• Opens up with use of technology – computer graphics. Theme of film – a story taken from story of a sci-fi narrative?
• Computer graphic shown through morphing of digits into lights – modernist technology versus postmodern technology?
• Opens up the time of the film from this: modern/futuristic?
• Warehouse/gritty building in first shot: juxtaposition between time/shots, as historical resemblance within a modern film
• Police combine with men in suits, who appear business-like and dominant (police ask them for help) – highlights capitalisms control over the classes?
• Clothing – policemen in typical uniform, whilst woman in dominatrix-style bondage cat suit (black, leather) – lures up a futuristic element of clothing with a modern one
• ‘Hyperbolic visibility through construction’: iconic fragmentation through freeze frame/fast forwarding/slow paced shots, added with a mock of technology as the camera pans around this also. Reminder to the audience of the technology elements, especially in reference to the turn of the millennium
• Iconic from this as within an old building, through the flips/freezes, etc... Compared inside a derelict building. Individual dominates building through weapons – opposing of conflict within the world? Overcome with violence however, as shown with weapons and fight scenes. Interpretations are never ending – no core/answers to society or more precisely within the movie? A symbol of mocking show a few frames later with a sign highlighted ‘GUNS’
• Dramatic music – juxtaposition between orchestra music and synchs – combination of movements from centuries?
• Woman slowed down as men follow – shows her beauty/control – women dominate here?
• Flanerio (Friedberg) form of tourism through time – shows change from VCR to DVD – complimented here with old buildings to control of humans alongside special effects
• Remembrance of conversation at start throughout as pondering on storyline – why chase? Importance of women/why she hiding?
• Act of ‘looking’ – old buildings and cops – disturbed by ‘technological effects’
• Old smashed ‘Victorian buildings’ – ironic with guns
• Confusement between time set – appears in past but mise-en-scene states otherwise e.g. telephone box, costumes, lorry, etc...
• Use of computers – interpretation of time – radio/technology with devices around
• Heterotropic film – unsolved events throughout – consuming with questions, as actors don’t allows direct interpretations to audience. Freedom and lingering thoughts achieved here.
• Futuristic clothes – silver/metal/jewellery/high hair, etc...
• Cross-cultural plundering – questions arise as no answers to settings e.g. movement from Victorian houses to large studios to techno discos to underground stations. Retelling through settings? Repetition of settings
• Distorted music matches distorted characters/storyline/settings – adds an ambiguous questioning plot to the story
• Unknowing answers adds to the unknowing plot/characters
• Mobile phone of its time (1999). The use of showing this in slow motion combines technology of its time with that of the future – forceful confrontation of what is to come to the consumer
• Photos and pictures on wall resemble modern buildings – an ambiguous representation for the audience
• The use of CCTV adds to modern times
• Future ‘scare’ through plot of film; group of ‘The Matrix’ searching for individuals and singling them out – crime will toughen in the future? Social underline of a tough issue. Scare of extreme consequences in the future – films aim to tighten crime? Issue highlighted of computer hacking, as Neo introduces through being brought up to ‘The Matrix’ > introduction of computers and possible heightening of this in the ‘90’s, which may have been an omen for the film’s production. Has come true, which Internet Fraud rising considerably yearly.
• Graffiti reflected – a common petty crime
• Vehicles are present but equipment is futuristic/non-existent – juxtaposition?
• Retelling of stories through ‘Alice in Wonderland’ – “you’re wonderland” and ‘Wizard Of Oz’ – “Canzas.” Also representation hint of ‘The Simpson’s’ character, Mr Burns, in Morpheus’ presentation of himself in large posh chair.
• Quotes: ‘world pulled over our eyes to blind you’ and reference to it being a ‘prison’ – society entrapping people. Reference to society at the time, or their prediction?
• Character looks at Morpheus, although we see his reflection through his glasses lens, to which we witness him looking at the audience. Tells his knowledge of the story, witnessed as confused and dazed, during the crucial explanation/decision moment of the film.
• From this, the technology of the time is shown to be developing, as no reflection of the camera’s lens is reflected in Morpheus’ glasses. Digressions from original frame and multi-voiced text, through the distorted editing to force the audience to think.
• Irony of the OTT equipment witnessed inside the derelict building
• His perception of mirror being smashed to not – his realisation emphasized, as well as the time frame supposed for the audience to develop alongside the storyline?
• Use of hospital equipment to monitor Neo – reality
• The gradual use of Neo being gradually consumed by a liquid, as well as the camera (through graphics) slowly morphing into his body and witnessing what is happening internally. Therefore, we witness a wider picture, adding to a more developed perspective compared to just the outside of a being. Also adds to technology gradually progressing
• Use of television screen – looks at audience again – confronts self?
• Use of large bug and tunnel like swimming ride – spot lights on character, followed by a claw, vending-machine grab-like machine process which consumes his entire body (almost like retelling a dream/human game?) has a travelling sense, too (hint of travel in the future?)
• Note that ‘The Matrix’ world is a change from 1999 to 2199 – harsh reality of the future, what corruption and crime will inflict upon our planet, what poverty/wastage of earth’s resources will inflict. From this, Morpheus looks at camera from his perspective, speaking: ‘Welcome to the real world’. Highlights a scare to the audience upon what will happen through time to our Earth – ‘hidden world’
• Graphic match of rusty plate embedded in Neo’s head to a rusty door: reflects the audience’s reality to his perspective of what is now reality for him
• Morpheus in cloak similar to one in George Lucas’ ‘Star Wars’ movies – related storylines?
• White “construct” (their unloading of things through a white canvas/room). Reveals blank minds of viewers as of their feelings, as well as Neo’s feelings upon new area? Also, a replication/interpretation of a computer programme. Allows the audience to develop their own theories/ideas upon this area. Large chairs shown here show synergy of room beforehand, therefore relating to things being similar within society without realisation. A television here reveals what he knows, as well as an ‘actual world’, which could be an omen. Use of A.I. and war reference – more omens. (Also ‘A.I.’ later developed into a film – more storytelling from ‘The Matrix’?)
• Idea of newborns eating the dead – more foreboding references for our future? A threat to mankind, as well as highlighting the young being superior eventually, being aimed at a scare for the adults
• Use of Morpheus’ glasses adds to an ambiguous state, in relation to the plot, due to his lenses covering up his feelings (unreliable?)
• Colour highlights interpretation e.g. lighter/bright in dreams, dark and dreary in ‘reality’, although later on in plot both distort through editing and becomes difficult to distinguish a difference between both
• Prison light in secluded buildings – responsibility of human kind? Or security of the future?
• Multi-cultural and gender in the team opposing ‘The Matrix’ – adds to equality being representative? Whether in future or hidden desires of all
• Corresponding music and image – focuses on distorting of editing per frame – alerts audience from plot, through its concept of style
• Ambiguous levels of communication: no endings, multiple answers
• Use of modern music juxtaposes with previous old-fashioned tones used beforehand
• Freeze frame – visibility being constructed within film – storyline told whilst everyone has to wait – adds to tension through technology (relation to waiting for production of technology/development of that time?)
• Repetition of digits used through computer; refers to opening image. May be a motif/theme of the film?
• Designing humans (woman in red dress) ideas of DNA replica of that time? Can be achieved in future?
• Old newspaper articles throughout (distorting of mise-en-scene) but present pornography
• One use of interruption of plot – bald guy meets up with a member of the opposing team for dinner, which corresponds with his conversation at time with Neo of not enjoying his time against ‘The Matrix’. Hints of bad times to come, as he goes against their system. Use of a flashback compliments the linear-editing achieved so far in filming.
• Relation to the audience – mind machines capture the dreams/thought process of the individuals taking part, likewise to audience. A more personal, subliminal interpretation
• Helicopters (present through air travel)
• The idea of time travel is a form of storytelling and sci-fi imagination
• High modern security base with the guns, adds to a developing present tense
• Violence within society is highlighted throughout, especially in key scenes of the gun battle. Mass amount of guns revealed/bullets, therefore glamorizing it through slow motion/their action packed mood/ music/ outfits, adding to the media being associated with recent high crime rates. Could be a major influence for individuals, adding to problems in future of release?
• Special effects – fire and zooming through elevator. Opens postmodern films – new interpretation for audiences at that time, hinting at space/time
• Heterotopology – use of slow motion is a reminder of space and at the time we live in, drawing us out of our selves
• Train scene – repetition from other films? Fighting on tracks/ getting hit by train, danger from media headlines, etc...
• Typical abandoned grotty, grimy apartment of flats
• Recognition found through hypertexualization, with the opening of up close of computer digits occurring in a cycle by almost ending on these once again – concludes technology will rule, take over? Or is already starting to during that period, with the introduction/development of them exciting IT specialists that they aim to make more models? However, in relation to the plot, the digits are bundled and make no sense, in reference to the story of the film. Therefore, no actual eventful conclusion comes from ‘The Matrix’, concluding a postmodernist view upon certain films. Layers of communication are needed in reference to an individual making an interpretation upon the meaning of the story, as it is free and open. However, over-interpretation should be avoided, as shown with sequels aiming to conclude some unanswered questions.
No comments:
Post a Comment