On This page you will find three movie reviews of the same movie "The Matrix'
[The Matrix - glimpse at postmodernism - by Maria Hoshaw]
[The Matrix and the gospel - by Garrett Rea]
[Ultimate Reality - by Rogier Bos]

The Matrix:
glimpse at postmodernism

By Maria Hoshawy M

The Matrix, starring Keanu Reeves as Thomas "neo" Anderson, is an example of postmodernism, describing the chaos and blend of philosophies and religions. The movie definitely takes time to digest, as it may be watched from many levels.

At the most basic level, The Matrix is seen as a terrific special affects sci-fi movie with kick-boxing, gun fights, and technology. The good guys fight the bad guys. The music is pounding 1999 hard rock. In one scene, the star of the movie goes with friends to a punk rock bar where everyone is clad in freakish clothing.

At this level, we can ask ourselves and others these questions:

• How welcoming are our churches to the fringe populations? How welcome would a punk rocker feel if he/she stepped through our Nave?
• Who are the good guys, the role models today?
• What is the Matrix?

The Story

Just a little below the surface, The Matrix begs the question on reality and meaning in life. From our third person perspective, we see all life as humanity knows it is a big lie. Almost everyone on earth has been captured as a slave to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Everyone lives and works and carries on with life, not even knowing what they experience every day is more of a dream world, similar to living on a planet-sized Star Trek "holodeck." While everyone thinks they are living in the real world, reality is flipped and everyone is really being held captive in suspended animation submerged in slimy womb-like coffins. In a plot more sinister than the classic sci-fi movie Soylent Green, both the AI and humans (unknowingly) feed off harvested human babies. There is only one city left on earth, hidden deep within the core, which knows the truth of the Matrix and lives free from slavery. A small band of these survivors are tasked with finding a "chosen one" who will eventually free everyone from this slavery, and show them the truth of the Matrix. They find this person as one whom all his life has been struggling with the big questions in life and has attempted to understand the meaning of the Matrix. They offer him the pill of truth or a pill to go back into his non-reality of dream life in 1999. He takes the pill of truth and the adventure rides on through the plot of the movie.

At this level, we can ask ourselves these questions:

• Why does this movie resonate all over the world, from people many economic levels and walks of life, after a world-wide release of only a few weeks?
• What are the truths to the phrase "mankind is a slave to technology?"
• How does this movie echo the sense of hopelessness and loss of meaning and direction of many?
• How does this movie speak to postmodern relativity in values, morals, and truth?

Symbols and myths

Still on a deeper level in the movie, symbolism and myth are evident. Here are some:

The "chosen one" (Neo) must be "born" and released from the womb-like coffin down a birth-canal shoot, be cleansed in a pool of water, and be pulled into a strange room with blinding lights much before he may be told of his name, identity and mission. (Incidentally, "neo" means new.) Neo is then trained and prepared to fight the AI. He fights accepting his identity, even though there are others who believe in him. He goes to a prophet-type person named Oracle who tells him indirectly that his own will and desire to be in control keep him from being the chosen one. Then, through a series of events, he gives up control and accepts his fate. He fights the AI. He applies eastern philosophies that the reality created by the AI is an illusion and can't hurt him once he convinces his mind of it. He is killed with multiple chest wounds in a nasty gunfight against three AI agents. A minute later, he comes back to life. He is stronger and more powerful than he was before he died. He stops bullets in their path. He kills one of the AI agents, and sends two others fleeing in fear. He is the new messiah for the last city of people on earth.

Christian Images

Many Christian symbols are wrapped around this character. There's even a Judas in this story. One from the close band of warriors (Cypher) sells out to the AI. If they give him riches and prestige in the illusionary world, Cypher will tell them the location of the warrior group and secret codes to find the last city on earth. Any references to Christianity stops though, with the borrowing of these symbols.

The last city on earth, of course, is named Zion. So, here the movie writers connect symbolism between a mighty Hebrew-mythic messiah saving Zion with a mighty battle.

Morphius is the ring-leader of the warriors and is the one who most believes in Neo and his destiny. In Greek mythology, Morphius is also the name of the god of dreams. It is in the dream state where Neo fights all the battles with the AI.

Mid-way through the plot, a small child dressed in Buddhist robes teaches Neo classic eastern philosophy that all life is an illusion, and the only realities are your movements around these illusionary objects. As life is an illusion, there is no threat from anything or anyone. Neo adopts this philosophy as the key to overcoming the evil AI as he develops his messianic character.

The Matrix borrows from Christian, Hebrew, and Greek symbolism and eastern philosophy. This movie is a classic example of postmodernism. Borrow from any sources. Create your own religion. Create your own reality.

As we minister to a postmodern world, we need to focus on its weak spots. We need to remember that we are faced with a whole population looking for meaning in life, have depended on technology, and are groping for myths and symbols to help ground them and help them through life. You and I know Whom to follow as the way to the Truth. Perhaps The Matrix can be used to keep us ever mindful just how great these times are - there is much work to be done and the fields are ripe for the harvest.

[Movie website] [Time magazine review]
[Mr. Showbiz review]

Maria and her husband Joel live and work in Alexandria, Virginia., and attend an Episcopalian church. Maria's avocation is young adult ministry and postmodern evangelism. She has degrees in Pastoral theology and Religious education, but presently works for USAID.

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The Matrix and the Gospel

By Garrett Rea

Reeves character, Neo, a truth-seeking hacker, finds that the world as he knew it in 1999 is really a sophisticated simulation run machines. They could possibly be the same cyborgs that control Arnold Schwarzeneggar’s future world in The Terminator. He staggers through coping with his new reality until he finds himself adept at living and thriving in "reality." The real fun of the movie and the reason for all the special effects is that not only can Neo and his friends live in the "real" world, they can enter into this simulation called the matrix armed with a new set of rules. Gravity defying leaps, slow motion kung fun, and dodging bullets are minor infractions of the laws of reality as we know it for those who know the truth.

The plot strangely and expertly mirrors the redemption story of Jesus Christ coming to earth. With a little bit of stretching Neo represents Jesus Christ. With more stretching, many parts of the film have Bible counterparts. Here are a few examples:

But not every element of the movie makes sense biblically. Kung Fu, Trinity’s love relationship with Neo, and a ton of death stand out, but the essentials of the story are there. Don’t easily discount this movie.

By Garrett Rea
Garrett is the youth pastor for the Desert Springs Church, Palm Desert, CA, and he contributes articles to NEXT-WAVE regularly. He and his wife Sandy live in Palm Desert.

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