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Going to see it, or have you seen the trailers [apple.com] yet? Im hyped about this film :D
Some things I noticed:
I found it interesting that the keymaster handed Trinity a Honda key and she jumped on a Ducati.
The Ghosts wear *really nice* boots and are *very* hot.
Neo should have been b*tch-slapped by Trinity after the kiss with Persephone.
I dug the Tribal funk percussion music in the dance scene. With all the other special effects, I think it will get overlooked...sadly.
There is a 10 second piece during which the Nebacanezzer flies into Zion where there is this really cool guard machine thing that is like a cowboy putting his pistol back into his holster.
I actually shed a tear when Niobe's classic camero was rear-ended.
The semi crash scene is unbelievable.
Favorite character: close call between Persephone and Niobe. I liked Niobe because she was a little woman who took no crap from anyone. But I liked Persephone because she knew who was really in control and she reminded me of my favorite Bond chick: the Greek chick with the crossbow.
<later> If someone knows French, can they translate what the French guy says before he says "I love French, it is like wiping your *ss with silk.."?
Good movie - and worth staying after the credits as GGROT pointed out. The credits are pretty long though - they list everything. I think they had like three different people just to wipe someones ass.
~ The nature and purpose of the Oracle
~ The nature and purpose of "the One" (if you believe the Architect)
~ Agent Smith's ability to "download" himself into a person within Zion
~ Smith becoming a "virus" within the system
~ The Matrix being "reloaded" five times prior (each time with their own "One"
~ The ultimate importantce of an man-machine symbiotic relationship
~ The "backdoors" to the different places within the Matrix
~ The Matrix purpose of Zion and the "One"
Some questions that I still have are:
~ Whether Neo's dreams were becasue he now can "see" as the Oracle can, or becasue he is somehow still accessible by the Matrix
~ Whether or not Zion is "real"
~ What is the importantce of Persophone and the Merovingian to the "plans of the Matrix"
~ Whether Seraph is another "One" (comparing how he looked to Neo to how Neo looked to the Agents in the previous movie)
~ How Neo was able to stop the Squiddies in the "real world"
I, for one, am really looking forward to seeing the next installment - I think that it looks even more intense than Reloaded
I must say, I didn't care so much for the first Matrix. The physical explanation of how it came to be was so ludicrous ("they're using human beings as batteries!") that I couldn't take the movie seriously after that. Matrix 2, on the other hand, was a fun romp, and the human interactions made more sense to me. Overall, I thought it was a better movie and had a great time.
What if the real world is actually another matrix? That would be two Matrix layers and explain why Neo could stop the machines at the end. Plus, don't they show Zion again in the previews for Matrix three? It would also make sense why Agent Smith was able to enter a human body in the human world.
If this isn't the case, then I have a hard time figuring out how Agent Smith could possibly get inside the body of a human outside the matrix. If a computer program could take over a human brain and function normally, then why would the machines ever create the matrix? They could just force the humans to be batteries via chips in their brains. The only other way around this issue is if Agent Smith created a new technology that allowed him to control a human brain - technology that the machines needed all along.
What do you think Plan B is for the Machines? I wonder if they figured out a way to get more solar power or if they were going to occupy a different planet.
IMHO, however, this one stank. Endless fighting. Endless car crashes. Preachy, think-talk dialogue. And, of course, you gotta throw in a lame love story.
The only mystery to me is what drugs the writers were on. I'm leaning toward esctasy.
Regarding marketing, I did appreciate the product placement. Neo actually mentioned a car's model name.
The issue of Zion's reality is a tough one. Indeed, the fact that Neo can stop the machine and Smith's intrusion in a human are strong cues. But on the other hand, why would the Architect want to have Neo choose 23 people (16 women and 7 men, I like that, makes 2 women for each guy, assuming Neo is not one of the 23) to build a new Zion? If Zion was in another matrix, the Architect could just program the matrix so that 24 people survive.
If someone knows French, can they translate what the French guy says before he says "I love French, it is like wiping your *ss with silk.."?
It is very difficult to translate, as it is a long list of dirty words strung together. This is done in french quite often but I don't think it is in any other language. And I will NOT translate the separate words as it probably is against some rule (although I can't find anything on swear words in the charter).
My main problem with the movie is the scene where Persephone wants Neo to kiss her. Now guys, would you really kiss another woman when your SO is present? I guess not. I mean, I can already picture the discussion having taken place as soon as Neo and Trinity were back aboard the Nebuchadnezzar:
Him:"Why are you so silent? Is there something wrong?"
Her:"You should KNOW what is wrong! You kissed another woman!"
Him:"Yes, but it was to save the whole of mankind!"
Her:"Maybe, but you did not have to ENJOY it!"
Him (hoping to get himself out of that situation):"I did not really enjoy it, I just pretended so she would help us!"
Her:"So you can that you enjoy kissing even when you don't?"
Him (thinking he made it):"Yes, of course!"
Her:"So how am I supposed to know I am not like all the others for whom you just simulate enjoyement?"
Him (realising he is in BIG trouble):"I...errrrrr....we.....hmmmmm....you....That's different!"
This could go on for hours. And I guess it's really hard to make your SO trust that you did not enjoy kissing Monica Belucci!
Just my thoughts,
Sinner
and he was a neo in the previous matrix?
The last thing the Merovingian says is something like:"I survived your predecessors and will survive you too." So I guess he is not a previous Neo.
Maybe we have to look further into their names. Merovingians were kings of the Frank tribes who finished the Roman Empire and ruled over most of Europe until the time of Charlemagne (Charles the Great). Persephone is the wife of Hades (lord of underworld) in greek mythology. She lives half of the time with him (winter) and half with her mother (summer) and so is at the origin of seasons.
Now I don't have a clue what that could mean.
but dont they say she is married to Merovingian? He does seem like lord of the underworld with werewolf and twin ghosts - silver bullets in her gun?
also who is the mother of the Matrix? neo says the oracle but the architect says "please" somewhat sarcastically, cant see it being Persephone though. Unless the architect is the Lord of the underworld/hades making her his wife and mother of the matrix?
Think I need to see this film a second time - too much to get my head around :)
seriously this film was rubbish, the first one was so good and had a killer concept/storyline/plot
the effects were good but they went on and on.
the fight scenes were extremely tedious also i still can't get to grips with the fact that if you can stop bullets what good is a karate kick against you!
the story was good i think overall, plausable (within the context of the film) but ruined by overindulgent production, there was absolutely no reason for the film to be so long.
having said that me and mrs topr8 left before the end of the credits, so maybe we missed the best bit/whole point of the film ... if so i'd appreciate a sticky letting me know what happens at the end of the credit roll.
Hadn't thought about the werewolves and all. Yes, it then makes sense that Merovingian is assimilated to Hades.
I missed the sarcasm, so I thought the Oracle was the mother of the Matrix.
topr8:
You didn't miss that much leaving early.
And I agree that the movie is too long. I have the feeling they signed a contract for a trilogy but had only content for 2 movies, so they had to make these longer through lengthy action scenes. E.g. why didn't Neo fly away as soon as the Smith's attacked him but waited to get bashed for 10 minutes?
Still liked the movie a lot and thought the plot was very good. Just too lengthy.
I think in terms of proceessing power it would be far easier to stop very small, dumb ojects (they only go in a straight line, have no intelligence)than it would be to stop a close combat from a 100 agents at close range who can move faster than bullets.
thats why its a waste of time firing at agents - they can see them comming wheras in close range comabt they are making moves that leave them open to counter attack and have less time to react to attacks.
The directors are huge fans of kung fu and these are action films so why would'nt there be an abundance of action? I thought the movie was over pretty quickly although I must admit neos fights seemed less exciting - cos you knew he was gonna win :(
as mentioned elsewhere in this thread - why didn't he just launch himself into space straight away instead of fighting with 20+ agents!
why do they need a static phone line as a route out?
good point that it was an action film so expect lots of action, trouble is the producers/director had no idea of the concept that less can be more or that overkill just dulls the senses and makes it less exciting, i can only think that i'm getting older perhaps and i just don't get excited by a load of repeat sequence karate kicks...