The Matrix Reloaded Explained

Rating: Null/10 (16 May 2003)

This complete commentary explains the whole movie and has the complete list of spoilers. Do not read this if you have not seen the movie!!!
The Matrix Reloaded will require at least two viewings in order to truly understand the plot. Nearly every dialogue scene is crucial to the plot. Having said this, allow me to explain the movie as I understand it.
The movie is about choice. Towards the end of the film, Neo believes he has achieves his ultimate goal by reaching the system's mainframe. By listening carefully to the words of the system's architect, we learn that this has never been the case!
In fact, Neo is merely an anomaly developed by the system to test the flaws that are evident in the Matrix.
When the first Matrix was designed, the architect believed that pure happiness and utopia would enable the humans to live within the dream of the Matrix. They learned that humans are flawed and require the good with the bad. Thus they redesigned the Matrix to closely mimic the 20th century. We learned this from Agent Smith in the first Matrix during his interrogation with Morpheus.
What we did not know until now is that were six versions of the software or six versions of the Matrix. So who is Neo? To answer this, we must look at the Oracle.
Each time the Oracle designs and loads a new Matrix, he develops a program to test the strength of the Matrix. This ensures that all humans accept each new version of the Matrix. Within the program, there exists an anomaly, or those humans that do not accept the Matrix and feel their life feels more like a dream.
In each of the six versions of the Matrix, the Oracle sets up parameters for the anomaly, Neo. If he achieves each of the parameters, then the system needs to be reloaded with a newer version of the Matrix. Thus we know the machines are using Neo and his friends throughout the movie.
This is why Merovingian said to Neo, `I survived your predecessors and I shall survive you.'
One might ask what the purpose of Zion is if the machines have destroyed it on five other occasions. I believe the purpose of Zion is to cultivate `The One.'
According to the architect, if Neo chooses the door to the right, `the One' will be re-programmed and then select a small number of men and women to repopulate the city of Zion. This brings us to Councilor Hamman.
During his crucial conversation with Neo, they discuss the machines that help the city of Zion exist. In essence, he tells Neo what the machines have told him - there are no choices. To live in this world, we need to rely on others and no human or humans can exist in complete isolation and ultimate freedom.
We are led to believe that during Hamman's many years in Zion, he has achieved these principles. Yet I believe the Wachowski Brothers gave us a big hint during this conversation. Neo notes that there are no young people on the counsel. Why? In addition, why did they send two ships that they so desperately needed to aid Morpheus? Did they believe in the prophesy of the Oracle? The answer is no.
I believe the counsel members are either descendants or the original founders of the sixth city of Zion. It is only logical to assume that if the Architect's story is true, that there would be elders within Zion to continue the cycle. Therefore Hamman is telling Neo to accept this partnership with the Machines as each anomaly had accepted before.
But Neo chooses the left door. According to the Architect, this means the destruction of the Matrix and the city of Zion. The machines will have to develop another form of survival. Based on this theory, we are led to believe that at the end of this movie, the Matrix is destroyed, Zion is destroyed, and only those aboard Niobe's ship remain on earth.
The only thing I can say is nothing is what it appears to be. Along the way, every program told Neo that there is no choice - only the illusion of choice. But why did the Architect give Neo the choice of two separate doors? I believe he didn't and this is only the illusion that allows the machines to reload a new and improved version of the Matrix.

Therefore, the only explanation for Neo's powers outside of the Matrix at the end of the film is that he is still trapped inside the Matrix, version seven! One look at the trailer for `Revolutions' supports this claim. How else could he fight Smith again?
I believe the third and final film will deal with programs that are in Exodus. I believe the humans will have to convince outdated programs like Smith to assist them in their quest to destroy the newer machines. Therefore, Smith and his ability to become a virus could help Neo in his quest to survive.