Matrix ReLoaded - socialism rules

[hazard]

I'm really really wrried that the second installment of this series will either drop or be forced to drop many of the socialist ideas that made the first one so great. Why do I think this? I'll tell you why.

This movie was supposed to be released LAST year. but it wasn't. At first I thought 9/11 was the main reason, and that was that. But now I think because of 9/11, the movie was not only delayed but forced into some rash editing that would remove all or most of the socialist ideas. I'm holding my breath until it finally gets released based on this fear alone.

Also, I came to the conclusion that the Matrix was almost a slip up. That is, the movie was released and the braindead, blind capitalists missed all of the socialist themes within it. Before it could be held up, it was too late and already in theatres. With a sequel, the fascists could change the entire concept into some sort of ridiculous capitalist propaganda piece like "Vanilla Sky". That way they can reap the success of the first movie in a profit driven manner, appease their own greedy fears that their slaves can and will one day revolt and also re-educate the droves of socialists who make the journey to their local theatres expecting a socialist movie like the original.

All I can say to the capitalists here is that any attempts to alter the socialist themes will be met with such blinding and bitter opposition that the likes of the "free" world may never recover. You don't fuck with perfection. Ever.

[Boris Moskovitz]

Actually, I don't think the Matrix is about Socialism vs Capitalism, I think it is more like Reality vs Illusions. The Matrix is about the politicians telling lies to the people, not showing the painful reality behind each single things they have. It also includes the Nike shoes, you would never expect at first that there is a company out there, oppressing the children in foreign nations, and if you know that and you don't care, you would take a closer look, then the reality would be real disturbing.

Some people want to know the truth about what the politicians are hiding from them, but some others, like Neo, Trinity, Morpheus, just want to hear whatever they want to hear, see what they want to see, smell what they want to smell, and know what they want to know, such as Cypher. Some people just can't handle the truth about what is behind what they see, so they are trying to come back in the "Matrix" to go on with the fake paradise. Some want to seek the truth, some want to seek the lie.

Really, The Matrix seems to relate more on our leaders, and how they are lying to us. And it has a perfect view on Rebellions. That, I've got to agree...

Anyway, I don't give a single damn about 9/11, okay, those families were unfortunate, but it's not like it's the end of the world, I've seen worse.

[synthesis]

The sequel looks absolutely fucking amazing.

However, would you care to outline some of the socialist themes within the Matrix?

One of the things that I actually disliked about the movie was that the last bastion of humanity, the sole remaining stronghold of hope, was named... Zion.

Now, I realize that Zion's existed since LONG before Israel has come around today in her present racist, apartheid form... but I still distrust it.

[canikickit]

The Matrix was a really shitty film.
Keanu Reeves is in the top five actors I've seen.

[synthesis]

The Irish obviously have poor taste in films.

[canikickit]

Most people in Ireland enjoyed such over-rated hunks of junk as "Heat", "The Usual Suspects" and "The Matrix". I thought they were sleep inducing.

Are you a fan of Keanu Reeves? That guy's a joke. Another of his works of art were on TV tonight, "The Devil's Advocate". Not only are we treated to the Wooden Breeze Rolling Down the Mountains dire performance as some yokel who has a good looking wife, but the king of the caper, the master of melodrama, the pisstaker of pedanticism, Al Pacino. I hate that idio. Yes, he was brilliant. But then his ego caught up eith him, and he became typcast. Now he always tries to be the most intense person on the planet. He's so fucking full of shit. He tries too hard.

(Edited by canikickit at 5:02 am on April 17, 2003)

[synthesis]

Most people in Ireland enjoyed such over-rated hunks of junk as "Heat", "The Usual Suspects" and "The Matrix".

http://www.clarkschpiell.com/img/contentpics/badslogans/pissed.gif

I retract my original statement. Most of the Irish have fantastic taste in movies. It's just one lone, misguided tuttletrop who doesn't.

[Zombie]

But then his ego caught up eith him, and he became typcast. Now he always tries to be the most intense person on the planet. He's so fucking full of shit. He tries too hard.

I agree, now all we get is shit like 'The Recruit' or 'On any given sunday'... what the fuck happened to the guy that made Scarface, Carlito's Way or Scent of a Woman classics...

The Usual Suspects and the Matrix are great flicks, no matter what public opinion says, good or bad. I didn't watch them cos' of the hype, I rented them out from my local vid store, out of curiosity and i enjoyed both of them. They're a lot better than the usual crap that goes on the big screen these days Cani.

Z.

[Palmares]

I thought the Matrix was a kind of existentialist theme, based on Descartes "demon possibility" of "the brain in a vat" theory.

Or is this just me???

(Edited by Cthenthar at 4:49 pm on April 17, 2003)

[Anonymous]

What movies do you like canikickit?

[Liberty Lover]

Good to see all you so-called socialists are indulging in the "trivial" delights of capitalism. First video games and know movies distributed by Warner Brothers Pictures, Inc. With the money you spend on this 'opium' you could feed a starving African child for a month...and you wonder why we think communism cannot work.

The matrix has nothing whatsoever to do with politics. The Wachowski Brothers were inspired heavily by Japanese anime...not Marxism.

[Boris Moskovitz]

"With the money you spend on this 'opium' you could feed a starving African child for a month...and you wonder why we think communism cannot work."

Opium?


"The matrix has nothing whatsoever to do with politics. The Wachowski Brothers were inspired heavily by Japanese anime...not Marxism."

If you check it more than twice, then you would see the connection between this movie and the politics. But I can assure you, it has nothing to do with Marxism, but revolutions. It is about how the politicians lie to their own people to their own benefice.

[suffianr]

Talking about anime, anyone watched the Animatrix series yet? Fantastic stuff, I'm a huge fan of anime...

Anyway, I sort of missed all of the "socialist" themes of the Matrix.

I'm not one to really indulge in spotting hidden messages in movies, as I tend to take everything in at face value...You know, all that "Wasn't the kid with the spoon a metaphor of one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocolypse?" sort of haranguing...I always thought the Matirx was an avant-garde druggie movie, the sort of motion picture that artsy-fartsy twats might call a film noir...

And Vanilla Sky wasn't about capitalism, mate, it was about sex. Hot, angry, violent sex. :)

[mentalbunny]

LL, entertainment like films and music is perfectly acceptable, life without it would be really dull. However the huge profits are a problem. Obviously therer would be entertainment in a communist State.

[canikickit]

I like a wide variety of films. Ones based around "action" and explosions aren't usually my cup of tea.

[Chiak47]

LL,

The entertainment that bunny was speaking of consists of gulags and other forms of re-education.
Don't bother with popcorn.

Thanks,
Robert Mueller

[Umoja]

I thought the Matrix was more to do with Gnostic thinking, and to a lesser extent, supposedly, exisentialism.

[mentalbunny]

Chiak, I think you are getting me confused with an over-zealous Stalinist. I would actually call myself an artsist (I'm crap at art but I love the Arts and think they are a really important part of civilisation, it's what really sets us apart from the other species) and often art is entertaining. Also, you have to satisfy the proletariat and if they want films they can have them. Actors and so on are talented (obviously there are some exceptions) and they can use this talent.

[hazard]

I'm amazed that everybody missed all of the socialist themes in the matrix. Actually, I'm stunned.

Didn't all of the socialist music kind of give it away?

I don't know what I can say. I don't know if there is anything I can say. The Matrix is a very artisitic sort of action movie that is open for interpretation. As such, anybody can argue with me.

Isn't Morpheus's speech the give away? Both of them. Before Neo is freed and after he is freed. It's not even an analogy here. Morpheus uses the words, the language and the logic of communism in recruiting and training neo. Take another look.

The agents themselves refer to the humans as terrorists, as the humans rely upon guerrilla tactics to fight the numerically superior machines and their slaves. God, I mean, its so obvious. Isn't it? It is a future that is the result of capitalist rule. Just like Terminator.

Clearly there are many other elements, such as appearance versus reality and so on. Even this relates to communism, ie. we appear free in capitalism but we are reaally slaves. This is all I want to say if nobody else sees it. It's better to watch the movie and figure it out. I just thought it wouldn't even be open for debate on a board such as this.

[Umoja]

No, it's Gnostic!

The Gnostic myth is that God isn't "The God" and is really just some evil creator/mad scientist who created the world along with some other weaker divine things. They tried to trap humanity, who had chunks of the real God in them, blah blah. To add onto this, the real God didn't really create the Universe he kinda is in a dreamlike state, and people should strive to wake up outta this dream.... etc. etc. Sounds oddly familiar.

[Boris Moskovitz]

Personally, I would think it could be about anything. But one thing is sure, it is about revolutions against a lying gouvernment, that is true. But Morpheus' speech...

"The Matrix is a system, everyone there is an ennemy blah blah blah... Woman in red dress..."

That wasn't really about socialism. Once again, generically about rebellions.

[hazard]

allright, it took me a while to see it too. sorta like those 3D pictures. then again, some people never see the images. I'm one of those people.

what about the idea of "the matrix is the wool pulled over your eyes to hide you from the truth. " what truth? " That you are a slave ". what do you think about that?

[mentalbunny]

What my brother really hates about The Matrix is that all the physics is wrong and shit. Personally I didn't notice that, i thought it was a pretty cool film when I saw it but I didn't look for anything more than entertainment. I also believe there is such thing as reading to much into something, but I'm not trying to imply that people here are, I'm just saying it is possible to.