The film The Matrix explores the possibilities of other realms and causes the audience to wonder what reality truly is. The story line follows the protagonist, Neo, as he learns that the world that he has always known was really just a simulation created by machines trying to take over the human race to use them as a source of energy. While trying to process this new reality, Neo finds difficulty in accepting the fact that everything he has ever known was a lie. One scene in particular visually portrays Neo's mindset during this period of time.
In this scene, Morpheus takes Neo to a simulation similar to the Matrix. Across the street from them is a crowd of people all dressed in black and white suit attire which contrasts with Neo's casual wear and Morpheus' leather jacket. As they cross the street into the crowd, Morpheus and Neo are the only ones going one direction while everyone else seems to be going the opposite direction from them. The camera shots go back and forth showing Morpheus and Neo individually to portray how easily Morpheus walks through the crowd while Neo is constantly shoved and is obviously struggling to keep up with Morpheus. This portrays just how much Neo is struggling to accept the truth about the matrix and whether or not he is going down the right path regardless of how much he wants to.
In this scene, Morpheus takes Neo to a simulation similar to the Matrix. Across the street from them is a crowd of people all dressed in black and white suit attire which contrasts with Neo's casual wear and Morpheus' leather jacket. As they cross the street into the crowd, Morpheus and Neo are the only ones going one direction while everyone else seems to be going the opposite direction from them. The camera shots go back and forth showing Morpheus and Neo individually to portray how easily Morpheus walks through the crowd while Neo is constantly shoved and is obviously struggling to keep up with Morpheus. This portrays just how much Neo is struggling to accept the truth about the matrix and whether or not he is going down the right path regardless of how much he wants to.
A little bit into the scene, the audience is introduced to a woman walking by wearing a red dress. The camera is shown from Neo's point of view in order to show that Neo had momentarily become distracted. She represents how easily it is for Neo to become distracted from his destined path and possibly get killed if he is not careful.
The Matrix is also a prime example of Verisimilitude, meaning that although this film is mainly science fiction, it makes the audience believe that what they see is actually real. In reality, we are not actually in a war with machines and living in a simulation called the matrix but we do believe that Neo and the others do.
The Matrix is also a prime example of Verisimilitude, meaning that although this film is mainly science fiction, it makes the audience believe that what they see is actually real. In reality, we are not actually in a war with machines and living in a simulation called the matrix but we do believe that Neo and the others do.
When the film first introduces the scene with all the humans living in a pods, wired to a towering machine, it is obvious that our world is nothing like this. However, the film allows us to believe that Neo is really waking up to such a world and dealing with all these problems. The elements of this scene such as the dark, smoky lighting, and the eerie, climatic music lead us to believe that Neo's reality is one that needs to be stopped at all costs.
Throughout this film, Neo constantly tries to forget his past and focus on the truth about the world. However, he constantly seems to face difficulties in grasping this new reality because accepting it would mean having to save the human race. This film does an excellent job on using cinematic techniques in order to portray Neo's constant struggle with the truth along as well as portraying this so called reality.
Throughout this film, Neo constantly tries to forget his past and focus on the truth about the world. However, he constantly seems to face difficulties in grasping this new reality because accepting it would mean having to save the human race. This film does an excellent job on using cinematic techniques in order to portray Neo's constant struggle with the truth along as well as portraying this so called reality.
Works Cited:
Barsam, Richard, and Dave Monahan. Looking At Movies. 4th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2013. 35-63. Print.
Wachowski, Lana, dir. The Matrix. Dir. Andrew Wachowski, and Prod. Joel Silver. Warner Bros. Pictures, 1999. Film. 23 Jan 2014.
Barsam, Richard, and Dave Monahan. Looking At Movies. 4th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2013. 35-63. Print.
Wachowski, Lana, dir. The Matrix. Dir. Andrew Wachowski, and Prod. Joel Silver. Warner Bros. Pictures, 1999. Film. 23 Jan 2014.