo: You haven’t answered my question.

Architect: Quite right. Interesting, that was quicker then the others.

Neo: Others? (What others? How many? Answer me)

Architect: The Matrix is older then you know. I prefer counting from the emergence of one integral anomaly to the emergence of the next. In which case this is the sixth version.

Neo: Then there are only two possible explanations, either no one told me, or no one knows.

Architect: Precisely, as you are undoubtedly gathering the anomaly is systemic. Creating fluctuations in even the most simplistic equations.

Neo: Choice, the problem is choice.

Architect: The first matrix I designed was quite naturally perfect; it was a work of art, flawless, sublime. A triumph equaled only by its monumental failure. The inevitability of its doom is apparent to me now as a consequence of the imperfection inherent in every human being. Thus, I redesigned it, Based on your history to more accurately reflect the varying grotesqueries of your nature. However I was again frustrated my failure. I have since come to understand that the answer eluded me because it required a lesser mind a mind less bound by the parameters of perfection. Thus the answer was stumbled upon by another, and intuitive program, initially created to investigate certain aspects of the human psyche. If I am the father of the matrix, she would undoubtedly be its mother.

Neo: The Oracle

Architect: Please, as I was saying she stumbled upon a solution whereby nearly 99 percent of all test subjects accepted the program as long as they were given a choice, even if they were only aware of the choice at an unconscious level. While this answered function it was obviously fundamentally flawed thus creating the otherwise contradictory systemic anomaly. That if left unchecked might threaten the system itself, ergo those that refuse the program while the minority if unchecked would cause an escalating probability of disaster.

Neo: This is about Zion

Architect: You are here because Zion is about to be destroyed. Its every living inhabitant terminated, its entire existence eradicated.

Neo: Bull

Architect: Denial is the most predictable of all human responses. But, rest assured, this will be the sixth time we have destroyed it. And we have become exceedingly efficient at it. The function of the One is now to return to the source allowing a temporary dissemination of the code you carry reinserting the prime program after which you will be required to select from the matrix 23 individuals, 16 female 7 male, to rebuild Zion. Failure to comply with this process will result in a cataclysmic system crash killing everyone connected to the matrix. Which, coupled with the extermination of Zion will ultimately result in the extinction of the entire human race.

Neo: You won’t let it happen, you can’t. You need human beings to survive.

Architect: There are levels of survival we are prepared to accept. However the relevant issue is whether you are ready to accept the responsibility for the death of every human being in this world. It is interesting reading your reactions. Your 5 predecessors were by design based on a similar predication a contingent affirmation that was meant to create a profound attachment to the rest of your species facilitating the function of the One. While the others experienced this in a very general way your experience is far more specific, Vis a vie love.

Neo: Trinity

Architect: Apropo, she entered the matrix to save your life at the cost of her own.

Neo: No

Architect: Which brings us at last to the moment of truth, wherein the fundamental flaw is ultimately expressed and the anomaly revealed as both beginning and end. There are two doors, the door to your right leads to the source and the salvation of Zion, the door to your left leads back to the matrix to her and to the end of your species. As you adequately put, the problem is choice. But we already know we you are going to do don’t we? Already I can see the chain reaction the chemical precursors that signal the onset of an emotion designed specifically to overwhelm logic and reason. An emotion that is already blinding you from the simple and obvious truth, she is going to die and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Hope, it is the quintessential human delusion simultaneously the source of your greatest strength and your greatest weakness.

Neo: If I were you, I would hope that we don’t meet again.

Architect: We won’t.

[Hurricane]

So what about the spoon? How did it end up in the real world, if it isn't real ("there is no spoon")?

[Stefu]

Stupid obvious answer: It's not the same spoon.