You get out of it what you bring in with you

Rating: Null/10 (24 December 2003)

Dear Cinephiles,
Ever enjoyed a movie no one else liked? Did you find in the Matrix movies many suggestions of deeper meaning that despite their faulty presentation were difficult to dismiss? Can you ignore the technical and narrative failures of this film?
Can I?
What was it about this movie that spoke to you directly? The gnostic influences? The cabbalistic influences? Did you enjoy the remix of themes and ideas from various eastern and western religions and philosophies?
Was it the genre? What genre was dominant? The western (recognition of the doppelganger), sci-noir (a dystopic world of retrofitted technolgy and waste) or [melo]drama? (can we admit that some of the emotional transitions were too abrupt?)
But these are just examples.
You've already gotten the plot and story and premise breakdowns from other reviews haven't you?
Were you searching for something more?
In a 1973 interview with Philip K. Dick, he was quoted as saying:
"No matter how long a man lives, be it ten years or one hundred nine, it is a complete life. Not only that, but the moment a man has the answer to his life he dies."
If you were aware of this idea, I wonder if it came to your mind at the same time during this film as it came to mine?
If I said I was thoroughly satisfied by this film, would I be lying? I expected more of course, didn't we all? Of many films in 2003?
I would be lying if I said it was a success. I would also be lying if I said it wasn't a very interesting failure.
And after a lifetime of watching movies, isn't it the interesting failure that inspires us to aim beyond what we're capable of?
Aren't you ready to keep fighting to follow your talent?
I want to thank everybody involved in these films for their hard work and sincerity despite producing a less than perfect film. I want to thank them for bravely trying to answer deep questions that must be in the hearts of every one of us, aren't they?
What is my purpose? Do I need a purpose?
And the usual:
Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going?
What are we?
Thanks for trying to eff the ineffable.