Cont. of the Matrix ...

Whoa! What an ending. I might be the only one thrilled, since that was my first time watching the Matrix. Mr. Reeves with his questions, I found it funny, like every line he said was a question. But I guess if you think about it, we (the students) take the place of Mr. Reeves, because if we were put in that position I would be questioning everything. It finally made sense in the end though, why no one really told him any full detailed explanations. Besides the fact it creates some suspenseful elements to the movie, it provides the concrete meaning of Daoism. In order to understand it, you must BELIEVE! Haha. From Neo’s perspective, he was lost in translation. He was informed that he was the One, but he didn’t believe in it. Until the moment of truth, dun dun dun…he has magical powers and gets the lovely woman in the end and saving Morpheus. Yay!

There was this one part of the movie, when Neo and Morpheus were speaking to one another. I’m not exactly sure what the exact lines are; the part when Neo saves Trinity from her falling Doom. As Neo attempts to tell Morpheus what the Oracle told him, Morpheus said “What the Oracle told you is true, it’s whether or not you choose to follow the path or …” shoot I forgot the quote. Something along those lines, but at first when I heard it, it took a moment to decipher what Morpheus was saying; I didn’t understand it, but I understood it. So does that mean I do understand it or I really don’t? Maybe I’m just thinking too hard about it. I knew I had some concrete thought behind this…

The Matrix movie exudes elements that follow a heroic story. In the beginning, Neo was at home where he thought he was safe, but then when he is brought out of the Matrix, he realizes that his safety (or thought of safety) was false. So from most past readings, the hero is supposed to leave home/civilization away to the wilds/the place of unknown and then come back safe from home. But in rare occasions of this movie, Neo plays the hero and goes to another place (outside the Matrix) which is now his new “home.” Neo illustrates some heroic features, such as the mini clip of him and Trinity “suiting/armoring up.” Of course, he has to save the woman and friends in distress.

The Matrix & Daoism In Theory

The ultimate problem of the movie is the Matrix itself. Ironically the humans created the Artificial Intelligence which then takes over the human race. The Matrix created by the machines to deceive the human mind by placing their mind in neural interactive simulation program designed to control the human lives while literally sucking all life out. The machines take over the world and cultivate human beings as a food source. It’s like growing humans as mere vegetables with no capabilities to develop or emerge as prominent individuals.

From the beginning with Keanu Reeves as the One, begins to confuse me. Besides the fact that I never watched the Matrix before…His double identity revealed and people are suddenly attacking him with robotic bugs. Poor bellybutton, I bet it must’ve hurt. The whole idea of Neo being the One illustrates some concrete idea behind Daoism. What exactly is Daoism? Do I understand it? I thought I did, but apparently I really don’t. In theory, I looked at it as things happen, because they do. We can’t change that. Why is Neo the One? Why not Morpheus or even Trinity? I mean she’s kicking butt in the beginning of the movie. Of course, the woman has the play the back role, why couldn’t a woman be chosen as the One. Well until we get to the end of this movie, then we’ll see if my attitudes change for Mr. Reeves. I suppose Neo has been chosen as the One, because it’s the way of how Daoism may perceive it. He was chosen to be the one to destroy these machines and help humanity survive!

I guess I could say that Mr. Neo follows some Daoism principles by going with the flow. He may not really be a true fan of tree hugging, but he definitely goes with the flow. Just like the scene involving him to follow directions from Morpheus to escape his office from them evil Agents! They are quite scary, I would run too. I hate how their character talks so serious it makes them look so artificially fake.

Another thought aside from Daoism, is Neo suppose to be referred to as the One in relation to Jesus Christ? Both whom were resurrected and both represent as saviors of civilizations.

Oh dear Sakuntala!

September 9, 2010

“Men are emotionally constipated.” – Mr. B.

Where do we begin? What to talk about? Today’s discussion about time line was excruciating, knowing the fact that this happened out of the blue for no particular reason drives me nuts. But I guess it does make sense, some things are just irreverent and have no place in the story.

It’s interesting about how the king can marry women, yet it would tarnish his name or reputation, if he were to marry a simple peasant. I can’t exactly think of a recent movie that shows this, but I see this type of behavior through somewhat Disney characters or even how some individuals nowadays think. For example, although I may not be part of some successful family, my aunty always tells me to marry a some rich man with lots of money to spend on me, someone with a title and great power. To her she thinks an ordinary man or a homeless guy is not worth anything. Then what happens to the other percent of men who do ordinary jobs and have ordinary lives? Here is where we can use some imagination and think that somewhere, somehow there is that perfect partner. But back to the story, due to Sakuntala’s mother’s nymph genes, it makes her partly supernatural. So in other words, if Sakuntala were any other ordinary women, then the king wouldn’t “fall in love with her at first sight?” That may be asking too much, I mean I know were suppose to believe this magic fairy tale that, because she happens to be a nymph’s daughter that exudes sometimes sexy about her which lures the king in.

It was a funny thought when Dushyanta and Sakuntala claim they both love each other to even consider “married.” Because when this happens, the king dips. He is somewhere else away from his lover and she’s at home waiting for his reappearance.

Every romantic comedy has a downfall (not sure if that’s the correct word) maybe conflict could be better. Right when the king leaves, Sakuntala screws up and causes the “wise man” to curse her. It’s like when couples get married and their parents disapprove. The mother is usually the one who’s cursing the person who is marrying her kid. When this happens, Sakuntala’s supposedly awesome friends try to help her out, but of course has me yelling in my mind saying “Hello?! What are you doing? Say something?!!!” This emotional roller coaster reminds me of thriller flicks sometimes some cheesy horror films. When the killer is in the house, why you do you have to run in the house like some superhero and end of dead for the remaining movie? But this is when we have to realize it’s just a movie and we need our “willful suspension of disbelief.”

Grrrr…

Eventually when Sakuntala meets the king, he has no idea who she is….right? Because where’s the ring silly girl? This is the part when Maury comes out and says “Dushyanta, you ARE the baby’s daddy of Sakuntal.”

Word Count 508

Randomness within 20 minutes of typing.