The Matrix - Spoon-fed Symbolism

Rating: Null/10 (7 May 2003)

One of the features that, according to many reviewers, makes The Matrix such an epic', are the religious overtones that lie parallel with much of the action. The story of Neo (or the New' in Latin; an anagram of one') is, quite obviously, synonymous with that of Christ (whose name, in Hebrew, means Anointed One'). Neo dies, is resurrected and saves the world. Morpheus is a John the Baptist figure, clearing the way for the coming of Christ, just as Cypher reflects Judas' betrayal. One source within The Matrix camp hinted recently that the third instalment should, instead of The Matrix Revolutions, be named The Matrix Resurrection.
The point is, all this blatant symbolism seems aimed at an audience unwilling to think about the implications of the film. Subsequently, while the film claims there is no spoon', it simultaneously uses one to spoon-feed the implications to the audience. Spoon-fed, in this case, by Morpheus, whose main role in the first film seems to be merely explaining the narrative and its complicated rules' (Leonard Maltin criticised the film for its high mumbo jumbo quotient' and I'm inclined to agree) and the Wachowskis who even name their characters with such brazen aplomb that their origin, function and ultimate fate can be guessed without even seeing the film e.g. Trinity, Niobe, Seraph and Persephone. In contrast, a film like Blade Runner explores recurrent philosophical themes, of what it means to be human, and yet doesn't force them on the audience. In fact, it remains ambiguous whether the protagonist Deckard is, himself a Replicant'. Thus the film allows multiple interpretations, something that The Matrix does not deign to do.
In a sense, The Matrix (and, presumably, its sequels) can be watched on two levels, both, unfortunately, intrinsically flawed. From a philosophical angle, The Matrix brings nothing new to the table, merely a bibliographic catalogue of references to superior works. Interestingly, these same themes, of false perceptions of the world and redemption from a Christ figure, have even been explored recently (and, for mine, much more satisfactorily) in Alex Proyas' Dark City, which comes without any of the pretension of The Matrix. On another level, as an action movie, The Matrix succeeds admirably at times. Although it is, as a whole, compromised by its philosophical pretensions in a way that something like the Star Wars series (in spite of its mythological references, specifically Joseph Campbell) is not. It's a lose-lose situation. The Wachowskis bit off more than they (and the audience) could chew. Hopefully with the further instalments of The Matrix trilogy, the Wachowskis offer a more palatable meal.