Science Fiction Thriller blurring the lines of reality between computers and the physical world

Rating: Null/10 (7 February 2000)

This movie has moved into my list of top Science Fiction favorites along with such films as `Blade Runner', `Dune', `Star Wars', `Soldier' and perhaps even `The Fifth Element'. The whole name game was interesting, from the religious perspective. Neo (which means New) was indeed a new breed of hacker and so did turn out to be the 'savior' of all, with his side kick Trinity - her name gave me a whole Catholic vibe. Lawrence Fishburn's character was, of course, a type of John the Baptist. He was a voice crying out in the wilderness, and was very much on the verge of dying the same inauspicious death as John. Zion was the main frame, heaven itself. The Oracle or prophet was interesting, and gave us the only non-Christian twist with her Dali Lama like search for 'the one' among the psychically gifted kiddos in her lime green apartment. That whole scenario was right out of Little Buddha, which, ironically, Keanu also starred in. Thank goodness one of the Lamas offered the wisdom of the spoon to our Jesus (neo). We are even given a Judas, who betrays our savior for the mere thought of some steak and wine, quick and happy to take his bag of Silver.
How about the writers poking some fun at Bill Gates with the window cleaners making their loud squeaking cleaning noises. That is right off of a Windows screen saver. Also fun with them picking on Oracle as the prophet, that name couldn't be accidental with Oracle as the leading data base vendor in the world right now. This didn't escape the writer's attention.
We of course followed a bit of Alice in Wonderland with the White Rabbit leading him to the Disco, and then to Trinity. Lawrence Fishburn then offers him a red or blue pill, and then the scumbag Judas character gives our savior a sip of his home brewed liquor, at the moment that he reveals to him his displeasure in their current surroundings. This is almost a last supper reversal, where Jesus let Judas sip from his cup before the betrayalinteresting. Then of course the Oracle herself gives Neo a cookie, so that he will feel better. Cakes and Cups prevail throughout. They are even given what could pass for 'Manna' to eat. The Hebrew for Manna literally means, "what is it?" This surely fits the gruel that they ate in their bowls.
What else, the scene in the elevator is right out of Speed, one of Keanu's best.
The submarine scene with them all sitting quiet, like 'Run Silent, Run Deep'. It is a sub marine classic to park the sub, go quiet, and then wait out the depth charges with sweat running down your faces.
The scene where Keanu loses his mouth was taken directly from the science fiction classic "I have no mouth, yet I must scream" by Harlan Ellison. It also reminded me of the cover of an old HP Lovecraft book I once owned.
The device that they used to suck the bug out of Keanu's stomach was this giant intricate machine, yet powered by plugging in to the cigarette lighter hole in the dash of the car. The car that they chose were these Kennedy-presidency-era limo Lincolns (with tops), always black.
Finally, for now, the fact that the only escape were these forgotten hard copper phone lines by Bell or whichever phone company. The last vestige of the escape was actually low tech and hundreds of years old by then...no cell phone could save them.