The Matrix is there for you. Challenge it, know and reconstruct yourself.

Rating: 8/10 (27 May 2012)

It was always going to be difficult to match the brilliance of the first matrix movie, and apart from the high speed shootouts, the rest looks comparatively jaded, along with the acting of all the main characters. My focus, as in the earlier review, will continue to be on the mythology and the ideas about The Matrix in the movie, particularly about the part where Neo reaches the 'mainframe' and meets the 'architect' of the matrix. Firstly the so called 'problem' of choice, which has been fudged in the movie, needs to be sorted out. Let me state at the onset that The Matrix is a deterministic control system, which means that in The Matrix, a broad script of the events of the world have been programmed or 'fated' to happen, without which there would be utter chaos. (Compare with the Greek sub-Matrix of the Gods of Olympus who are constrained by the super-script of the force of necessity 'Ananke', also compare with John C Lily's E.C.C.O.) But within the broad script there is always the scope and the limited 'freedom' for individual human beings to forge their own mini-scripts i.e. make interesting or creative twists and turns. As an analogy imagine you have been asked to play the role of Julius Caesar in a play and you have the choice of either following the script given to you verbatim or make interesting or creative alterations to it. But you don't have the choice of completely changing the character portrayal of Julius Caesar. Coming to the broader context of choice, although the vexing issue of free willed choice versus fate has been pondered for millennia, there is no clarity on it simply because free willed choice happens only in the present instant in reality, so in hindsight may appear to be fated, and because such choices have been the result of the essential nature of the individual who is making the choice. Even beyond that is 'real' choice and that is when the 'free' individual 'creates' an option, that is, does an act that is not determined by past events or has no cause-effect relationship with past events or existing social, cultural norms. The very idea or concept of creativity is that it is something entirely new, not related to or determined by anything in the past. So very few events in world and in the life of an individual are 'real' choices, usually those that happen at critical moments or in crisis situations. But even then micro choices are constantly made by many individuals. For example, as I write this review, I realize that although I may be 'fated' or 'determined' to do this, but the choice of words are 'real' choices only IF I am able to be creative in this, not just making clever permutations and combinations. By this I am bringing to your notice that the prerequisite for 'real' choice is to develop a keen and sharp awareness about how you, IF, and as, an independent, autonomous individual are personally making decisions, even the minor ones, especially by being aware of your motives and intentions behind every act. A tall order? You bet it is. If you take on the challenge, The Matrix is there as an existing edifice (at a superficial level simply the arena of the physical world itself) to make use of as well as scripted to rigorously test you at every step. Always remember, The Matrix is itself value neutral, you have to forge your own values. In the broadest sense, The Matrix runs the script of constructing a scenario in which the forces of sustenance of life is constantly at battle with the forces of destruction, which is what the 'architect' explains to Neo, who also explains that 'the One', the 'Oracle' etc. are basically another level of control. The destructive side has to be, by necessity (Ananke), stronger and therefore will eventually triumph (only in the material sense, not in essence) causing a 'crash' or collapse of The Matrix itself, ending all life, which means the end of the world.