An Important Philosophical Allegory

Rating: 8/10 (30 November 2007)

The Matrix is really a bit of "Plato's Allegory of the Cave" or the original Chinese "Frog in a Well" allegory. It centers mostly upon the more Buddhist idea of Two Truths, whereby the conventional reality that we live in is often shaped by our own prejudices, fears and insecurities. Perhaps there is also a touch of modern Situationalist Philosophy: "life is a spectacle" mostly contrived by the status quo, or powers-at-be and marketing forces around us.
I must admit I am surprised by the number of negative ratings of this movie. A bit over- rated, yes; but the movie hardly falls into the category of 1 to 4 star reckless, low-budget movies (such as Manos; The Hands of Fate) that have to try to be so bad.
Philosophical messages are best conveyed as allegories. This movie is a simple, yet important, allegory stretched out over 2 hours with enough basic symbolism, special affects and action to appeal to almost all audiences. The movie is designed to be thought provoking, and touches upon basic philosophical questions that are rarely addressed in modern movies. I have to wonder if audiences are somehow offended by the intent of the movie, or if audiences are simply so stuck in Plato's cave, the bottom of a well, so stuck in "the Matrix" as to totally miss it.