Matrix is one of my favorite movies of all times, however, the final shot always confused me…the one where Neo flys into the sky. Is this supposed to mean anything? If they had ended the movie with the scene prior, it would have made more sense.
Nero being able to fly is just symbolic of his growing mastery over the Matrix’s environment.
Of similar significance is that the phone tracing routine (with all the green computer-screen numbers) is almost identical to the scene at the very beginning of the movie, when Trinity’s call gets traced and she is almost arrested. Instead, Neo jams up the call and causes the trace to fail. His monologue is actually pretty threatening to the Agents.
Along the lines of what BE already said, Neo’s flying hearkens back to Morpheus’ advice that “there are some rules that can be bent, others can be broken” (or words to that effect), with the implication that gravity is one of the bendy, not breaky ones. But, well, there he goes.
And since even the Agents are land-bound, I guess it’s implied that Neo is that much more powerful/versatile/you get the idea than they are.
I think it symbolizes freedom.
I think this belongs in Cafe Society.
But I asked for people’s analysis of the ending, which coincidently is an opinion.
Yeah, but its an analysis of a movie ending so it gets put into Cafe Society.
I never liked that ending. I could have done without the whole flying thing. All it did was confuse people as to what was going on. Basically it was meant to show that Neo had become the one and was able to do whatever he wanted in the Matrix.
It’s a superhero film. Neo has a dual identity. He’s faster than a speeding bullet and able leap tall buildings in a single bound. At the end, he steps out of a telephone booth and flies.
But I agree with Bryan Ekkers. Neo’s ability to fly shows that he is no longer bound by the Matrix’s rules.
And that trenchcoat he’s wearing does look an awful lot like a cape, when viewed from the right angle.
I cannot tell you how impressed I am that no one yet has drawn a connection between Neo flying and Christ’s ascension into heaven. There may be hope yet.
Well, such a connection wouldn’t necessarily be wrong you know. The movie does have a character named “Trinity” in it. This is not to say the movie is just a Christian parable, but it clearly uses Christian imagery (along with imagery from other religions and myths).
And skaterboarder87, he just moved your thread; as the forum description says, “if it’s about art or entertainment, it goes here”. You shouldn’t take it personally or think you’ve been “dissed” or something.
Besides, skaterboarder87, I won’t lie to you. Every single man or woman who has stood their ground–everyone who has fought a moderator–has died.
Christ parallels are a dime a dozen. If I had been in charge of the ending, it would have used an Elisha parallel. The agents would taunt Neo, saying “Go up, thou pale trench quasi-goth!” and then a couple of bears would pop out of nowhere and rip them apart, and then Neo would have flown off.
Not to mention the fact that Neo died and came back to life as a god… KneadToKnow, what is wrong with making Christ comparisons? Seems clear that was the filmmaker’s intent.
Like the line where Neo’s friend tells him “You’re my Savior, my own personal Jesus Christ?”
Neo’s freind is named Choi by the way. The reference to Christ is one that few catch, first the resurrection, then the ascension into heaven, and of course his most faithful apostle Morpheus. The movie is chocked full of philosophical references. Remember the book Neo keeps his bootlegged programs in?
Possible Spoiler
Apparently there is another reference to Christ in the 2nd movie. Morpheus is atop a semi headed for disaster. Morpheus makes a comment(parapharased as I don’t know) “I must have faith in Neo” and jumps off only to be caught in midair by flying Neo.
No, the movie is “chocked full” of quasi-philosophical references. It is Philosophy Lite at best (and that’s being damn charitable), and what makes me sad about it is the number of young people who are doomed to grow up thinking it’s deep. And for those who have pointed out that comparisons between Neo and Christ are not wrong, I will second what Drastic said. It’s not that they’re wrong. It’s that they’re too easy and evidence of how shallow the story really is. IMHO.
Or perhaps the references to Christ all exist in the mind of the viewer, which is often how symbolistic images are meant to be interpreted.
One could derive plenty of allusions to Christ in Sesame Street if one were to look hard enough.
KneadToKnow: Yeah, yeah, yeah. What do you expect from an action movie? Don’t get me wrong, it’s one of my favorite movies, but if I want something deep I’ll read a book.
That’s all I’m asking, sturmhauke! My hope springs eternal.
For an action movie, it’s pretty damn deep (in comparison, mind you). It’s also as deep as it needs to be. Just because the movie doesn’t reference (or as might be the case, reference lightly) various religious artifacts doesn’t change the incredible scenario it presented. That in and of itself was plenty of brain candy for me to feast on for some time.