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This essay will look at how cinematography, mise-en-scène, editing and soundtrack, are used to create the presentation of the characters and the story, in a scene from the film The Matrix (1999), directed by Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski.
Thomas Anderson is a computer programmer, but is also a hacker called Neo. A man called Morpheus contacts him, and following that, a girl called Trinity takes Neo to meet Morpheus. The scene I have selected comes near the beginning of the film. It is when Neo meets Morpheus for the first time, and asks him what the matrix is. Morpheus explains to him that what it is, cannot be told, but can only be seen. He then proceeds to offer Neo two pills; one is red, and one is blue. If he takes the blue pill, he will continue living his life as he is. If he takes the red pill, Morpheus will show him what the matrix is. Neo takes the red pill.
Bordwell and Thompson (2008) believe that cinematography is how a shot is filmed. In the selected scene, there are many close-ups on Morpheus’s face and Neo’s face. A close-up means the focus is on their expressions (Lacey, 1988). This suggests that Morpheus and Neo are important characters in the film, which is why so much attention is being given to their expressions, and how they feel. There is a long shot near the beginning, and is used to set the scene (Lacey, 1988). This gives viewers an awareness of the setting. There are extreme close-ups, which are used when showing Morpheus’s hands, and his eyes. Bordwell and Thompson (2008) believe an extreme close-up magnifies and isolates an object. Morpheus has a pill in each of his hands, and an extreme close-up emphasizes that these pills are an important part of the story. In the third extreme close-up of Morp...
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...at Morpheus is talking about. At this time, Neo is leaning forward on his chair. The posture shows that Neo is very focused on what Morpheus is saying, and the box he is holding. Following this, Morpheus opens the box and takes out the contents, then leans forward. Neo instantly leans back, and is then shown gulping, which indicates that he is nervous. The box contains the red pill and blue pill. Keeping them in a box initially, builds suspense for the audience and Neo, and makes them wonder what is in the box and why is it so important.
Diegetic sound present in the scene which helps in characterization and building the story is dialogue, and the thunder. Dialogue is diegetic, however, thunder is non-diegetic. Morpheus delivers his dialogues very clear and concisely, and his vocabulary is very complex. This gives the impression that he is wise and knowledgeable.
This student of Philosophy now sees the movie The Matrix in a whole new way after gaining an understanding of some of the underlying philosophical concepts that the writers of the movie used to develop an intriguing and well thought out plot. Some of the philosophical concepts were clear, while others were only hinted at and most likely overlooked by those unfamiliar with those concepts, as was this student when the movie first came out in theaters all those many years ago. In this part of the essay we will take a look at the obvious and not so obvious concepts of: what exactly is the Matrix and how does it related to both Descartes and Plato, can we trust our own senses once we understand what the Matrix is, and how Neo taking the Red Pill is symbolic of the beginning of the journey out of Pl...
Distinctively visual language and cinematic techniques highlight to the responder the particular literal and metaphorical experiences characters are faced with, within a text. Peter Goldsworthy’s novel Maestro, Don McLean’s song ‘Vincent’ and the intriguing film Australia by Baz Luhrrman, explore the ways in which the human experiences of an individual’s connection to landscape is fundamental in shaping one’s sense of identity, personal growth and development. Composers further explore the realisation that our lives can be enriched by an understanding and appreciation of art as well as a deeper understanding of the importance of love and lust. The depiction of characters is conveyed through distinctively visual images to highlight the subsequent development of courage and resilience leads responders to a deeper understanding of how human experiences can create a sense of individuality.
In the Matrix, the concept of the illusion of reality is constantly portrayed. Mr. Anderson was once an average citizen living the “normal” life, paying taxes. But as he is faced with the realization that the world which he has known his life was not real, he has to make a decision whether to live in his dream world or to become unplugged from the “Matrix” and to begin his journey with the role to become the “one”. Throughout the movie, Neo becomes more and more detached from the world he once knew. He starts developing skills with the guide of Morpheus which allows him to reach his full potential. The dialogue from Morpheus “What is real?” appeals and makes the audience think about the statement. It implies how do you know what is or isn’t real. In “The lady in the red dress” scene, everyone is walking straight, not looking where they are walking thus symbolizing that they are totally unaware of the situation that they are being held as captives. However, the woman dressed in red is moving around freely lookin...
In the movie, The Matrix there are many similarities with the book, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? One similarity is that of the matrices in both works. The movie has a matrix of dreams. According to the movie, humans are dreaming. Dreaming means that the reality humans think of, is not reality. The reality humans think of, is a dream. Confusing, isn t? An easier way of understanding this matrix is to think of human dreams. When humans experience dreams, it is not perceived as a dream until the dream ends. The movie exemplifies humans in the dream state of mind, similar to the dreaming stage. Neo is exposed to his real matrix. The matrix outside of his perceptual reality. He is able to perform with an incredible flexibility and high speed thinking. He is no longer dreaming, or as Neo called it, living. Neo has waken up. The book shares this matrix as well.
The Matrix is considered by many people to be a cyberpunk triumph. Declan McCullagh from wired.com writes: "When Neo/Reeves wakes up from his VR slumber and unplugs from The Matrix, he joins a ragtag band of rebels led by the charismatic Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburne). Their plan: To overthrow the artificial intelligences that have robbed humanity of reality" (McCullagh). Entertainment weekly also sees The Matrix as a movie about rebellion against oppression: "Neo is, of course, The One, the prophesied leader of the oppressed who will lead the people of Zion (an underground city populated by the last free humans) from bondage--but only if he can believe in himself and trust in the power of love" (Bernadin).
The protagonist Thomas Anderson in the series is one of billions of humans connected to the Matrix, he is a quiet programmer for the "respectable software company" Metacortex. Thomas Anderson is the character in the movie whose later alias becomes “Neo”. Which an anagram for “the one” a name that is most profound parallel to the Bible. Coincidence I think not. Neo is the Christ-figure in The Matrix who is sent to liberate men from their fallen and enslaved state Zion that is the last human city on earth, paralleling the Zion of the Bible. Morpheus and other believers herald him as the “One.” Neo or Christ sets humans free from the matrix or sin as agent Smith who in terms is Satan. Neo has a resurrection scene at the end of the first installment of The Matrix. In this scene Smith kills him, and his coming back to life serves as a testament to his power, and sets the stage for Neo’s final sacrifice at the end of the third movie. It is the scene at the end of the trilogy when Neo makes his Christ-like death. After this sacrifice, Neo is lifted into the sky, the same way one might describe Christ’s resurrection. Neo's performance was so good that famous hollywood director Quienten
Democratic is when citizens vote for all elected officials. Many had defied political system as it was, and thrived towards to create a democratic system that will be beneficial for America as a whole. Andrew Jackson was one of those individuals who challenged the government’s views, and whose name is tied closely to democracy. This essay will focus on the aspects that made this president so great and how democratic was he in actual fact.
Neo discovers that what he has been presented with his entire life is only reflections, or merely shadows of the truth. This theme is carried throughout the movie as we see ...
Jo G. Holland’s article, The Feminization of the Community Corrections Work Force, was published in Corrections Magazine (Holland, 2008, pp. 44-47). It discusses issues related to women in the corrections profession, including historical male domination, barriers for women, and the challenges ahead.
The scene starts with a medium close-up of Richie, who is positioned in the center of the fame and looks directly into the camera –which also doubles as the bathroom window- while wearing his signature headband and sunglasses. The medium close-up leads the viewer to focus on Richie’s face during the actions that are to fallow, but it also allows for a sense of place to be established. The scene starts off poorly lit and with a s...
Hesiod’s Theogony and the Babylonian Enuma Elish are both myths that begin as creation myths, explaining how the universe and, later on, humans came to be. These types of myths exist in every culture and, while the account of creation in Hesiod’s Theogony and the Enuma Elish share many similarities, the two myths differ in many ways as well. Both myths begin creation from where the universe is a formless state, from which the primordial gods emerge. The idea of the earth and sky beginning as one and then being separated is also expressed in both myths.
...successful collaboration of sound, colour, camera positioning and lighting are instrumental in portraying these themes. The techniques used heighten the suspense, drama and mood of each scene and enhance the film in order to convey to the spectator the intended messages.
The Matrix is a movie showing the main concepts of reality and truth and a basic aspect is Plato’s theory on reality which states that reality changes depending on something. In this movie this theory is implied to how Neo’s reality changes based on how he escaped from the matrix and noticed that the reality and perspective changed from a normal society to an apocalyptical world. This is a mixed aspect of truth and reality due to how the reality changes, based on Plato’s Theory, but also his perspective also changes on how he doubts if anything is actually true and real. Thi...
During the Great Depression, while the competitors were cutting costs and reusing outdated designs, Kress was expanding and building more elaborate stores than their previous ones. The architecture was referred to as an “emporium” evoking an elegant atmosphere more suited to a fine cloth or furniture store in New York rather than the five & dime stores dotting small town America. Many wonder what the driving force was behind these design decisions, especially during a national time of economic recession. Perhaps simply to outpace the competition, but perhaps more importantly Samuel Kress was an avid art collector and a proponent of public art enhancing a community. In this way the Kress legacy of the brand became more than a retail business, it became a symbol of small town civic pride.
thought a world like the one depicted would be unlikely to ever occur. But, this film may mimic today’s world, offering an eerie glimpse at the course of self-destruction humanity paves with its obsession for technology. As technology progresses, the gap between worlds, the Matrix and reality, draws ominously close.