|
The Matrix 3: Resolutions? Nope.
Matrix 3 uses the main plot elements of Frank Herbert's book Dune
Messiah.
by Filip Stojanovski
The plot:
 The
male hero, facing enormous challenges threatening his life and his
community, has a female lover who is also his helper (but, without
offspring). Tremendous force gathers strength to destroy all that he
holds dear. Regular people believe him to be their savior, in spite of
his personal doubts. A powerful conspiracy is in the making, including
persons positioned very near. The traitor attacks, blinding the hero
(burning his eyes out). But, the hero can still see, thanks to mystic
power bestowed upon him. He manages to circumvent obstacles and
accomplish survival of his project. His mate dies in the process, and he
soon follows. But, his destiny is reached; his task, accomplished. Thus
ends
Dune Messiah, an inspiring novel, part of enormously popular
series by Frank Herbert. What a coincidence! Matrix 3 uses all
these plot elements, also.
Tech: Visual effects remain quite decent. Even though they seem to have run
out of FX money and decided not to make another
Burly
Brawl scene: agent Smith tells Neo they’ll do it mano a mano
this time, instead of using many virtual CG actors.
Acting:
 Again,
this movie confirmed my precognition that
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey offered the best performances by Mr.
Keanu Reeves, ever.
Propaganda analysis: Affirmative-action characters spill out references promoting religious
outlook on life, sucking up to the bulk of the USA public. US of A
maintain a level of religious fundamentalism comparable only to third
world countries (to paraphrase Chomsky). Their representatives
team up with Iran and the most backward Arab countries to limit
freedom of female reproductive choice in appropriate UN bodies, for
God’s sake! The Matrix brand relies heavily on biblical associations and
the like, assuring good reception with the target audience. I don’t feel
that the authors used the humanizing effect of the food-making
African-American old lady (Aunt
Jemima, AKA the Oracle), the Asian martial arts master, or the
Indian child prodigy by accident. Just as all warriors in the movie,
including the prep scene of the action-figure-look-alike Zion "infantry"
are WASP males, “jock” subtype, with an exception of the Malaysian
officer, and all “intellectuals” or support crew are black. Anyway…
In retrospect, even the seemingly novel idea of vanquishing the virus
(Agent Smith) by letting oneself merge with it (Oracle, Neo), and then
infecting it with goodness, seems just like a suck up to part of
the audience who go on with the program all over the world, doing their
part, being a little wheel in the giant machine of hypocrisy and
exploitation that goes by the name of economic/political system.
Especially to those who know better, but excuse themselves
by saying that they want
to change the
system from within (rip the benefits and use the power instead of
someone worse), and are then sentenced to a lifetime of boredom.
Was the time & money worth it?
Watching this movie “synchronizes your attention spans and cultural
abilities to your peer’s.” (Tom
the Dancing Bug)
Would I like to see it again?
Not really. It would be quite boring, I’m afraid. For the same reason I
don’t go to strip-joints. I don’t care for tease very much. The
best way is all the way. Matrix authors pose too many questions, and do
not provide satisfying answers. Like, what is the source of Neo’s power
over the machines in the tactile reality. How come he can wave his hand
and destroy hardware that could match the impact of Abrams tank on
steroids? Who was the imbecile in Zion that designed the “infantry”
battle gear with the human pilot exposed in front of all the
machine parts, with no armor or protection whatsoever. A person might as
well be safer in a Volvo or even a Yugo. A Yugo on the streets of
Prishtina during NATO bombing of 1999.
[Originally published on
Razvigor blog,
Noveber 9, 2003.] |