Film Analysis of the Matrix free essay sample

Since the invention of film, many movies have earned their place as benchmarks in cinema history, such as Casablanca, citizen kane, and The Wizard of Oz. All of these have been (and still are) looked upon as iconic examples of creative and intuitive filmmaking. In today’s society, films are chock full of special effects, whether its gunshots, explosions, or aliens; some films nowadays can even make money without a good plot, peppering the viewer with nonstop action sequences with no thought for story or character development (Avatar, Transformers, etc. There are millions of people that go to see movies like this every year and are entertained, but experienced moviegoers are not so enthralled by this action marinated idiocy. Good action movies are written and directed by people that care equally about visuals and characters, and not just spewing special effects at the observer and hoping the flood of mindless paraphernalia will provide them with money to create a string of equa lly bad sequels and knockoffs. We will write a custom essay sample on Film Analysis of the Matrix or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The Matrix, (written and directed by the wachowski Brothers) is one such movie. It perfectly melds together underlying symbolism, special effects, and Visual style to create one of the greatest science fiction films of all time. The Matrix contains many instances of symbolism that range from religious to philosophical. Gnosticism is the main religious influence in the matrix; (Gnosticism as an offshoot of Christianity, in which knowledge instead of faith is what its followers strive for). In The matrix, the main group of characters has broken free from the illusion of the matrix. In essence, knowledge is what frees them, (only people that have become partially aware that the matrix is an illusion are chosen to be rescued from it). The Gnostic version of God created the world, but is also responsible for all of the suffering that occurs in it. But the chosen Gnostics ascend above the suffering with their newfound pursuit of knowledge. The matrix parallels this idea with the character of the architect. The architect created the matrix, and is responsible for all suffering in it; But the few that suspect the falsity of the matrix break free and see the truth of what it really is. The most prevalent philosophical influence is Platos cave. Platos cave is, at its simplest, an idea that the real world is an illusion, explained in his writing The Republic. In the cave allegory, several people are bound in a cave with their heads facing the wall, unable to turn their heads. Behind them there are a number of torches casting shadows onto the wall. These people (as they cannot turn their heads and see outside the cave) believe that the real world is entirely made up of the shadows. One day someone escapes their bonds and sees the world for what it really is. He in turn tries to free the other prisoners and show them the truth about life. This idea is also mirrored in The Matrix; the matrix (the world humanity lives in) Is fake, and the people that have escaped go back into it to try to free others. Special effects in film can be represented by many different concepts; and The Matrix is no exception. The Wachowskis are big comic book fans, and drew from their affection of that medium to create the movie. The fight scenes defy the laws of physics and are mostly created with the use of Wire Fu (the name derives from the use of wires to do impossible stunts in Martial arts action films). Almost all the fight scenes embrace this technique to do impossible things such as running on walls, jumping over gigantic gaps and fighting in mid air. Another famous effect from The Matrix is the bullet time effect. The effect is when time stops and the camera flies freely around characters and objects suspended in mid air. This effect shows the audience the action in the scenes without overwhelming them with too much fast movement. And when the effect is paired with numerous instances of slow motion; the impact of the film is increased astronomically. Visual style is one of the films major strong points which separate it from other films such as Star Wars, or Independence day. The Matrix and the real world have many subtle differences that separate them; for one thing, the matrix is always tinted in green whereas the real world (in the film) is displayed in a more normalized manner. The film further differentiates the two settings with their physical representation. The only part of the Matrix we are shown is a city, full of straight lines, like a Grid. Thomas Anderson’s Workplace is an office full of cubicles, which re enforces the mentality that the Matrix is artificial, like the lines of code that we eventually see make up the matrix. The other main setting is the ship â€Å"The Nebuchadnezzar†. The ship has straight lines, but is also full of Curves and other organic shapes. The costuming in the movie is also very unique, whenever the main characters enter the Matrix; they are clothed in Leather, suites, and/or sunglasses. The costumes separate the characters from the monotony of the Matrix. The Camera in The Matrix is very active compared to other films. There are tons of authorial shots in the movie, cameras fly through the air, zoom and dissolve from computer monitors to interrogation chambers, and the setting can change from shot to shot in one scene. The nature of the camera is another concept drawn from The Wachowski’s love of comic books; where the camera can virtually be placed anywhere. The Matrix is seen by many as a simple sci-fi action film, but few grasp how creative and intuitive of a film it is. It shows us that the sci-fi genre doesnt always involve aliens and spaceships, but that most threats to humanity originate from humanity itself. The movie uses special effects as a tool to advance the story, and not as a way to distract the audience from areas the film lacks quality in. It may not excel in every category, but it fails at none. The Matrix is not only one of historys best science fiction films, but one of the best films ever.