The Matrix Reloaded

The Matrix Reloaded is the second installment of the Matrix series, written and directed by the Wachowski brothers and released by Warner Bros. in North American theaters on May 15, 2003 and around the world during the latter half of that month. The Matrix Reloaded earned $281 million in the US and $735 million worldwide. The other parts of the second installment are the computer game Enter the Matrix, which was released May 15, and a collection of nine animated shorts, the Animatrix, which was released on June 3. The Matrix Revolutions was released six months after this film, in November 2003.

Discussion

In this film, Neo returns the favor to Trinity by bringing her back to life this time. The scene used visual effects which some see as illustrating a healing energy coming from Neo, that merges with the rapidly fading energy of lifeless Trinity. It could also be seen as another manifestation of Neo's ability to manipulate items (in this case, a human heart) within the Matrix.

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There are various references to philosophy, mythology and computer science. The scene in which Neo fights Seraph is a simultaneous reference to the spirituality of martial arts and to challenge-response authentication. It is also suggested that the Oracle is actually an oracle machine. A cleverly constructed technical detail is Trinity's use of an ssh exploit, which had not yet been discovered (and thus fixed) in 1999 (the year which The Matrix simulates), to break into a computer. The "hidden floor" full of doors is floor number 65, which is a multiple of 13.

Related Topics:
Computer science - Seraph - Challenge-response authentication - Oracle machine - Ssh - Exploit - 1999 - The Matrix

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Characters throughout the movie continually remind us that Neo is still only human. At the beginning the Agents say, "Only human." The Merovingian says, "You see, he is just a man," when Neo's hand bleeds briefly. The Architect tells Neo, "You remain irrevocably human...". This is also conceivably another parallel drawn between Neo and Jesus Christ. In the Bible, Christ often refers to himself as the 'Son of Man'. Similarly, the name Anderson (Neo's 'given' name) means 'Son of Man'. This phrase in biblical text was used to mean 'human', except in reference to Jesus where it is assumed to be titular instead of a declaration of humanity.

Related Topics:
Jesus Christ - Bible

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Existentialism can also be seen throughout the movie, as so much emphasis is put on choice and self definition rather than predestination. Neo insists he is not governed by causality or rules, through such actions as bringing Trinity back to life or sitting when the Oracle says she knows he will stand. The architect attributes the imperfectness of the Matrix to human's stubborn will to defy reality and authority, a theme which can be seen throughout many of Fyodor Dostoevsky's novels, and Jean-Paul Sartre's plays. The film does however place an emphasis on human need to use logic and causality when the councillor relates to Neo the irony that they are dependent on the same machines that threaten to control them (the machines symbolic of causality and reason).

Related Topics:
Existentialism - Choice - Predestination - Fyodor Dostoevsky - Jean-Paul Sartre

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In the Architect scene, some of the screens show images from Neo waking up in the real world. It is unclear how these images supposedly from outside the Matrix could be known to the Architect inside of the Matrix, unless perhaps the Architect can read Neo's memories.

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The Unix utilities Nmap and sshnuke appear during one scene, in which they are used to shut down a power station.

Related Topics:
Unix - Nmap - Sshnuke

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