The movie was an amusing diversion and worth the ticket price, but the thing I really took away from the movie were the scenes of Neo flying. I have never seen flying more perfectly characterized in terms of what my ideal dream of flying would be like. I may buy the DVD just to play those scenes. It’s almost like they knew what my flying dreams when sleeping look like and made those real.
I read somewhere that the Wachowski brothers never believed a person flying looked realistic onscreen. It’s nice to know they found a way to portray it better. I haven’t seen the movie yet so I’m looking forward to it. I’ve managed to avoid all spoilers on SDMB (so far).
When I saw the movie, everyone in the audience applauded the first time Neo flew. With his coat flapping around, it was very Superman-ish. (obviously intended)
This was my exact thought. Especially during the bit right near the end, I had to restrain myself from saying out loud, “Dude, I totally have dreams like that!” Not exactly like that, of course, but it was nonetheless weird being able to sort of empathize with the way a fictional character flies.
This was the one part of the movie I didn’t like.
I guess you can’t please everyone 
You’d think he’d use his flying skills to knock out all his enemies like a bowling ball.
Yeah, you know: “He’s doing his Superman thing again…”
I had a similar reaction (dream deja vous / empathy) to the roof-hoping in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. My dreams involve more “bouncing” than flying.
My favouritest scene in the movie (and it’s in the trailer too) is the bit where he pops out of the top of the chateau in the mountains and goes zooming off into the horizon.
Whoosh!
The flying WAS very cool, and it did look right, as opposed to like a bunch of wire-work. Although if I ever fly for myself, I might like it to be less fast. 
Stop and smell the artificial roses, Neo!
I’m reviving this thread because I just saw the movie and that was pretty damn cool. The only way it could be better is if he had brought Trinity up there and they pulled an Arthur and Fenchurch flying scene. I’m also disappointed he didn’t use it in the fight against the Smiths. I wanted insane pile drivers.
“The trick to flying is, to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
-Douglas Adams
There are two reasons Neo does not do this:
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It takes a moment of concentration to take off. He has to focus in order to “convince” himself that gravity does not exist. Midfight does not provide this.
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He also needs a space around him. Midfight does not provide this either.
Yes! I loved that he was flying so fast that everything behind him was destroyed in a tornado-like whirl. I know some people hated it but it was thrilling to me.
Anyone notice this?
Keannu REEVES
Christopher REEVE
Superman? Flying?
Just a thought.
Whoa, honeydewgrrl, are you my long-lost twin?? I thought I was the only on that had “bouncing” dreams. Each time I bounce, I go higher and higher…
And I also dream I can run really well on all fours, like a big cat or something.
Not to mention George Reeves, who played Supes on TV back in the day.
STEVE REEVES rode a flying horse in “The Thief of Baghdad” – does that count?
Ok…so maybe it is the Boone’s Farm (Chinese and Boone’s Farm is to Christmas as Chinese and Boone’s Farm is to Memorial Day…no it is not the only choice, it is a nostalgic choice…reclaiming lost youth, etc…) …Maybe it is the very zen state of mind after a visit with my dear friend Mary. There are simply too many intersections in time/space not to comment further…
Hello Archergal. From what part of Georgia do you hail?
I am in Decatur.
When I looked up your profile, you had 314 total posts…which reminded me of one cheesy observation I noticed during Reloaded. The Keymaker states a window of opportunity to be 314 seconds…pi…so now I’ve finaly remembert to post and see if anyone esle caught that.
Re: Bouncing vs flying in dreams…perhaps you and I are still too dependent on the matrix and we don’t yet trust our own control of our perceptions.
[further tangent]
I did have a VERY cool and controled lucid dream the other night. But it was like I was watching my hand on TV, but I was conciously controlling what my hand was doing.
[/further tangert]
Re: running on all fours. I have a vaguely similar notion. Usually I can just run really fast. I have a very vivid memory of being granted permission to run with the older kids for PE when I was about 7. I think they did about a mile. I was the first one back, and I wasn’t even trying to race them. It was the freest sensation I have experienced I think. I was wearing pink cordoroy pants that day (GAG!!!) So as you can see, it is a bittersweet memory that makes entirely no sense to me. Anyway…my dreams involve running upright, or scrambling, or sometimes cycling (which I do often) at great speeds and no physical exhertion. I tend to do this through places back home that I miss and am nostalgic about. trying to hurry up and see it all before I wake up. Another lucid control perhaps? They are random, I can’t bring them on, I can just sometimes go with them and have fun.
I wonder if a track coach had seen me run that day, if my life would have been different. It was pretty much unnoticed as the older kids didn’t want to lose face, and I didn’t really care about anything but a drink of water.
I used to dream that I could fly with one foot extended out in front so I could kick people in the head as I passed by.