Understanding the Matrix

Home , Bruce Berman, Follow the White Rabbit, Morpheus (The Matrix), Salvation (novel), Steve Skroce, The Matrix (club)

UNDERSTANDING

Written and Compiled by David Allen Rivera (2008)

"The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window, or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes, to blind you from the truth." (Morpheus)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One: Discovering The Matrix …………… …..……………………………..…………………2 Chapter Two: The Call (Scenes 1-43)………………….…..…………………….….……………..…9 Chapter Three: The Training and Equipping (Scenes 44-82)………………….………………….90 Chapter Four: A Destiny Revealed (Scenes 84-220)……………………………………………..129 Chapter Five: The Truth……………..………………………………………………………….……214 Sources Consulted & Acknowledgements……………..…………….……………………….……229

All Scripture quotations are from the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible

CHAPTER ONE

DISCOVERING THE MATRIX

In 1999, Warner Bros. released a little movie called The Matrix . While most movies are made to entertain, and are fairly straight forward in their approach, The Matrix challenged its viewers. Incredibly unique was the fact that different people who saw it, had different interpretations of its meaning. For people to devote their time into discussing the "meaning" of a Hollywood movie illustrates the shear impact it has had. Few movies have been dissected like The Matrix . This book considers the interpretations, the observations, the symbolism, and the spiritual significance of The Matrix , and puts it into perspective. Are you ready to discover the truth behind The Matrix ?

FINDING A TREASURE

I never saw The Matrix when it came out in 1999. This was a time when the pastor of our church was chastening the congregation (mostly the men) about going to R-rated movies, and renting R-rated videos. Even though it wasn't something that I did a lot, I am an action movie kind of guy, and as you know, most action movies contain bad language, some sexual content, as well as gratuitous violence. That actually began to change with the release of the R-rated Braveheart , The Patriot , and Gladiator , as well as the PG-13 rated The Mask of Zorro . 3

However, I understood the ramifications of what he was talking about, because as Christians, we need to guard ourselves as far as the things we allow in our minds. Just as "we are what we eat," the same holds true for the things that we watch and listen to. When you're hammering a nail, and you slip and hit your thumb, what is the first word that comes out of your mouth? If it's a four-letter word other than "ouch," then maybe you need to address the root of why that happens. If you're not taking in things which contain bad language, then it's not in you to come out. We are to have the "mind of Christ," and part of that is having the discernment to dwell on Godly things.

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:14-16)

I remember going through all of my videos, and asking the Lord about which ones I could keep, and which ones I should get rid of. And even though I didn't have a lot of videos which were "bad" per se, I felt led to get rid of most of them. Of course, one of the other things which had come into play here was the addiction to television. I began to realize that television can come between you and God. It can affect your ability to have an intimate relationship with Him. When you spend an inordinate amount of time watching television and DVDs, as well as going to the movies, it can pull you away from things like reading and studying the Bible, and praying, which are necessary for spiritual edification.

So, when The Matrix came out, and I saw that it was rated-R, and I didn't even consider going to see it.

Fast forward to a year later– June of 2000. Our church ran a Bible School which was administered by Bill Anderson Ministries International, and we were having a graduation dinner for the students. Afterward, Rev. Anderson (pastor of the New Covenant Living Outreach Center in Sandusky, Michigan) gave an informal talk to encourage us. Surprisingly, he said that he had seen The Matrix , and began outlining all of the parallels that illustrated a person's spiritual rebirth. Needless to say, we were quite surprised, because not only did he watch an R-rated movie, but he was using it for a sermon illustration. Well, in the next couple days, many of us ran out to rent The Matrix .

The first time I saw it, it didn't really hit me about what it represented. Probably– because I was still a bit apprehensive. My wife ended up renting it a couple times, but I actually only saw bits and pieces of it. Each time I saw it, I began to see different things. It wasn't until after I saw the television broadcast premiere on TNT, that the whole concept began to come together and gel.

FROM PAPER TO THE SCREEN- THE WACHOWSKI BROTHERS

The Matrix was an idea developed by two brothers, Larry Wachowski (born in 1965) and Andy Wachowski (born in 1967). Besides a liberal application of Biblical tradition, there were also some Buddhism (just as there was in Star Wars), Hinduism, and a hint of New Age. There are some generous helpings from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland , science fiction classics like Blade Runner , the Terminator , and recent entries like Dark City , the 1998 futuristic thriller 4 directed by Alex Proyas. Their idea was to translate their love of comic books (especially the art of Geof Darrow), Japanese Anime and kung-fu movies into an "intellectual action movie."

The brothers are both married, and live near each other on Chicago's North Side. They are college dropouts. Larry attended Bard for two years, and Andy went to Emerson College. They first worked as comic book writers, writing for the now-defunct series Ectokid , a title from a line of comics created by horror novelist Clive Barker. The artist for Ectokid was Steve Skroce, a former Spiderman artist, who also worked on the Gambit series for Marvel Comics.

After reading a book about the legendary B-movie director Roger Corman, they decided on a career in movie-making. The Brothers wrote a script which became the 1995 action movie Assassins , starring Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas. They were so disillusioned about how the movie ultimately turned out, that they tried to legally have their names removed from the movie– but couldn't. They studied the works of directors Stanley Kubrick, John Huston, Billy Wilder, Ridley Scott, George Lucas, and Fritz Land; and in 1996 they wrote, and made their directorial debut with the movie Bound .

Andy said: "We started out thinking of this ( The Matrix ) as a comic book. We filled notebook after notebook with ideas. Essentially that's where the script came from."

The brothers hired two cartoonist friends– Geof Darrow (creator of the comic book Hard Boiled ) and Skroce, who worked with them on Ectokid , who produced a 400-page, scene-by-scene comic book, based on the script written by the Wachowski's. For a few years, they pitched the idea to different studios, but each time they were told that the movie was too complex, and that the movie audience wouldn't get it. Ultimately, their comic book was shown to the Warner Brothers Studio, where Lorenzo di Bonaventura, the WB Studio President for World-Wide Production, kept track of the script and helped push it through; as did Joel Silver, the producer of Assassins (who would also produce The Matrix ), who helped to get the movie off the ground.

Bonaventura said: "When you read the script, you knew it was a new and different kind of movie. It had great action and great characters...a few of us didn't find it incomprehensible and felt the brothers would be able to execute visually what some people had a hard time understanding when they read it."

Keanu Reeves said about the Wachowski brothers: "They are the most beautiful, decent people I've ever met. I think the film is like nothing I've ever seen before. It is a new take. It's a new way of telling stories…It's dense with ideas and you can look at it from different angles. As Larry Wachowski would say, 'The pain of knowledge, the pain that it brings.' Once you go through that, your life can open up and you can experience love. It's about love."

The brothers had admitted to Reeves that he was the first one to actually understand the story. Keanu said: "When I first met the brothers, they showed me a book, which was drawings and kind of like a graphic novel. I was already familiar with some of their comic book material and films that had influenced their work. This book had storyboards and the color schemes and certain action sequences that they call 'bullet time.' And when I saw that, and the script itself, I was like, 'Wow!' They were just aching and ready to make this film."

Carrie-Ann Moss said: "To be honest, it took me twice reading it to fully get it. And I liked that so much because it had so many layers of meaning in the film. My first initial feeling when I read 5 the film was that Trinity, my character, represented faith. And that, to me, was what I, in my heart and my soul as an artist, completely clung to. I understood her at that level. I'm talking about the very beginning stages when I was just auditioning to get the part. When I thought of Trinity, I just kept thinking about faith. The words 'faith' and 'believe' just kept sort of coming to me."

THE BIRTH OF A CULT FILM

Not considered a major project by Warner Brothers, The Matrix was filmed in Sydney, Australia (principle photography took 118 days) to save money. In fact, according to WB executives, it would have cost $95 million dollars to film it in the United States.

The movie premiered on Wednesday, March 31, 1999, and in its first five days, took in $37.2 million, which, according to Warner Brothers, was "the largest Easter weekend opening in motion picture history." Its three-day weekend tally was the best ($27.8 million), till The Scorpion King broke the record with a $36.2 million dollar opening in April of 2002. It ranked #5 among movies at the U.S. Box office in 1999, its domestic gross has exceeded $171 million, and its world-wide gross is $456 million. It also become the first DVD to sell more than one million copies, and spawned a "making-of" documentary ( The Matrix Revisited ). The Matrix spawned two forgettable sequels, The Matrix Reloaded (grossed $281 million domestically, $735 million world-wide) and Matrix Revolutions (grossed $139 million domestically, $424 million world- wide), which were shot back-to-back in 2003. In short, this little movie has far exceeded all expectations.

Usually it takes a few years for a movie (such as Rocky Horror Picture Show ) to achieve cult status, and then it's only because of a small segment of the movie audience. However, The Matrix has been able to do it in a relatively short period of time because the story has appealed to a very wide audience. That's because the unique characteristics of the storyline has given the movie a multi-level degree of interpretation.

Besides succeeding as a slam-bang sci-fi action movie (MPAA rating of 'R' for sci-fi violence and mild profanity) with ground-breaking special effects (which won four Oscars for technical achievement– Visual Effects, Sound, Sound Effects Editing, and Film Editing), an underlying spiritual message has emerged. So much so, that some people who have seen the film have been changed in a positive way.

Someone would have to be pretty dense to miss all of the religious symbolism and doctrine that is presented throughout the movie. In the November 6, 1999, Matrix Virtual Theater Event with the Wachowski Brothers (where people could watch the movie during an on-line chat), which was produced by Warner Home Video (in conjunction with Canned Interactive, Interactual, and Talk City), they were asked about that, and said that "most of it is intentional." Someone else asked about how many hidden messages were in the film. The Brothers answered: "There are more than you'll ever know." When asked what religion they were, they responded only with "nondenominational," which could mean many things.

Another question directed to them was: "Your movie has many and varied connections to mythos and philosophies, Judeo-Christian, Egyptian, Arthurian, and Platonic, just to name those I've noticed. How much of that was intentional?" They responded: "All of it." 6

Without a doubt the Wachowski Brothers have exhibited knowledge of the Bible, religious tradition, Christian doctrine, and Scriptural truth, and have woven them into a modern story that has transcended the boundaries of the film. Has The Matrix become so popular because people are grasping for spiritual truth wherever they can find it? If so, is that a good thing? Should people be getting their religion from a secular film?

Some people have judged the movie harshly; and others, who seemingly have too much time on their hands, have overanalyzed it. After all, it's only a movie. Or is it? The Matrix is a multi- faceted film, wherein lies its strength, and the secret of its success. Perhaps dissecting and overanalyzing it is the only way to truly determine its spiritual viability.

Larry Wachowski said in a Time Magazine interview: "We're interested in mythology, theology, and, to a certain extent, higher level mathematics. All are ways human beings try to answer bigger questions, as well as the Big Question. If you're going to do epic stories, you should concern yourself with those issues. People might not understand all the allusions in the movie, but they understand the important ideas. We wanted to make people think, engage their minds a bit."

The Wachowski's were asked: "Do you appreciate people dissecting your movie? Do you find it a bit of an honor, or does it annoy you a little, especially when the person may have it all wrong?" They responded: "There's not necessarily an 'all wrong.' Because it's about what a person gets out of the movie, what an individual gets out of the movie."

ESTABLISHING BOUNDARIES

Let's be real clear about The Matrix . It is not a Christian movie, and it doesn't have a clear-cut Christian theme. It wasn't even made with the Gospels in mind. Nor was it intended to be. It is a science fiction action movie which happens to use the life of Jesus as an allegorical illustration to bring their story to life. There are so many similarities to the Gospels that the story can be compared to the parables that Jesus would use as a teaching tool.

Years ago, Hollywood produced epic Bible movies like The Ten Commandments , Ben-Hur , King of Kings , The Bible , The Greatest Story Ever Told , Barabbas , The Robe , and others, which are heavily televised around Easter. But in recent years, Ted Turner's television network, TNT, has produced a whole line of Bible-themed movies; there have been many high quality, theatrically- released Christian movies, such as the Left Behind series, The Omega Code (and its sequel), and more recently The Gospel and Facing the Giants ; as well as direct-to-video Christian movies like the Peter and Paul Lalonde's trilogy ( Apocalypse , Revelation , and Tribulation ) and others, which have sold well. Hollywood has taken advantage of this new market with movies such as Robert Duvall's The Apostle , and Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ . This has given rise to the phrase that "the cinema is the new cathedral."

However, my examination of The Matrix is not intended to perpetuate that type of thinking. A movie that is meant to entertain, is not able to communicate doctrine to the point that it can be fully comprehended by the viewer. It can be a witness, it can plant a seed, and it can minister, but it cannot supplant and usurp the function of the church.

So, how can I justify the hours I spent preparing this report on a secular movie. 7

Well, first of all, I believe it was the leading of the Holy Spirit, because I seemed to have been given the grace to do it. When Pastor Bill Anderson visited our church just as I was finishing up the initial stage of this project, I joked with him that he was supposed to produce a teaching on The Matrix , and because he didn't, God had me do it.

Second, I believe there is a scriptural precedent for the underlying motive of the movie. In Joel 2:28, it says:

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:"

This verse, which refers to an increase in the movement of God's spirit in the "last days," indicates that He is going to speak to many people, in a variety of ways, to convey His end-time message of truth, which will lead to a huge harvest of souls through revival.

Though I had developed the foundation of this project in 2001, I ended up being drawn back to it in 2008 after reading a couple books by Bill Johnson, and listening to podcasts of Todd Bentley. They are presenting some radical new teaching about the Kingdom of God, which this movie could help to comprehend.

Even though I have not been able to find out whether or not the Wachowski Brothers are Christians, without a doubt, their knowledge of Christian doctrines and traditions indicate that there has been an ample exposure to the Bible and Scriptural teaching. Did God plant this idea within them? It's possible.

WHAT'S BEHIND THE NAME?

In William Gibson's 1983 science-fiction novel, Neuromancer , the word "matrix" is used to describe the computer-generated world in which most people in the book chose to live. The hero of the story connects to the matrix through wiring that is integrated with his brain. A passage reads: "All the speed he took, all the turns he'd taken and the corners he'd cut in Night City, and still he'd see the matrix in his sleep, bright lattices of logic unfolding across the colorless void..."

The Wachowski's said: "Like the movie itself, there's a lot of word play, a lot of hidden other meanings, a lot of multiple meanings. Besides that, we also like the definition, the mathematical definition of the use of the matrix, or the use of it in terms of a woman's womb (in Latin)." The Greek root for "matrix" is matr or "mother." The word is used five times in the Old Testament in reference to the womb.

Webster's Dictionary defines the word "matrix" as follows:

1) Something within which something else originates or develops.

2) A mold from which a relief surface (as a piece of type) is made; die; an engraved or inscribed die or stamp. 8

3) The natural material in which a fossil, metal, gem, crystal, or pebble is embedded (as for protection or study).

4) The intercellular substance in which tissue cells (as of connecting tissue) are embedded.

5) A rectangular array of mathematical elements (as the coefficients of simultaneous linear equations) that can be combined to form sums and products with similar arrays, having an appropriate number of rows and columns.

A MYSTERY UNFOLDS

Originally I didn't intend to go through the movie, scene-by-scene, to analyze it, and put forth my opinions– because it's already been done. However, things began to unfold that seemed to explain spiritual principles, and provide a visualization for the concept that we have been raised to accept as normal. Whether or not you agree with my conclusions, there's no denying the basic facts of what the movie is communicating, and there's no denying the impact that the movie has made on people all over the world.

When The Matrix was released, the big question was: "What is the matrix?" Now, 10 years later, the question continues to loom before us, and it is this question that I have set out to answer. Are you ready for the truth? Are you ready to have your perception of reality challenged?

CHAPTER TWO

THE CALL

WARNER BROS. PICTURES

VILLAGE ROADSHOW PICTURES

Presentation of THE MATRIX

The final draft of the screenplay written by

Larry and Andy Wachowski

(Note: All profanity has been astericked (*) to eliminate any offensive language, but still communicate the original intent of the writers.)

As a cursor blinks onscreen, a phone rings:

Cypher (V.O): (answers phone) Yeah.

Screen: Call trans opt: received. 2-19-98 13:24:18 REC:Log>.

Trinity: (V.O.) Is everything in place?

Screen: Trace Program: running

Cypher: (V.O) You weren't supposed to relieve me.

Trinity: (V.O.) I know, but I felt like taking a shift.

The screen fills with numbers as we see the computer methodically begin to search through number in order to find the phone number (555-0690).

Cypher: (V.O) You like him, don't you? You like watching him.

Trinity: (V.O.) Don't be ridiculous.

Cypher: (V.O) We're going to kill him, you understand that.

Trinity: (V.O.) Morpheus believes he is the One. 10

Cypher: (V.O) Do you?

Trinity: (V.O.) It doesn't matter what I believe.

Cypher: (V.O) You don't, do you.

Trinity: (V.O.) Did you hear that?

Cypher: (V.O) Hear what?

Trinity: (V.O.) Are you sure this line is clean?

Cypher: (V.O) Yeah, of course I'm sure.

Trinity: (V.O.) I better go.

As the number is reached, we are moved to the screen, and seemingly into it as we pass through a "zero" until we see the beam of a flashlight being held by a police officer. Four officers with flashlights and guns drawn, silently move down the hall of an abandoned hotel known as the Heart o' the City Hotel. Poised outside room 303 (phone number on wall for City Boarding is 555-0156), one of them kicks the door in, where they find a room containing only a fold-up table and chair, phone and Powerbook computer. Trinity is sitting there, her hands still on the keyboard.

Cop1: Freeze, police!

Cop2: Hands on your head!

Cop1: Do it, do it now!

Trinity puts her hands over her head and slowly rises.

Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving): Lieutenant!

Agents arrive outside building.

Lieutenant (Bill Young): Oh s**t. 12

Agent Smith: Lieutenant, you were given specific orders.

Lieutenant: Hey, I'm just doin' my job. You give me that juris-my-diction crap, you can cram it up your a**.

Agent Smith: The orders were for your protection.

Lieutenant: (laughs) I think we can handle one little girl. I sent two units. They're bringing her down now.

Agent Smith: No, lieutenant, your men are already dead.

Trinity's hands are locked behind her head, and when one officer walks up behind her to cuff her, she swings back, grabs his arm, breaking it; and with the flat part of her other hand, smashes into his nose. 13

She jumps up and kicks him in the chest, and he flies into another cop, and they both land against the wall. She kicks the chair into another cop, as he fires, she jumps, defies gravity, and runs along the walls, circling back to him, where she grabs his arm and directs his bullets at the other cop, who falls; and then disables him. For a second she pauses to look at the four bodies lying around her.

The agents are now in the hotel making their way to the room.

Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss): (to Morpheus on phone) The line was traced, I don't know how.

Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne): I know, they cut the hard line. You have no time, you're gonna have to get to another exit.

Trinity: Are there any agents?

Morpheus: Yes.

Trinity: God-d*** it.

Morpheus: You have to focus, Trinity. There's a phone at Wells and Lake. You can make it.

Trinity: Alright. 16

Morpheus: Go.

The name of the hotel is "Heart o' the City Hotel." The Wachowski's said: "Somebody asked us about the street names in the movie and all of them are significant. They are all based on places in Chicago (their hometown)." In the original screenplay, the hotel was called "The Heart of Chicago." However, in the movie, the name of the actual city is never mentioned, it is always City Waste, City Phone, etc., which is meant to reflect the lack of individualistic identity, because, since it was a simulation just for the purpose of mental stimulation, it wasn't a necessary detail.

The heart represents life, emotions and love. The hotel symbolizes that everything emanates from the heart, because room 303 is the same room where Neo will later die, and then come back to life.

Other heart parallels are:

• The name of Neo's boss is Mr. Rhineheart- another name with a dual meaning. • The book Understanding the Dreams You Dream says that the kitchen is a representation of the heart because it symbolizes intent, desire, motivation, and ambition, or where things are "cooked-up." And it is in the Oracle's kitchen where Neo discovers his destiny, and finds out about Trinity's feelings for him. • Clocks and watches, because of their ticking movement, are used to represent the heart, and there is a sun-shaped clock in the Oracle's apartment.

As she runs out of the room, the elevator door opens and she sees the agents coming out. She runs down the hall in the opposite direction. She goes outside to the fire escape and makes her way to the roof.

She runs across the roof as the police, led by Agent Brown, pursue her. They easily navigate the short jumps between buildings, but when they get to a main street, Trinity completely leaps over it, followed by Agent Brown.

Cop: That's impossible.

The chase scene across the rooftops is very reminiscent of the first scene in the movie Vertigo , with some shots being identical to ones made by the director Alfred Hitchcock.

Knowing that he has followed her, she surveys the situation, and sees a lighted window in the building across the street.

Not only is the street bigger, but there's also a longer stretch of roof to get to the edge of the building. She gathers herself and begins running across the roof, and then lunches herself off the roof with so much momentum that she becomes a human projectile moving through the air. 21

The smoking "Guns & Ammo" sign that seen during this chase scene features an Israeli "Desert Eagle" pistol, which is the type of weapon used by the agents (phone number on the sign is 555-0161).

She dives through the window and ends up rolling down steps which are right under the window, and when she lands, comes up with two guns cocked...expecting the agent to follow. He doesn't.

Back at the hotel room, Trinity was able to defy gravity by running on the walls to elude the police, jump across the street, and then literally fly through the air into the window. It's obvious that she (as well as Agent Brown) possess abilities not shared by everyone, and don't seem to fit within the confines of the real world that is being presented as the movie begins.

Trinity: Get up, Trinity. Just get up. Get up!

She jumps up, and runs down the street, where she sees the phone booth.

At the same time, a garbage truck is speeding towards it, slams on its brakes, and slides into a position which directly faces it. The motor is revved up. The phone begins to ring.

The gas pedal is floored, and the rear wheels spin, causing smoke to pour out from around the tires. Trinity runs for the phone. As she steps inside the phone booth and picks up the phone…

The truck barrels into phone booth– demolishing it. The truck backs up, and Agent Smith steps from the truck to inspect the crushed phone booth. There is no sign of Trinity's body.

The other two agents join him.

If Morpheus, Neo, and Trinity represent God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, then the three agents represent the unholy trinity of Satan, the antichrist, and the false prophet.

Agent Brown (Paul Goddard): She got out.

Agent Smith: Does it matter? The informant is real. 27

Agent Jones (Robert Taylor): Yes, we have the name of their next target.

Agent Brown: The name is Neo.

Agent Smith: We'll need a search running.

Agent Jones: It's already begun.

The movie began with a communication between the "matrix" and the "real world" on a digital cellular phone, however, transportation between the two can only take place through hard-lines, or standard analog phone lines. The telephone, according to Marshall McLuhan (author of the 1964 book Understanding Media ), is an extension of the human voice. He's the guy that created the "Reach Out and Touch Someone" campaign for A T & T in 1979. So, an analog telephone call is the only way to retrieve someone out of the matrix; and the human voice it represents, or the oral transmission of words is what is needed to help people escape from the matrix.

The Wachowski's were asked why the crew was only able to "jack-in" through the hard-lines, yet were able to communicate over the cell. The Wachowski's answered: "Mostly we felt that the amount of information that was being sent into the Matrix required a significant portal. Those portals, we felt, were better described with the hard lines rather than cell lines. We also felt that the rebels tried to be invisible when they hacked, that's why all the entrances and exits were sort of decrepit and low traffic areas of the Matrix." In various scenes throughout the movie, such as the Lafayette Hotel, the surroundings have a dilapidated, guettoish look, giving us the impression that the computer had ignored it, possibly because the humans had nearly destroyed the real world. The term "white trash" has been coined by our society to label a specific group of people, and the use of trash in the movie communicates the contempt that the machines have for humans. For example:

• When Trinity is trying to get to the phone booth to exit, she is nearly run over by a City Garbage truck driven by Agent Smith. • During his interrogation, Agent Smith says that Neo helps take out his landlady's trash. • When humans die, they as just discarded as trash, and flushed into the sewer. • Cyber throws his cell phone into a trash can. • The apartment building where the Oracle lives is run down, with graffiti written all over the walls. • In the subway scene, there is trash blowing around, it is dusty and dirty, and it is vacant, except for a homeless man. • There is trash around the apartment building that Neo runs into when he is trying to get away from the agents, and while escaping that building, he jumps into a pile of trash.

According to the book Understanding the Dreams You Dream by Ira Milligan, garbage and sewage represent corruption, sin, evil, and the abuse of authority.

We have also seen the use of smoke, and hazy lighting to communicate reduced visibility and confusion, or the smoke screen or illusion created to deceive mankind. Some examples: 28

• Much of the lighting used in the matrix has a hazy appearance such as the policemen's flashlights as they pointed them toward Trinity. • Smoke comes out of the Guns & Ammo billboard. • When Smith tries to run down Trinity with the truck, we see smoke from the squealing tires and the exhaust, and afterward, when the agents talk in front of the truck, we continue to see smoke rise. • Cypher smokes a cigar at the restaurant while meeting with Agent Smith. • The Oracle is smoking a cigarette while talking to Neo. • The police throw a smoke bomb in the basement of the LaFayette Hotel. • Before Neo dodges the agent's bullets on the rooftop, there is a cloud of smoke behind him, as if something is on fire. • There is a cloud of smoke when the helicopter hits the side of the building and explodes.

The camera focuses on the receiver of the phone in the debris of the booth, and we are pulled into it, ending up at Neo's computer, which is engaged in a data search. We are at Neo's apartment, where we find him asleep in front of his computer. Because of all the computer equipment strewn about, we are given the impression that he is a techie. The stereo is playing the song Dissolved Girl by the group Massive Attack, from their album Mezzanine . (Even though this song is #6 on the album, it is shown as #5 on Neo's stereo.) The screen is scrolling various data, including a news article mentioning Morpheus. The screen goes black and the words appear "Wake up, Neo..." His eyes flutter open, and he begins to wake up. He sees the message.

Some of the lyrics from the song Dissolved Girl is this scene include: "Cause I feel like I've been, I've been here before (brings to mind the "deja-vu" comment that occurs later), And you are not my savior, But I still don't go, Feels like something that I've done before, I could fake it but I still want more."

As Neo's computer is scrolling various news articles about Morpheus, one of the newspapers is the Courier New Press . Courier is a very common letter font which is found in most word processing software.

Neo (Keanu Reeves): What?

The screen says 'The Matrix has you...'

Neo: What the h**l...

He tries to hit the "Esc" (Escape) button. The screen says 'Follow the white rabbit.'

Neo: Follow the white rabbit?

The screen says 'Knock, knock, Neo,' and there is a knock at the door. Neo jumps.

Neo: Who is it?

Choi (Marc Gray): (from outside door) Choi.

Neo: Yeah, yeah...

Neo opens door, and sees Choi and several goth looking people.

Neo: You're two hours late.

Choi: I know, it's her fault (nodding to DeJour, his female companion).

"DuJour" is French for "of the day," while "Choi" could possibly signify "choice," as in "choix du jour" or "choice of the day." Which could point to Neo's choice to go out or stay home, which will determine whether he gets "unplugged."

Neo: Got the money?

Choi: Two grand.

Choi hands Neo a bundle of bills.

Neo: Hold on.

Neo goes into apartment, takes out the book Simulacra and Simulation , ( The Body, in Theory: Histories of Cultural Materialism , © 1994, 176 pages, ISBN: 0-472-06521-1, University of Michigan Press, translated by Sheila Faria, an editor at Artforum magazine) by Jean Baudrillard, the renowned French social theorist and one of France's leading intellectuals (originally published in France by Editions Galilee in 1981), and opens it to the chapter entitled "On Nihilism," revealing a hollowed-out area. He puts the money in the recess and takes out a mini- disc. 32

In the original script, Morpheus says: "You have been living inside Baudrillard's vision, inside the map, not the territory."

According to Webster's Dictionary , the word "similitude" means "resemblance, likeness, counterpart, double, an imaginitive comparison, a simile."

The back cover promotes the book this way: "Baudrillard uses the concepts of the simulacrum- the copy without an original– and simulation, crucial to the understanding of the postmodern, to address the concept of mass production and reproducibility that characterizes our electronic media culture."

As a people, for years we have become overwhelmed by images (simulations) and signs (simulacra) which motivate and move us to buy this product, see that movie, vote for this person, or watch a particular television show. It has all the more become exacerbated by the advancement of technology in the electronic media, which has allowed us to be inundated at every turn. Therefore, our idea of something is based upon a model, which is the copy, or evolution, of the original– which we have determined to be the real thing. This has created a gray area between what is real, and what is not real. It has blurred the lines of truth in history, politics, religion, and the way we live. Thus, we live in a world void of the definitive; in lieu of one that is constantly changing to conform to the image of what someone else wants us to believe.

In a sense, we have witnessed a victory of the false over the real. The simulations of today have been converted into a simulacrum that is no longer real and defined, but instead, exists as something that seems more real than the original, but in actuality, bears no resemblance to the original. According to the book, an image changes to a simulacrum in four steps: reflecting reality, masking and denaturing reality, hiding the reality, then ultimately having no relationship whatsoever to the reality.

According to Webster's Dictionary the term "Nihilism" has several meanings which become underlying themes in the movie: 33

1) A viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless; a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths. In the book Philosophy For Dummies by Tom Morris, Ph.D., he says that the "nihilist's answer to the question of whether life has meaning is a simple and emphatic 'No.' Life itself has no meaning. Your life has no meaning. My life has no meaning. Existence is without meaning of any kind...There is no purpose to life. No plan. No reason."

2) The word "nil," which meaning "nothing" or "zero," is a contraction of "nihil" from the Latin nihilum . The first scene in the movie shows the matrix code, and we, the viewers, are pulled through the number zero. Cypher's name resembles "cipher," which means "zero." Choi says to Neo when he is given the computer disc: "This never happened. You don't exist."

3) A doctrine or belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility.

At this point in the movie, we are first introduced to Thomas Anderson through his alias Neo, and discover his secret life as hacker. The original script indicated that he was a societal rebel who uses his computer to help Choi free his car from the "boot" that was put on it to keep it from being moved. We can see his total disregard for a government authority he has no respect for. Remember, Neo's boss, Mr. Rhineheart, said: "You have a problem with authority, Mr. Anderson. You believe that you are special, that somehow the rules do not apply to you." He then discovers, after being freed from the Matrix, that the rules in the Matrix don't apply to him, that they can be "bent, sometimes broken," including the laws of gravity.

Much like the 19th century Russian Party which favored revolutionary reform and used terroristic acts to achieve their aims, Neo helps the "known terrorist" Morpheus to reveal the truth of the Matrix to the people.

Choi: Hallelujah. You're my savior, man. My own personal Jesus Christ.

Neo: You get caught using that...

Choi: Yeah, I know, this never happened. You don't exist.

Neo: Right.

Choi: Something wrong, man? Cause you look a little whiter than usual.

Neo: My... computer... it... You ever have that feeling, where you're not sure if you're awake or still dreaming?

"When one is in a dream- one does not know one is dreaming." (from Dream Within a Dream )

Choi: Mmm, all the time. It's called mescaline. It's the only way to fly. Hey, it just sounds to me like you might need to unplug, man. You know, get some R and R? (Speaking to DuJour) What do you think, DuJour? Should we take him with us?

Choi's comment about mescaline is a reference to the mescaline experiment that Huxley wrote about in The Doors of Perception , a title which was drawn from William Blake's quote: "If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to us as it is– infinite." Huxley's title was also the source for the name of Jim Morrison's rock group, The Doors . Huxley also wrote the book Brave New World .

Also, in the original draft of the script, Choi was called "Anthony," and says to DuJour: "I told you, honey, he may look like just another geek but this here is all we got left standing between Big Brother and the New World Order." Also, in a chatroom called "The Matrix," we find this exchange:

Quark: "The Matrix is a euphemism for the government."

Superastic: "No, the Matrix is the system controlling our lives."

A door is symbolic of a new phase in life, a new opportunity or development which hinges on a choice that one makes. In some cultures it is symbolic of the transition from life to death. Neo made the choice to go to the party with Choi while standing in the doorway of his apartment. You can also see this representation of decision in the following examples:

• After being picked up at the Adams Street Bridge, Switch tells Apoc to stop the car, and Neo thinks about getting out, opening the car door. But Trinity convinces him to stay. • Morpheus tells Neo in the Sparring Program: "I'm trying to free your mind, Neo, but I can only show you the door. You have to walk through it." • Morpheus tells Neo that the agents are the gatekeepers, guarding the doors, and holding the keys, but "sooner or later, someone is going to have to fight them." 35

• Neo is given a choice to make outside the apartment door of the Oracle. • At the end of the movie, Neo is shot in the doorway of room 303.

Jesus said (Revelation 3:20) in: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

DuJour (Ada Nicodemou): Definitely.

Neo: I can't, I have, uh, work tomorrow.

DuJour: C'mon, it'll be fun. Promise.

DuJour turns slightly, and Neo sees a tattoo of a white rabbit on her shoulder.

Neo: Yeah. Sure. I'll go.

In scene 12, the brief exchange with Choi, we get a couple of glimpses of things yet to come– and a clue of the theme that represents the premise of the movie. When Neo is called a "savior," and Choi's "personal Jesus Christ," it is the first of many references to Jesus within the confines of the movie, which has given it the label of being the "Messiah movie." The fact that the movie was released during the weekend of Easter, 1999 (March 31, 1999) has further enhanced that notion. But in this scene, Choi pays $2,000 for the computer disc, however, in the original script, it was only $200. The number 2000 lends itself to the time that has passed since Jesus walked on this earth. This further solidifies the parallel between Thomas Anderson and Jesus Christ.

The name "Thomas A. Anderson" is symbolic. In "Thomas," we find a correlation with the disciple of Jesus known as "Doubting Thomas," who refused to believe that Jesus had indeed rose from the dead until he could see him and put his fingers in the wounds. And in "Anderson," which comes from the Greek root andr (from andros ) or "man," we have a name which means "son of man," which is the term that Jesus was often called. So, basically, we have "Thomas doubting the son of man."

But also, in the Gospel of John, he is called "Didymus," which in the Greek, means "twin." It has been theorized that he was the twin brother of Jesus, but other scholars believe that the term "Didymus" was just the translation into Greek, of the Hebrew name "Thomas," which also means "twin."

In the movie, Thomas, doesn't believe that he is "the One," and the allusion to the word "twin" is a term which serves to direct attention to the dual nature of the his character.

Thomas Anderson's computer name is "Neo." The word "Neo" means "new" or "different," and because Jesus represented the new covenant, it is an obvious reference that he felt he was different. Plus, as an anagram, you can reposition the letters into the word "One," as in "the One." In addition, Anderson's room number is 101, or "one-o-one," which is unique because it not only contains the encoded name of "Neo," through the configuration of "oNE-O-one," but is also the basic foundation of the digital code. Plus, the name "Neo" is found in the name "Anderson," and "One" is found in "Thomas Anderson." His name in the Matrix encodes the fact that Thomas Anderson is both Neo, and "the One."

Since Neo's name signifies the number one, Trinity's name embodies the number three, and Cypher represents the number zero, the argument has been made that the name Morpheus must symbolize the number two. In the book, The Secret Language of Dreams , the number two "is the number of duality, divine symmetry, and balance. It represents the coming together of the male and female..." This is an accurate description of Morpheus, who brought together Neo (the man) and Trinity (the woman), and bridged the gap between the real world (Trinity) and the Matrix (Neo).

According to the Wachowski's, the names used in the movie, "were all chosen carefully, and all of them have multiple meanings."

What is really ironic is the connection to names of musical synthesizers. A synthesizer is an electronic keyboard that has the ability to recreate and duplicate the sounds of other musical instruments. For instance, there is an E-MU Morpheus Synthesizer, a Korg Trinity Synthesizer, and a Oberheim Matrix Synthesizer, while the numbers 303 and 101 are Roland techno synthesizer marks. 37

With the rabbit, we find the first reference to the book Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (which contains the stories Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass ). Morpheus also talks about it twice in scene 28 when he mentions "wonderland" and the rabbit hole; and also in the Oracle's apartment, there are rabbits on the television. There are a few other more subtle references.

The Wachowski's were asked during their online interview if the mention was "just a whim, or do you guys have a big love of it?" They said: "Big fan! It is a brilliant book. Many of the themes we tried to echo in The Matrix ." They wanted to relay the feeling that the Matrix was like "Wonderland," unreal, and surrealistic, and like the "Looking-Glass" world, with everything backwards, or reversed.

The year 1999, when the movie was released, was the Chinese Year of the Rabbit. The rabbit, even though it is a pagan symbol representing reproduction, is nevertheless closely related to Easter, and therefore is used as a means to further make the connection of Neo, to Jesus.

The next scene finds us inside a dark nightclub, where the song Dragula , ( Hot Rod Herman Mix ) by Rob Zombie, is playing loudly. We see Neo standing off to the side, and he is approached by Trinity.

The first line of this song, which is not heard in the movie, is: "Dead, I am the one." After that is the song Mindfields by the group Prodigy.

Trinity: Hello, Neo.

Neo: How do you know that name?

Trinity: I know a lot about you.

Neo: Who are you?

Trinity: My name is Trinity.

Neo: Trinity...THE Trinity? That cracked the IRS d-base?

Trinity: That was a long time ago.

Neo: Jesus.

Trinity: What?

Neo: I just thought, um... you were a guy.

Trinity: Most guys do.

It is amusing when Neo says that he thought she was a guy. In this scene, when Neo responded to something she said by muttering "Jesus," in a slang manner, Trinity returns with, "What?" Later in the movie, in the car on the way to see the Oracle, he utters the name of "God," in an off-handed way, and again she responds with "What?" This indicates that she is representing the Trinity. There is a Father (God), and a Son (Jesus), so, according to conventional thinking, there has to be a Mother. If Morpheus is representing God the Father, and Neo is a symbolic representation for Jesus the Son, then Trinity must be the Holy Spirit. God (as well as Jesus) is traditionally referred to in the male gender, so the movie is asking us to accept Trinity, a female, 39 as the spiritual representation of the Holy Spirit. This is a concept found in the Apocryphal book of the Wisdom of Solomon (7:21-30, 9:9-18) and it identifies her under the name of "Wisdom."

Neo: That was you on my computer. How did you do that?

Trinity: Right now, all I can tell you is that you're in danger. I brought you here to warn you.

Neo: Warn me?

Trinity: They're watching you, Neo.

Neo: Who is?

Trinity: Please just listen. (She steps very close, to him so she can whisper into his ear) I know why you're here Neo. I know what you've been doing. I know why you hardly sleep. Why you live alone, and why night after night, you sit at your computer. You're looking for him. I know because I was once looking for the same thing. And when he found me, he told me I wasn't really looking for him. I was looking for an answer. It's the question that drives us. It's the question that brought you here. You know the question, just as I did.

While the use of only the word "City" denotes the lack of identity, Trinity also hits on the fact that she knows why Neo has isolated himself from others, which is also demonstrated by the use of cubicles in Neo's office. But more important, Neo is confronted with information about himself that only he knows, and he is intrigued by the fact that Trinity possesses this knowledge. At this point, we know about her extraordinary abilities, and that she has teleported…somewhere. So, we're still kind of in the dark about who she is. Neo is not aware of these things, so she is coming off as exhibiting supernatural attributes. Because she is representative of the Holy Spirit, when she comes up to whisper into Neo's ear, it is indicative of God's "still small voice" (1 Kings 19:12) that is experienced when God speaks to our hearts.

Neo: What is the Matrix?

Trinity: The answer is out there, Neo. It's looking for you. And it will find you, if you want it to.

The scene ends with an annoying buzz as the music fades out, and it's the next morning. We are at Neo's apartment, he is asleep in bed, and awakes to the clock alarm buzzing. The clock reads 9:18. He slams down the off button.

Neo: Oh s**t, s**t.!

This number on the alarm clock represents the date 9/18, the birthday of Andy Wachowski's wife.

Inside an office at MetaCorTex, Neo is wearing a suit, and standing in front of his boss, who is seated at a desk. Window washers outside loudly squeegee the panes of glass.

Mr. Rhineheart (David Aston): You have a problem with authority, Mr. Anderson. You believe that you are special, that somehow the rules do not apply to you. Obviously, you are mistaken. This company is one of the top software companies in the world, because every single employee understands that they are part of a whole. Thus, if an employee has a problem, the company has a problem. The time has come to make a choice, Mr. Anderson. Either you choose to be at your desk, on time, from this day forward. Or you choose to find yourself another job. Do I make myself clear?

Neo: Yes, Mr. Rhineheart. Perfectly clear.

While Anderson's boss is talking about making himself "clear," window washers are outside working to make the windows "clear."

Also, as being identified as a single employee who is a "part of the whole," it is another clue to what his true role is in the Matrix.

The next scene finds Neo at work in his cubicle. A FedEx deliveryman enters.

FedEx (David O'Connor): Thomas Anderson?

Neo: Yeah, that's me.

Neo signs the manifest, and takes the mailing envelope.

FedEx: Have a nice day. 42

Neo opens it, and takes out a cellular phone (customized Nokia 8110i). The phone rings. He jumps in surprise, and then answers it.

Neo: Hello?

Morpheus: Hello, Neo. Do you know who this is?

Neo: Morpheus?

Morpheus: Yes, I've been looking for you, Neo. I don't know if you're ready to see what I want to show you, but unfortunately, you and I have run out of time. They're coming for you Neo, and I don't know what they're going to do.

Neo: Who's coming for me? 43

Morpheus: Stand up and see for yourself.

Neo: What, right now?

Morpheus: Yes, now. Do it slowly. The elevator…

Neo stands up and sees the agents at the corner of the office.

Neo: Oh s**t.

Morpheus: Yes.

Neo: What the h**l do they want from me?

Morpheus: I don't know, but if you don't want to find out, I suggest you get out of there.

Neo: How?

Morpheus: I can guide you, but you must do exactly as I say.

Neo: Okay.

Morpheus: The cubicle across from you is empty.

Neo: What if they...

Morpheus: Go, now!

Neo jumps over into next cubicle just as the agents turn the corner.

Morpheus: Stay here for just a moment...When I tell you, go to the end of the row, to the office at the end of the hall. Stay as low as you can...Go, now.

Neo, staying low, runs to the office, and shuts its door. 45

Morpheus: Good, now, outside, there's a scaffold.

Neo: How do you know all this?

Morpheus: We don't have time, Neo. To your left, there's a window. Go to it. Open it.

Neo opens the window.

Morpheus: Use the scaffold to get to the roof.

Neo: No way, no way! This is crazy!

Morpheus: There are two ways out of this building. One is that scaffold, the other, is in their custody. You take a chance either way. I leave it to you. The phone clicks off. 46

Again, Neo is confronted by someone who seems to have access to information that is not possible to know in the natural, so we get another inkling of supernatural or spiritual knowledge. In talking to Morpheus on the phone, rather than being able to see him, Neo had to trust him. This is just like serving God, because we can't see Him, yet we can hear Him speak to us, and we just have to trust Him, and believe that God wants nothing but the best for us. This scene is a metaphor for the inner voice, or God speaking to us. Neo had to have faith in what Morpheus told him, and after seeing the agents getting off the elevator, gets confirmation, and chooses to trust him. However, when he drops the phone, his point of contact, he loses his faith.

Fear of falling and falling symbolizes doubt, and that is what happened here. Later, Morpheus tells Neo: I imagine you feel a bit like Alice, tumbling down the rabbit hole." And then, before Morpheus jumps from one roof to another, he says to Neo: "You have to let it all go, Neo, fear, doubt, and disbelief. Free your mind." Neo looks down, and falls to the street below.

Neo: (to self) This is insane! Why is this happening to me? What did I do? I'm nobody.

Neo steps onto the ledge, and begins creeping toward the scaffold. The phone falls from his hand and plummets to the ground. (Note: Keanu Reeves actually did this entire scene, without a stuntman- 34 floors up.)

Neo: I can't do this.

Neo is arrested, and outside on the street we see Neo being led into a car (license number "70858") by the agents. Trinity watches from a motorcycle.

Trinity: S**t. 48

On a monitor, we see Neo in an interrogation room, sitting at a table. We move right through the monitor screen into the actual room. Agent Smith enters, sits across from him, slaps a rather thick file onto the table, and unwinds the clasp. He sits there and pages through its contents.

Agent Smith: As you can see, we've had our eye on you for some time now, Mr. Anderson. It seems that you've been living two lives. In one life, you're Thomas A. Anderson, program writer for a respectable software company. You have a social security number, you pay your taxes, and you help your landlady carry out her garbage. The other life is lived in computers, where you go by the hacker alias Neo, and are guilty of virtually every computer crime we have a law for. One of these lives has a future, the other does not. I'm going to be as forthcoming as I can be, Mr. Anderson. You're here because we need your help. We know that you've been contacted by a certain individual, a man who calls himself Morpheus. Whatever you think you know about this man is irrelevant. He is considered by the authorities to be the most dangerous man alive. My colleagues believe that I am wasting my time with you, but I believe you wish to do the right thing. We're willing to wipe the slate clean (he pushes the folder over to the side), 50 give you a fresh start. All that we're asking in return is your cooperation in bringing a known terrorist to justice.

A document, numbered 3809940TA, is on top of all the papers in Neo's file, and indicates that the report was amended July 22, 1998. It reveals that Thomas A. Anderson was born on March 11, 1962 in Lower Downtown, Capital City. His father was John Anderson, and his mother was Michelle McGahey. He attended Central West Jr. High School, and Owen Paterson High School. One has to wonder why the Wachowski brothers chose not to make him 33 years old, and create another connection to Jesus.

Neo: Yeah. Well, that sounds like a pretty good deal. But I think I may have a better one. How about, I give you the finger (he sticks up his middle finger)... and you give me my phone call.

Agent Smith: Mr. Anderson...you disappoint me.

Neo: You can't scare me with this Gestapo crap. I know my rights. I want my phone call.

Agent Smith: Tell me, Mr. Anderson, what good is a phone call, if you're unable to speak.

Neo's mouth begins to feel funny as his lips begin to grow shut until it is completely sealed. He jumps up in shock.

This illustrates the scriptural concept that our words have power. Agent Smith plants seeds of doubt in Neo's mind in regard to being able to speak, causing his mouth to grow closed. In the book I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream by Harlan Ellison, a global computer system takes control of the world, and imprisons human in an artificial world.

The agents throw him on the table, hold him down, and pull up his shirt.

Agent Smith: You're going to help us, Mr. Anderson, whether you want to or not.

Smith takes out a small probe and activates it. It morphs into a robotic scorpion-looking bug, which is laid on Neo's belly. It burrows into his bellybutton.

Neo jumps up in a panic, and finds himself in his own bed. The previous events seemed to have been just a bad dream. The sound of thunder echoes in the background as the phone rings. He answers the phone.

Morpheus: (V.O.) This line is tapped, so, I must be brief. They got to you first, but they underestimated how important you are. If they knew what I know, you would probably be dead.

Neo: What are you talking about, what...what is happening to me?

Morpheus: (V.O.) You are the One, Neo. You see, you may have spent the last few years looking for me, but I've spent my entire life looking for you. Now, do you still want to meet?

Neo: Yes.

Morpheus: Then go to the Adams Street Bridge.

When Morpheus says he had been looking for Neo his entire life, he seems to be playing the role of John the Baptist. Just as the coming of Jesus was prophesied in various Old Testament writings, Neo's coming had been foretold by the Oracle. The Oracle also told Morpheus that he would find the One, so Morpheus prepared the way for Neo by telling his crew that he was the One. So, in a sense, Morpheus was a type of John the Baptist. However, being the leader of the rebels, he is also a father figure (Tank will later say, "you're more than a leader to us. You were a father."). But, as I said before, if Neo represents Jesus, and Trinity represents the Holy Spirit, then Morpheus most certainly represents God.

Neo stands under a bridge in the midst of a driving rain. An old car approaches, and the door opens. 55

In the movie, water is representing the unconscious, or a reminder that Neo is living in the dream state of the Matrix. In this scene, the rain pouring off the bridge, and then steaming down the back window, is symbolizing the falling vertical columns of green symbols of the Matrix code that they see on their computer monitors. We also see a torrential amount of rain running down the side of the Lafayette Hotel when Neo goes to see Morpheus. A similar effect is seen when the sprinkler system goes off in the building where the agents are holding Morpheus. When Neo wakes up from being interrogated by the agents, the raindrops falling against the window panes were even digitized to resemble the sound of the code. Other water-related parallels:

• There is a glass of water in Neo's apartment, and the glass of water that Neo drinks to swallow the red pill. • Neo's boss is named Mr. Rhineheart. Rhine is the name of a major river in Europe. 56

• As the windows are being cleaned in Mr. Rhineheart's office, the water and soap bubbles are running down the glass and the workers are using the squeegee in a downward motion. • While in the custody of the agents, sweat is running down the head of Morpheus. • In the lobby scene, the flying debris from the hail of gunfire that ensues resembles rain. The same thing occurs when Trinity pulls Neo down the inside of the wet wall in the hotel, when Morpheus allows himself to be captured so they can get away. • The bullet casings falling from the helicopter seem to mimic rain. • When the helicopter hits the side of the building, the glass showers downward like rain. • Trinity locates an exit at the corner of "Wells and Lake," things that both contain water. Two other streets are also related to water. "Walbash" is a river that flows through parts of Ohio and Indiana before running into the Ohio River; and "Balboa" is the Spanish explorer that discovered the Pacific Ocean. • As the bullets fly toward Neo, they appear to be moving through water; and the falling bullets that he stops in mid-air resemble rain drops. • Tank's name in a dual meaning, could also refer to water receptacle.

Trinity: Get in.

Neo gets into the back seat with Trinity. Apoc is driving. In the front passenger seat is Switch, who turns around and aims a gun at Neo.

Neo: What the h**l is this?

Trinity: It's necessary, Neo. For our protection.

Neo: From what? 57

Trinity: From you.

Switch (Belinda McClory): Take off your shirt.

Neo: What?

Switch: Stop the car... (the car comes to a stop) Listen to me, "coppertop," we don't have time for 20 questions. Right now, there's only one rule. Our way or the highway.

Though it is a common phrase, from the scene in his apartment till now, depending on what you consider a question or statement of inquiry, Anderson has actually asked about 20 questions. Plus, she uses the phrase "coppertop" which is a term that identifies the Duracell battery, which Morpheus will actually hold up later in the movie to emphasize a point.

Neo pauses for a second to think about that.

Neo: Fine.

Neo opens the car door.

Trinity: Please, Neo. You have to trust me.

Neo: Why?

Trinity: Because you have been down there, Neo. You know that road. You know exactly where it ends. And I know that's not where you want to be.

He closes the door, and the car begins moving again.

Trinity: Apoc, lights. (the interior light comes on, she turns to Neo) Lie back, lift up your shirt.

Trinity pulls out a contraption, which gets plugged into the cigarette lighter.

Neo: What is that thing?

Trinity: I think you're bugged.

Trinity places the tube of the device against Neo's stomach.

Trinity: Try to relax. 59

Trinity adjusts the device.

Trinity: Come on... come on...

Switch: It's on the move.

Trinity: Oh s**t...

Switch: You're gonna lose it!

Trinity: No, I'm not... Clear!

The bug is sucked out of Neo's bellybutton and into the holding container of the device.

Neo: (remembering what he thought was a dream) J**** C*****, that thing's real?! 60

Trinity dumps the bug out the window, onto the street, in the rain, where it reverts back to its original metal probe form.

After Neo is picked up, he is given the choice to stay with them, or get out of the car. But Trinity tells him that he's been there before, and she knows it's not where he wants to be. The name of the bridge, "Adams," illustrates an interesting Scriptural principle. We are to leave our old lives in Adam, the first Adam, in exchange for our new life in Christ, the second Adam. In 1 Corinthians 15:22 it says:

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

Everyone in the first Adam will die, but everyone in the second Adam, Christ, will live. So, in the natural "Adams Bridge" becomes "Adam's Bridge." It represents a bridge from the first Adam to the second Adam; a bridge from the old life to the new life; and a bridge from a life in the flesh, to a life in the spirit. Had Neo changed his mind and got out of the car, he would have continued with his old life, in the first Adam, and stayed in the Matrix.

They arrive at the Lafayette Hotel, go in and up the steps. Neo and Trinity stand outside of room 1313.

Trinity: This is it. Let me give you one piece of advice. Be honest. He knows more than you can imagine.

Neo and Trinity enters the room, where they meet Morpheus.

Morpheus: At last. Welcome Neo. As you no doubt have guessed, I am Morpheus. 61

Neo: It's an honor to meet you.

Morpheus: No. The honor is mine. Please, come, sit.

They both sit down.

Morpheus: I imagine, that right now you're feeling a bit like Alice, tumbling down the rabbit hole?

Neo: You can say that.

Morpheus: I can see it in your eyes. You have the look of a man who accepts what he sees, because he is expecting to wake up. Ironically, this is not far from the truth. Do you believe in fate, Neo?

Neo: No. 62

Morpheus: Why not?

Neo: Because I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my life.

Morpheus: I know exactly what you mean. Let me tell you why you're here. You're here because you know something. What you know you can't explain, but you feel it. You've felt it your entire life, that there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is, but its there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad. It is this feeling that brought you to me. Do you know what I'm talking about?

Neo: The Matrix?

Morpheus: Do you want to know what it is? The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window, or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes, to blind you from the truth.

"In whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Morpheus echoes what Smith said when he interrogated Neo: "You have a social security number, you pay your taxes (also, Trinity is identified as the one who hacked into the IRS data base), and you help your landlady carry out her garbage." They are all aspects of modern life that serve to control us and can easily be abused to the point of making us prisoners of society and enslaving us.

The Wachowski's were asked why the phrase "paying taxes" came up a couple of times. Their response: "Because we usually couldn't afford to pay ours. It is an examination of what is and is 63 not certain." Taxes become a means of communicating government control or slavery to a system that is controlling their lives.

Neo: What truth?

Morpheus: That you are a slave, Neo. Like everyone else, you were born into bondage, born into a prison that you cannot smell or taste or touch. A prison for your mind...Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.

"Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." (John 8:34) 64

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)

What Morpheus says about being born into a prison, and a prison of the mind, is referring to the pods where everyone's body is kept alive. The isolation of the cubicles in Neo's office is reminiscent of the pods, as well as prison cells. When Neo is fleeing from the agents, and runs through the apartment of the two elderly people, on their television we see a scene from the television show The Prisoner . Also, during Morpheus interrogation, Agent Smith says: "I hate this place, this zoo, this prison, this reality, whatever you want to call it."

Morpheus opens a small silver case, and takes out two pills, and holds them in his clenched fists.

Morpheus: This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to. You take the red pill, you stay in wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.

He holds them out, the red in his right hand- the blue in his left.

Neo reaches for a pill.

The color of silver is associated with the term "silver tongued" which describes someone who is very articulate, eloquent, and persuasive, and in scenes where someone is attempting to be very convincing, there is at least one silver object in the room. Here we can see that Morpheus' pill case is silver.

• In the "How Could You Tell the Difference Speech" by Morpheus, Switch's tube top is silver. • In the room where Agent Smith is interrogating Neo, the table, chairs, and "bug" case are silver. • When Neo is picked up by Trinity, Apoc, and Switch at the bridge, and Switch says that they don't have time for "twenty questions," her nail polish is silver, so is her gun. • When the Oracle is talking to Neo, the radio on top of the refrigerator, the pot on the stove, and a cup on her counter are all silver. • When Neo tells the AI of his plans at the end of the movie, the front of the phone is silver, as well as the phone booth.

The color silver also represents the unconscious; while gold symbolizes the conscious.

• The silver, mercury-like material that moves up Neo's arm, seems at times to look gold as it reflects the light of the room, which symbolizes Neo moving from an unconscious state of being in the Matrix, to that of a conscious one in the real world. • At the Oracle's apartment, the spoons are silver, and the cups on the stand are gold. • When Neo shoots into the room where Morpheus being held, there is the silver of the bullets, and the gold of the casings.

The red pill, represents the blood of Jesus, or salvation. In addition, the chairs they are sitting on are red. Also, there is significance that pill was in his right hand, because Jesus is now sitting at the right hand of God (Hebrews 1:3).

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." (Hebrews 9:22)

"For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:28)

The blue pill, represents the Matrix, and is the color used by the United Nations.

The old rock group Jefferson Airplane had a song called White Rabbit which had a line: "One pill makes you bigger, one pill makes you small."

Morpheus: Remember, all I'm offering is the truth, nothing more.

Neo selects the red pill, and swallows it with the glass of water that was sitting on the table between them.

For the second time, Neo is given a choice. It is the same decision we all face, and that is to accept truth, or to continue to live in the deception that this world offers.

Morpheus is the name of the ancient Greek God of sleep and dreams, who had the power to enter into people's dreams and to take any shape he wanted. His name is the linguistic root for words like "morphine" (a drug that induces sleep and alleviates pain), and "morphing" (using computer technology to seamlessly transform from one reality to another).

Morpheus told Neo that he was giving him the truth. The music used on one of the movie's trailers, which didn't appear in the movie, is from the song The Eyes of Truth , from the Enigma's album The Cross of Changes . A snippet of the song is also played when The Matrix DVD is inserted. It is said that the eyes are the window of the soul, and thus reveals what is in the heart.

Open eyes represent truth, consciousness, perception and knowledge. When Neo's body is extracted from the Matrix, his eyes hurt, and Morpheus tells him it's because he's never used them before. Now that he is using them, he will be able to see the truth. There are many other such references, like when Morpheus tells Neo that he can't be told what the Matrix is, he has to see it for himself; and that the Matrix is the world that had been pulled over his eyes to blind him from the truth. Ephesians 1:18 says: "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling..."

Closed eyes represent sleep, unbelief, ignorance, unconsciousness, and denial. When Cypher says that "ignorance is bliss," it is from the standpoint of wanting to be reinserted into the Matrix, and going back to sleep. When the crew is eating, Mouse says that if they closed their eyes, it almost felt like they were eating runny eggs. This way could be in denial of what they actually had to eat, which Apoc said resembled snot. At the end, when Neo's eyes are closed, and he fully realizes his potential, he opens his eyes to stare at the agents. This is a symbolic act that portrayed the fact that he could now see the code, and the truth of what the Matrix actually was.

Sleep is a way that people escape reality to avoid problems. A symptom of depression is having more sleep than necessary. To operate on an unconscious level, with the physical body at rest, equates to one being in the Matrix, or not functioning in the real world. Some examples of this:

• The movie opens with Neo asleep in front of his computer, inside the Matrix; till he wakes up to a message from Trinity, who represents the real world. • Neo asks Choi if he ever had "that feeling where you're not sure if you're awake or still dreaming?" • When he goes to the club with Choi and meets Trinity, representing the real world; he then oversleeps the next morning and is late for work. • Trinity tells Neo she knows why he hardly sleeps. • After being interrogated and bugged by the agents, he wakes up in bed thinking it all to be a dream; and then when he goes in the car with Trinity, he finds that it wasn't a dream. • Morpheus tells Neo: "You have the look of a man who accepts what he sees because he is expecting to wake-up," "You take the blue pill, the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe," "You've been living in a dream world, Neo," "Have you ever had a dream, Neo, that you were so sure was real? What if you were unable to 67

wake up from that dream? How would you know the difference between the dream world and the real world?" Morpheus' ship is named the Nebuchadnezzar, and in the book of Daniel, he interprets a dream of King Nebuchadnezzar that reveals the future. • Cypher says to Neo: "Sweet dreams." • Cypher tells Trinity: "You know, for a long time I thought I was in love with you. I used to dream about you," "They're going to reinsert my body. I go to sleep, and when I wake up, I won't remember a...thing."

Whenever Neo wakes up, soon after he receives some sort of revelation of what he would come to know as the real world. The concept of physically waking-up has it parallels with a spiritual awakening. While were dealing with eyes, we can see that even though they are inside the hotel, Morpheus has on sunglasses, which has to do with closed eyes and sleeping, or being in the Matrix, because it is covering their eyes. Whenever any of the crew is in the Matrix, they have on sunglasses. Also, sunglasses are a protection, and they are protecting themselves from the false reality of the Matrix.

All the good guys (Morpheus, Neo, Trinity, etc.) wear round or oval-shaped lens; while all the bad guys (Cypher, Agents) wear square or rectangular-shaped lens.

Sunglasses are also used for intimidation, power, and a desire to control. In scenes where Agent Smith is interrogating Neo, and later Morpheus, who are not wearing sunglasses, Smith, for a short time, takes off his sunglasses in an attempt to come across as though he is trying to be sympathetic and identifying with them– but it is just a deception. During the subway fight, when Smith's sunglasses are broken, it's a sign that his superiority and power has been broken.

Morpheus: Follow me.

Neo and Morpheus open a door to an adjoining room and enter a room containing some technical equipment. Trinity, Apoc, Switch, and Cypher are also there. 68

Morpheus: Apoc, are we online?

Apoc (Julian Arahanga): Almost.

Morpheus: Time is always against us. Please, take a seat there.

Switch takes Neo's jacket, and Trinity attaches EKG-type monitors to Neo.

Neo: You did all this?

Trinity: Uh-huh.

Morpheus: The pill you took is part of a trace program. It's designed to disrupt your input/output carrier signal so we can pinpoint your location.

Neo: What does that mean?

Cypher: It means, buckle your seatbelt, Dorothy, because Kansas is going bye-bye.

Neo looks at a mirror next to him, and the cracks begin to disappear.

Neo: Did you?... (he looks at the others)

He touches the mirror, and it seems to have turned into a gel-like consistency and sticks to his finger.

Similar to "Alice in Wonderland," this comment is meant to help associate the Matrix to the "Land of Oz" in the movie The Wizard of Oz . (from the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum). Oz was the dream world that Dorothy entered. The phrase "follow the white rabbit" is reminiscent of what the Glinda, the Good Witch tells Dorothy- "follow the yellow brick road." Also, everything in the Matrix is tinted green; while in Emerald City, everything is green, but only because Oz made everyone wear glasses that made things appear to be green.

Morpheus: Have you ever had a dream, Neo, that you were so sure was real. What if you were unable to wake from that dream? How would you know the difference between the dream world, and the real world?

Earlier Neo said to Choi: "You ever have that feeling, where you're not sure if you're awake or still dreaming?" Now Morpheus reiterates that thought.

"Once upon a time, Chuang Tzu dreamed that he was a butterfly, a butterfly fluttering about, enjoying itself. It did not know that it was Chuang Tzu. Suddenly he awoke with a start and he was Chuang Tzu again. But he did not know whether he was Chuang Tzu who had dreamed that he was a butterfly, or whether he was a butterfly dreaming that he was Chuang Tzu." (from The Dream of a Life by Chuang Tzu, as recorded in Readings from World Scriptures by Professor Andrew Wilson)

The mirror-like substance, now looking similar to mercury, begins to cover his hand.

Neo: This can't be...

Morpheus: Be what? Be real?

The mirror substance begins creeping Neo's arm.

Trinity: It's going into replication.

Morpheus: Apoc?

Apoc: Still nothing.

Neo: It's cold, it's cold. 71

Morpheus: (into phone) Tank, we're going to need a signal soon.

Trinity: I've got a fibrillation.

Morpheus: Apoc, location?

Apoc: Targeting, we're almost there.

The mirror substance is creeping up Neo's neck onto his face.

Trinity: He's going into arrest.

Apoc: Lock, I got him!

Morpheus: (into phone) Now, Tank, now. 72

The mirror substance begins sliding down Neo's throat.

In scene 28 and 29, we can see a purveying theme in the movie, and that is "reflections." You can see the reflections of the pills, as well as Neo, in the lens of Morpheus' sunglasses; and also in the mirror, and the mercury-like substance which emanates from it. In their online interview, the Wachowski's said: "Reflections, in general, are a significant theme in the film. The idea of worlds within worlds...The idea of the reflection, the two Neo's in Morpheus' glasses, is that, that represents the two lives that Neo is leading. In the left lens, we see the blue pill and Thomas Anderson, and in the right lens, we see the red pill and Neo."

Before, Neo lived two lives, and was blind to the truth of where he was living, and the mirror was cracked; after he made his decision, the cracked disappeared as the mirror was made whole.

Some other examples:

• When Neo is arrested and taken into custody by the agents we see him in the rear view mirror of Trinity's motorcycle. • Neo sees a reflection of his face in the Docbot that disconnects him in the pod. • There is a reflection of Neo's face in the car window as he looks out, when they were on their way to see the Oracle. • We see Neo's reflection in the spoon he bends in the Oracle's apartment.

"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)

The red pill is "like a computer virus that's meant to disrupt Neo's life signal so that they can pinpoint where Neo's body is in the power plant."

We see a pink viscous filled pod which contains a body which is beginning to move around. We see Neo's hand pushing through a membrane, completely tearing through it.

He sees a feeding tube coming out of his mouth. As he feels and grabs at a huge cable coming out of the back of his head, he looks around, and as far as the eye can see, there are pods filled with humans, just like the one he is in. Waves of electricity crackle around the towers of pods.

A robot known as a Docbot flies down, grabs Neo by the neck, and unscrews a connector from the back of his neck, sliding the cable out of the plug. Once the connection is broken, other smaller cables begin to pop off of other places on his body. No longer held in place, he sinks into the goo. All of a sudden, a hatch on the bottom opens up, and he is eliminated from the pod, sliding down a chute, and is ejected from a pipe, where he lands in a sewer. He struggles to stay afloat. A ship appears overhead, and a hatch opens, dropping down a mechanical claw which grabs him and pulls him up. 73

The crew picks him up, and wraps a towel around him.

Morpheus: (to Neo) Welcome to the real world.

Neo blacks out.

Morpheus: (to Trinity) We've done it, Trinity. We've found him.

Trinity: I hope you're right.

Morpheus: You don't have to hope. I know it.

In this extraordinary scene, Neo is ejected from the pod. And yes, he was actually shaved bald to do the scene.

The red pill, according to Morpheus, allowed them to find out where Neo's body was in the Power Plant. Once located, either the pill interrupted Neo's life signs, or else Morpheus was able to send a signal that made it appear as though he was in dead. This prompted one of the Docbots to come down, disconnect him from the system, and quite literally, flush him into the sewer.

The pod, a womb-like ("matrix") incubator, had been his home, his entire life. His release from the enclosed sac, separation from various umbilical-like cords, and journey down a chute which resembled a birth canal, represented a physical birth into the real world. As a test-tube baby, he never experienced the birth process, but this was like being born into the real world, and is actually symbolic of a spiritual birth, or being "born again."

Neo awakens, and finds himself lying on the table. 76

Neo: Am I dead?

Morpheus: Far from it.

In the next scene, we find Neo, still laying on a table, with many long needle-like probes stick out of him.

Dozer (Anthony Ray Parker): (to Morpheus) He still needs a lot of work.

Neo wakes up.

Neo: What are you doing?

Morpheus: Your muscles have atrophied, we're rebuilding them. 77

Neo: Why do my eyes hurt?

Morpheus: You've never used them before...Rest, Neo. The answers are coming.

The work continues on him, as the needles are removed, and the other openings are medically treated

The next scene finds Neo in a small cabin area. He sits up from a bed. Some time has obviously past, as his hair is growing. He removes a long intravenous needle from a metal plug in his arm. He is reaching back to touch a metal plug on the back of his neck, when Morpheus comes in.

Neo: Morpheus, what's happened to me? What is this place?

Morpheus: More important than what, is when. 78

Neo: When?

Morpheus: You believe it's the year 1999. When in fact, it's closer to 2199. I can't tell you exactly what year it is, because, we honestly don't know. There's nothing I can say that will explain it for you. Come, see for yourself.

We see Neo climbing up a ladder into another part of the ship.

Morpheus: This is my ship, the Nebuchadnezzar. It's a hovercraft.

When we are taken onboard the Nebuchadnezzar, a military hovercraft that has been moving around the sewers for about 150 years, we see an unusual notation on the I.D. plate of the ship:

MARK III No 11 NEBUCHADNEZZAR MADE IN THE USA YEAR 2069

With some fans, the notation has become associated with the Bible verse Mark 3:11, which says:

"And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God."

Wachowski's were asked: "Was this intended or is it just the make and model of the Neb, and nothing more subliminal than that? They responded: "The Nebuchadnezzar is indeed a Biblical reference, from the book of Daniel."

They enter a room.

Morpheus: This is the main deck. This is the core, where we broadcast our pirate signal and hack into the Matrix. Most of my crew, you already know. This is Apoc, Switch, and Cypher.

Cypher (Joe Pantoliano): Hi.

Morpheus: The ones you don't know, Tank, and his big brother Dozer. The little one behind you is Mouse. You wanted to know what the Matrix is, Neo? (to Trinity) Trinity...

On board the Nebuchadnezzar, we can see the movie take on a different quality. In the online interview, the Wachowskis said: "One of the things we tried to do with the Neb for when we were shooting 'in the real world' was the use of long lens to separate the humans from the backgrounds, as opposed to when we shot the Matrix, we used short lenses to place the humans in specific deep spaces. We also tinted all the lights blue in the 'real world' and green in the Matrix." Sometimes the color green represents sickness, decay, and disease. The green was "inspired by the phosphorus green of old PCs."

When Neo sees Morpheus and Trinity for the first time on board the ship, they are surrounded by a bluish light. The color blue is associated with peace, because the sky and ocean is blue, and is considered to be mentally and physically soothing and therapeutic. In the movie, it symbolizes truth, hope, and inspiration. When Morpheus says to Trinity that they have "found him." Trinity responds by saying, "I hope you are right." In return, Morpheus says, "I don't have to hope."

The crew was a group of people that had been looking forward to Neo's arrival. They trusted Morpheus, and were willing to believe the he is the One.

Apoc, in the earlier script, is referred to as the creator of the "Four Horsemen" computer virus, and thus is short for "Apocalypse."

Switch is an electrical/computer term.

Tank and Dozer, the two brothers, are reminiscent of the three sets of brothers among the disciples.

Mouse is a computer term. 81

The name of Morpheus' ship, the Nebuchadnezzar, seems to have certain attributes that need to be explored. Nebuchadnezzar was the name of the king of the powerful Neo-Babylonian empire who ruled from 605-562 B.C. He figures prominently in the books of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. He was the one responsible for conquering Jerusalem, and taking away Judah during the 70-year Babylonian captivity. The name means "Nebo protect the boundary." Nebo was the Babylonian god of wisdom.

In Daniel 2:37-45, the prophet Daniel interpreted a dream of Nebuchadnezzar having to do with an image with a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, stomach and thighs of brass, legs of iron, feet of iron and clay. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that he was the head of gold, while the other parts would be subsequent kingdoms in the world. These various stages and shifts in world power seem to culminate in a one-world government. This is confirmed by a parallel vision in Daniel 7:1-24.

Trinity leads Neo to a seat, and clamps his feet into it. Morpheus pushes Neo's head onto the headrest.

Morpheus: Try to relax. This will feel... a little weird.

A long probe is inserted into the metal plug on the back of his neck, as he screams soundlessly.

All of a sudden, Neo, appearing like his old self, is in a stark white room. He looks surprised. Then Morpheus appears behind him.

Morpheus: This... is the Construct. It's our loading program. We can load anything from clothing, to equipment, weapons, training simulations, anything we need.

Neo: Right now, we're inside a computer program? 82

Morpheus: Is it really so hard to believe? Your clothes are different; the plugs in your arms and head are gone. Your hair is changed. Your appearance now is what we call residual self-image. It is the mental projection of your digital self.

Neo touches a chair, one of two, like the ones in the room where he first met Morpheus at the Lafayette Hotel. An old-fashioned television is in the middle. The back of the TV set says 'AWA.'

Neo: This... this isn't real?

Morpheus: What is real? How do you define real? If you're talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see, then real is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain.

Morpheus picks up a remote control from the table in front of the TV. He turns the TV on, and scenes of the world circa 1999 appear on its screen. 83

Morpheus: This is the world that you know. The world as it was at the end of the 20th century. It exists now only as part of a neural-interactive simulation, that we call the Matrix. You've been living in a dream world, Neo. This is the world as it exists today.

On the TV screen, images appear of a dark, post-apocalyptic-type city. Around them, the chairs are now located in this same dark and desolate landscape.

The television in the Construct is labeled "AWA," and a radio tower that the helicopter flies over later in the movie also has the same logo. AWA is an Australian company which pioneered radio and television in Australia, and was a leader in electronics since the early 1900s. The tower had been the tallest tower in Sidney till the mid-1960s. They have changed their logo many years ago, and although they are no longer involved in television and radio, they are engaged in such business ventures as navigational beacons, medical supplies, and electronic ICs.

The television reveals what the Matrix is, and what happened to the earth– which was very overwhelming for Neo. And in the apartment of the Oracle, the television showing the giant rabbits was an exaggerated demonstration of what Neo was feeling. He followed the white rabbit, alluding to the rabbit in Alice in Wonderland , and now everything that has happened since he discovered the truth of the Matrix has dominated every fiber of his being .

The two chairs in this scene are the same ones that were in the room at the Lafayette Hotel when Neo first met Morpheus and learned about the Matrix, and in both conversations, it was about the Matrix, and the conflict between the humans and the machines.

Morpheus: Welcome... to the desert of the real. We have only bits and pieces of information, but what we know for certain, is that at some point in the early 21st century, all of mankind was united in celebration, we marveled at our own magnificence as we gave birth to AI.

Neo: AI? You mean artificial intelligence?

Morpheus: A singular consciousness that spawned an entire race of machines. We don't know who struck first, us or them, but we know that it was us that scorched the sky. At the time, they were dependant on solar power, and it was believed that they would be unable to survive without an energy source as abundant as the sun. Throughout human history, we have been dependent on machines to survive. Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony.

We see a fetus, attached to connectors and hoses.

Morpheus: (V.O.) The human body generates more bio-electricity than a 120 volt battery, and over 25,000 BTUs of body heat. Combined with a form of fusion, the machines had found all the energy they would ever need.

According to the original script: "They discovered a new form of fusion. All that was required to initiate the reaction was a small electric charge."

Scene of fields of human fetuses in translucent pink oval 'wombs,' growing attached to a 'trunk'... something like a tomato. Robots pluck the wombs and they are sucked up transport tubes, as small spider-like robots scurry over the wombs.

Morpheus: (V.O.) There are fields, Neo, endless fields, where human beings are no longer born, we are grown. For the longest time, I wouldn't believe it, and then I saw the fields with my own eyes. 85

Scene of infant with tubes attached to plugs, laying in a pod, as black liquid oozes in.

Morpheus: (V.O.) Watched them liquefy the dead so they could be fed intravenously to the living. And standing there, facing the pure horrifying precision, I came to realize the obviousness of the truth.

The comment by Morpheus: "Welcome... to the desert of the real," is off of page one of Baudrilliard's book Simulacra & Simulation which Neo uses as a safe in his apartment.

In Book VII of The Republic by Plato, he tells a story called The Allegory of the Cave , which talks about people who have been chained in an underground cave since they were children. Their necks and legs have been shackled, so that the people holding them captive, who are also in the cave, can't be seen. They are called the "puppet-handlers," and represent the influential and powerful members of society. They don't know they are prisoners, because this is the only life that they have known. A fire burning at the mouth of the cave, producing smoke and shadows on the wall of the cave, causes everything to be distorted, because all they ever see is shadows of images.

In the story, Plato said that a man, referred to as the "philosopher," started to question what he saw in front of him, and pondered the origin of the shadows, and if there was anything beyond the cave wall. He must have believed something was wrong, and that there had to be more. He wanted to know the truth. But, if he were freed, and was able to turn around to see the real objects, as well as his captors, would be confused by what he saw, thinking it to be an illusion; would be mentally distressed, because of the shock of what he would see; and suffer physical pain because his eyes would not be able to look into the light. This is a close parallel to what Morpheus told Neo during their initial meeting, and when Neo was first extracted from the Matrix.

Also, Plato even gets deeper when he toys with the idea that the chains holding the prisoners may actually be in their mind, rather than being a physical reality, so, if they really wanted to 86 escape, they could just get up and walk away. This is reflected in the scene where Morpheus is ultimately able to break the handcuffs, seemingly with the power of his mind.

If a freed prisoner was able to get beyond the boundaries of the cave, into the real world, this is what Plato said he would be exposed to:

"When he approaches the light, his eyes will be dazzled, and he will not be able to see anything at all of what are now called realities...He will require to grow accustomed to the sight of the upper world. And first he will see the shadows best, next the reflections of men and other objects in the water, and then the objects themselves; then he will gaze upon the light of the moon and the stars and the spangled heaven...Last of all he will be able to see the sun..."

Plato said that the Freed Man would probably want to tell others about his discovery of the real world so he could free them, but his fellow prisoners wouldn't believe him, and in fact think him to be insane. The prisoners would rather commit murder than allow themselves to be removed from the cave. Morpheus tells Neo that people in the Matrix are not ready to be unplugged, and would fight against the attempt to do so.

About this rather morbid scene, the Wachowskis said, "Always recycle! It's a statement on recycling." The computers drew their power from humans, because they were responsible for damaging the atmosphere which blocked out the sun, and the machines were unable to use solar energy.

What we find, are that humans are kept in pods, immersed in liquid, and kept alive in a comatose state by being intravenously with nutrients and the liquefied remains of other humans. Because they were kept in this manner, they humans were dying too quickly because they were deprived of all sensory perception. It was decided that a mental stimulus was needed to provide them with a will to live by making them believe that they had a life. A six-inch probe inserted in a jack in the back of their neck allowed them to be interfaced directly into the Matrix– a computer reality that is so real, that it can not be distinguished from the real world where they are slaves to a system that has tricked people's minds into believing that they are existing in reality, when they are in fact being drained to fuel the real world.

Morpheus uses the term "AI," rather than "artificial intelligence," to describe those who established and controlled the Matrix. This unusual name can be found in the Bible. After Joshua led the Israelites in a stunning defeat of Jericho, they felt it wouldn't take as many men to defeat the smaller city of Ai (Joshua, chapters 7 and 8). However, because of the disobedience of one of Joshua's men, God was not with them, and they were defeated. After redemption, God gave them the plan to conquer the city. Joshua would divide his forces, and a contingent was to hide behind the city, while the other would meet the army of Ai at the appointed time. As the battle began, Israel feigned defeat, and retreated. The leaders of Ai, wanting overwhelming victory, sent every available man to pursue them. This left the city vulnerable, and open to attack. The Israeli troops that were lying in wait then attacked the city, and burned it. All the inhabitants were killed.

Many American troops have been sent to foreign soil in various military actions, and to serve as UN peacekeepers or policemen, while foreign troops have been sent here to train. It is apparent 87 that the reason for this, is when it's time for our guns to be confiscated, American troops will not be able to fire upon their own people– but foreign troops will.

Does "AI" relate to the incident at "Ai" and illustrate how the New World Order is making this country vulnerable to attack by sending American troops to other parts of the world.

They are once again in the white room.

Morpheus: What is the matrix? Control. The matrix is a computer-generated dream world, built to keep us under control, in order to change a human being... into this...

Morpheus holds up a Duracell 'coppertop' battery.

Neo: No. I don't believe it. It's not possible.

Morpheus: I didn't say it would be easy. I just said it would be the truth.

Neo: Stop! Let me out! Let me out! I want out!

Neo backs away from Morpheus, toward the all-encompassing white walls.

On the deck of the ship, Neo pushes himself off the chair.

Trinity: Easy, Neo, easy.

Neo: Get this thing out of me. Take this thing out of me!

As the probe is removed from his neck, he gets up, and moves away from the chair. 88

Neo: Stay away from me! Stay away from me! I don't believe it...I don't believe it...

Cypher: He's gonna pop!

Morpheus: Breathe, Neo, just breathe...

Neo collapses on the floor, throws up, then passes out.

He wakes up, lying in a bed, and turns to find Morpheus sitting behind him.

Neo: I can't go back, can I?

Morpheus: No. But if you could, would you really want to? I feel I owe you an apology. We have a rule. We never free a mind once it's reached a certain age. It's dangerous, the mind has trouble letting go. I've seen it before, and I'm sorry. I did what I did because... I had to. When the 89 matrix was first built, there was a man born inside, who had the ability to change whatever he wanted, to remake the Matrix as he saw fit. It was he who freed the first of us. Who taught us the truth. As long as the Matrix exists, the human race will never be free. After he died, the Oracle prophesies his return, and that his coming would hail the destruction of the matrix, end the war. Bring freedom to our people. That is why there are those of us who have spent our entire lives searching the matrix, looking for him. I did what I did because... I believe that search is over. Get some rest. You're going to need it.

Neo: For what?

Morpheus: Your training.

Morpheus leaves.

In the original script, Morpheus says: "When he died, the Oracle at the temple of Zion prophesied his return and envisioned an end to war and freedom for our people."

"Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law..." (Galatians 4:3-4)

This verse refers to the initial coming of Jesus, and is the scriptural basis for what Morpheus says about the man who had been born inside the matrix and began to bring freedom to the people.

CHAPTER THREE

THE TRAINING & EQUIPPING

The next morning, Tank enters Neo's room. Neo is sitting on the floor.

Tank (Marcus Chong): Morning, did you sleep?

Neo shakes his head 'no.'

Tank: You will tonight, I guarantee it. I'm Tank, I'll be your operator.

Neo: You don't... you don't have any...

Tank: Holes? Nope. Me and my brother Dozer, we're both 100% pure old-fashioned home- grown humans, born free right here, in the real world. A genuine child of Zion.

Neo: Zion?

Tank: If the war was over tomorrow, Zion's where the party would be.

Neo: It's a city?

Tank: The last human city, the only place we have left.

Neo: Where is it?

Tank: Underground, near the earth's core where it's still warm. If you live long enough, you might even see it. God-***n, I gotta tell ya, I'm fairly excited to see what you're capable of– if Morpheus is right and all– well, we're not supposed to talk about this... but, if you are... it's a very exciting time. We got a lot to do. We got to get to it. 91

Tank tells Neo about the city of "Zion," the only remaining refuge for humans. In the Bible, Zion was one of the hills that the city of Jerusalem stood on. It was first mentioned in the Old Testament as a Jebusite fortress (2 Samuel 5:6-9). But when David captured it, it became known as the "City of David." However, the name continued to be used to identify the city of Jerusalem, including Mount Moriah, the location of the Temple. The name was also used figuratively to refer to the Jewish people in general (Psalm 126:1, Isaiah 49:14), and Heaven (Hebrews 12:22, Revelation 14:1).

"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge." (Psalm 48:1-3)

Tank refers to himself as "a genuine child of Zion." Scripturally, all of God's children are children of Zion.

Tank, and his brother Dozer, who were naturally born, are ironically named after machines. Tank, an armored combat vehicle; and Dozer, an earth-moving vehicle. The disciples James and John, who were brothers, were referred to as the "sons of thunder." This term aptly describes a tank and a bulldozer- thundermakers.

Neo is placed in the jack-in chair, and Tank sits in front of the computer, looking through a stack of discs.

Tank: Now, we're supposed to start with these operation programs first, that's major boring s**t...let's do something a little more fun... how 'bout... combat training.

Tank puts in the disc, and the program appears on the screen, 'ju jitsu.'

Neo: Ju jitsu? I'm going to learn... ju jitsu.

Tank starts the program, and Neo's eyes clamps shut, then a couple seconds they spring open.

Neo: Holy s**t!

Tank: Hey Mikey, I think he likes it! How 'bout some more?

Neo: H**l yes...h**l yeah. 92

Training programs rapidly flash on the screen.

These training programs can be correlated to the Word of God. The training programs are in the form of computer software that is directly fed into the brain. James 1:21 talks about the "engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." The word "engrafted," means to "join by uniting or implanting." The following Scriptures illustrate how the Word of God is engrafted to us:

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." (Psalms 119:11)

"I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word." (Psalms 119:16)

"Stablish (establish, or "to make firm or stable") thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear." (Psalms 119:38)

"Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word." (Psalms 119:148)

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) 93

These verses show that the Word of God is to be read, studied, and meditated upon, so it is taken into our hearts and minds.

The programs that were being uploaded into Neo all had to do with fighting and warfare, just as the Word of God trains and equips us to battle against spiritual evil.

Morpheus comes in later and looks over Tank's shoulder.

Morpheus: How is he?

Tank: 10 hours straight. He's, a machine.

The programs continue to be downloaded into Neo's brain.

Neo opens his eyes.

Neo: (to Morpheus) I know kung-fu.

Morpheus: Show me.

Morpheus and Neo both enter the Construct, and are inside an oriental dojo with a padded floor.

Morpheus: This is a sparring program. Similar to the programmed reality of the matrix. It has the same basic rules, rules like gravity. What you must learn is that these rules are no different than the rules of a computer system. Some of them can be bent. Others, can be broken. Understand? Then hit me, if you can.

This sequence took a week to film.

It is interesting, that in this martial arts scene, a love of the Wachowski's, we see a representation of yin (darkness, feminine) and yang (light, masculine), with Morpheus in a black gi, with white trim, and Neo in a white one with black trim. It is a portrayal of duality that represents the conflict of opposite things– the real world and the Matrix. You can see also see this in the black and white checkerboard tile floor at the Lafayette Hotel, and when Neo first enters the lobby, where the room is mostly black and white; plus Neo is wearing all black, and the guards have on white shirts.

They spar, until Morpheus intercepts one of Neo's kicks, grabs his foot, twisting it, and throwing him to the floor.

Morpheus: Good! Adaptation. Improvisation. But your weakness is not your technique...

Neo tries to catch Morpheus off guard with a spinning wheel kick, which Morpheus ducks. They spar some more.

Mouse pops his head into the doorway of a room where the crew is sitting.

Mouse: Morpheus is fighting Neo!

The crew scrambles to watch it on the monitor. 96

Back in the dojo, they are still sparring. In a bold, gravity-defying move, Neo runs up a pillar and backflips over Morpheus' head in an attempt to get behind him. However, Morpheus anticipates the strategy, and when Neo lands, Morpheus throws a powerful side kick that throws Neo so hard into one of the pillars that it breaks. Neo falls forward, exhausted, and in pain, struggles to push himself up.

Morpheus: How did I beat you?

Neo: You're too fast.

Morpheus: Do you believe that my being stronger, or faster, has anything to with my muscles, in this place? You think that's air you're breathing now? Hmm.... Again. 97

They spar again.

On the ship, the crew is huddled around the monitor watching the action.

Mouse: J**** C***** he's fast! Take a look at his neural-kinetics, they're way above normal.

In the dojo, the sparring becomes more intense.

Morpheus: What are you waiting for? You're faster than this... don't think you are, know you are.

Morpheus, in a ready stance, motions for Neo to attack him. Neo is apprehensive, so Morpheus takes the initiative, and goes after Neo. They spar some more. Morpheus is agitated.

Morpheus: Come on! Stop trying to hit me– and hit me! 98

The speed of Neo's exchanges becomes so fast that his arms are a blur of rapid motion, until Morpheus can no longer block or dodge his strikes. Neo's final blow purposely falls short of the target, as Morpheus, too slow to defend himself, stands there in shock.

Mouse: I don't believe it.

Neo stands there, arm extended only inches from Morpheus' face.

Neo: I know what you're trying to do.

Morpheus: I'm trying to free your mind, Neo. But I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it. Tank– load the jump program.

It took 15 days to shoot the Dojo scene, which was the culmination of four months of kung-fu training. It was important, not only for the actors to be seen doing their own fight scenes, but for them to be believable. During the Kung-Fu training sequence, we hear the song Leave You Far Behind ( Lunatics Roller Coaster Mix ) by Lunatic Calm.

Morpheus explains, that within the Matrix, physical laws can be bent– even broken. That is exactly like the real world we live in. During his ministry, Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, walked on water, raised the dead, and He said that, as Christians, we would have even more power than Him. So, in the natural world, subject to the physical laws of our perceived reality, we can walk in the Spirit, and operate in the power and authority delegated to us by Christ. The prophets of old commanded the weather, and called fire down from heaven; Jesus walked on the water, and moved through solid objects; and there are instances where people were instantly transported from one location to another. These people operated on a level of faith that enabled them to be activated to operate beyond the realm of the world.

When Morpheus says that he was trying to free his mind, compare that to the following quote: "Empty your mind of all thought." (from Tao te Ching by Lao-tzu, 6th century B.C. Chinese philosopher)

When Morpheus says, "I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it," this is similar to Jesus who said, in Revelation 3:20: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

Morpheus and Neo appear on the top of a tall building.

Morpheus: You have to let it all go, Neo. Fear, doubt, and disbelief. Free your mind.

Morpheus turns and jumps to the roof of another building. 100

The scene of a city rushing up to their feet, was for the landscape to be similar to that of a computer circuit board, however, since Sidney did not have the same type of layout as large cities in America, they used a helicopter shot of the city and merged it with an actual shot of a circuit board to give it the feel that they wanted.

Neo: Whoa!

Neo goes to edge of the roof and looks down.

Neo: Okey-dokey... free my mind... 101

The crew continues to watch the action on the monitor.

Mouse: What if he makes it?

Tank: No one's ever made their first jump.

Mouse: I know, I know... but what if he does?

Apoc: He won't.

Trinity: (whispering) C'mon...

Neo tries to mentally prepare himself for the jump.

Neo: Alright, no problem... free my mind...free my mind...no problem...alright... 102

Neo runs to the edge, jumps, and looks down, and then falls to the pavement, sinks into street, then bounces up, landing hard.

Mouse: Wha...what does that mean?

Switch: It doesn't mean anything.

Cypher: Everybody falls the first time, right, Trin?

Cypher turns to Trinity, but she is no longer there.

Neo and Morpheus are unplugged. Neo tastes something, and reaches inside his mouth, then looks at his fingers, and discovers that he is bleeding.

Neo: I thought it wasn't real. 103

Morpheus: Your mind makes it real.

Neo: If you're killed in the Matrix, you die here?

Morpheus: The body cannot live without the mind.

When Morpheus takes Neo to the top of the building in the "Jump Program," he tells Neo that he has to let go of "fear, doubt, and disbelief." To be more precise, he has to have faith. We find a similar situation in the Bible when Peter has to exercise his faith to get out of the boat, and walk on the water to get to Jesus. As long as his eyes are on Jesus, he's okay. But when he takes his eyes off of him, and begins looking at the wind and the waves, then he begins to sink. When Neo looks down, and begins to think about the impossibility of what he is doing, he falls to the street, and actually "sinks" into it. This is Neo's lesson about faith. When he looks down, over the ledge, it is a parallel scene with the one back at his office building when he looked over the ledge.

We see the door to Neo's room open, and Trinity carries a tray of food in and sits it down. She pauses for a second to watch him sleeping. When she leaves, Cypher is standing outside.

Cypher: I don't remember you ever bringing me dinner. There is something about him, isn't there?

Trinity: Don't tell me you're a believer now?

Morpheus: I just keep wondering, if Morpheus is so sure, why doesn't he take him to see the Oracle?

Trinity: Morpheus will take him when he's ready. 104

The book The Secret Language of Dreams indicates that cooking for someone else represents a desire to influence and manipulate them. Here Trinity brings Neo his dinner, Cypher will give him a drink, Agent Smith will have dinner with Cypher, and the Oracle will give Neo a cookie.

Back in the Construct, Morpheus and Neo walk down a crowded street.

Morpheus: The matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. When you're inside, you look around, what do you see– businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters– the very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system, and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system– that they will fight to protect it.

We hear the song "Clubbed To Death ( Kurayamino Mix )" by Rob D.

The people that are imprisoned within the Matrix symbolize those, like Lot's wife, who can not let go of the world.

105

Neo turns his head to look at a woman in a red dress (Fiona Johnson).

Morpheus: Are you listening to me Neo? Or were you looking at the woman in the red dress?

Neo: I was...

Morpheus: Look again. 106

The woman in red represents temptation and sin (since the color red is associated with sexuality, passion, and lust); and this symbolically represented that if he would have given in to this temptation, he would have been killed– which mirrors the verse in Romans 6:23– "For the wages of sin is death..."

Neo turns, and Agent Smith is pointing a gun at his head. Neo ducks.

Morpheus: Freeze it.

The people around them freeze in place.

Neo: This... this isn't the Matrix?

Morpheus: No. It's another training program, designed to teach you one thing. If you are not one of us, you are one of them.

107

Neo: What are they?

Morpheus: Sentient programs. They can move in and out of any software still hardwired to their system. That means that anyone we haven't unplugged is potentially an agent. Inside the Matrix, they are everyone, and they are no one. We have survived by hiding from them, by running from them. But they are the gatekeepers, they are guarding all the doors, they are holding all the keys, which means that sooner or later, someone is going to have to fight them.

Neo: Someone.

Morpheus: I won't lie to you, Neo. Every single man or woman who has stood their ground, everyone who has fought an agent has died. But where they have failed, you will succeed. I've seen an agent punch through a concrete wall– men have emptied entire clips at them and hit nothing but air. Yet their strength and their speed are still based in a world that is built on rules, because of that, they will never be as strong or as fast as you can be.

Neo: What are you trying to tell me? That I can dodge bullets?

Morpheus: No, Neo. I'm trying to tell you that when you're ready, you won't have to.

Morpheus' cell phone rings, and he answers it.

Phone: We got trouble.

The Sentient programs or agents are the "gatekeepers" of the Matrix, and represent demons, in that they have the ability to enter anyone's digital body and use them for their own purposes. They are presented as secret agents, dressed in black, with dark glasses and wired earphones, and seem very similar to the infamous "men in black." The existence of the "men in black," were revealed by reporter John Keel in his book UFO's: Operation Trojan Horse (© 1970, reissued in 1996 to capitalize on the Men in Black movie, which came out in 1997). It seems that whenever 108 anyone would report a U.F.O. sighting, they would be visited by mysterious men dressed in black, who would question them.

Back on board the Nebuchadnezzar.

Morpheus: Did Zion send the word?

Dozer: No, another ship...Squiddie is sweeping in quick.

Neo: Squiddie?

Trinity: A sentinel. Killing machine designed for one thing.

Dozer: Search and destroy.

Morpheus: Set her down right over there.

The hovercraft sits still and powers down.

Morpheus: How we doing, Tank?

Tank: We're offline. EMP armed– and ready.

Neo: (whispering to Trinity) EMP?

Trinity: Electro-magnetic pulse. Disables any electrical system in the blast radius. It's the only weapon we have against the machines.

Neo: Where are we? 109

Trinity: They're old service and waste systems.

Neo: Sewers?

Trinity: There used to be cities that spanned hundreds of miles. Now these sewers are all that's left of them.

Morpheus: Quiet!

The sentinels approach the Nebuchadnezzar. One comes in closer to take a look around, opens up a satellite dish-like extension in an attempt to hear any sort of activity. Hearing nothing, it flies away.

Cypher is sitting in front of all the monitors, entering data on the keyboard, and Neo approaches.

Cypher: Whoa! Neo... you scared the bej**** out of me.

Neo: Sorry. 110

Cypher: It's okay.

Neo: Is that...

Cypher: The Matrix? Yeah.

Neo: Do you always look at it encoded?

Cypher: Well, ya have to. The image translators work for the Construct program, but there's way too much information to decode the matrix. You get used to it. I, I don't even see the code. All I see is blonde, brunette, redhead. Hey, you, uh, want a drink?

Neo: Sure.

Cypher pours a drink for Neo from a jug.

Cypher: You know, I know what you're thinking, cause right now I'm thinking the same thing. Actually, I, I've been thinking it ever since I got here -- why, oh why, didn't I take the blue pill?

Neo is surprised that Cypher is saying this, and can't believe it. Neo takes a drink, and gags on it.

Cypher: Good s**t, huh? Dozer makes it. It's good for two things, degreasing engines and killing brain cells. So, can I ask you something? Did he tell you why he did it? Why you're here?

Neo nods his head in the affirmative.

Cypher: J****! What a mind-job. So, you're here to save the world? What do you say to something like that? A little advice, if you see an agent, you do what we do– run. You run your a** off.

Neo takes another drink, then gives Cypher back the cup. 111

Neo: Thanks for the drink.

Cypher: Sweet dreams.

Cypher drinks what is left out of Neo's cup.

In this scene, and in a couple of others, interesting juxtapositions occur. Cypher takes the Lord's name in vain when talking about Neo, but although it only appears to be profanity, it also serves to tie Neo into a symbolic connection to Jesus.

Cypher, or more precise, "cipher," is a computer term for "zero," which contrasts Neo, who is the "One." The numbers 0 and 1 make up the binary code that is the basis for computer language. A cipher is also a message in code, a way of transforming text to conceal its meaning– which certainly describes the code of the Matrix. Some people believe his name may derive from Caiaphas, the high priest who manipulated Pontius Pilate into crucifying Jesus.

Cypher feels like he's nobody, and later proclaims that he's tired of taking orders from Morpheus.

In an elegant restaurant in the matrix, Cypher and Agent Smith are sitting at a table. Cypher is cutting his steak.

Agent Smith: Do we have a deal, Mr. Reagan?

Cypher: You know, I know this steak doesn't exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy, and delicious. After 9 years, you know what I realize?

Cypher puts the piece in his mouth and chews it. 112

Cypher: (sighs, then says) Ignorance is bliss.

The sound of a harp in the restaurant, being strummed one time, back and forth, is heard, which then continues to softly play.

Agent Smith: Then, we have a deal?

Cypher: I don't wanna remember nothing. Nothing. Do you understand? And I wanna be rich, you know, someone important. Like an actor.

Agent Smith: Whatever you want, Mr. Reagan.

Cypher: Okay. You get my body back in the power plant, re-insert me into the Matrix, I'll get you what you want.

Agent Smith: Access codes to the Zion mainframe.

Cypher: No, I told you, I don't know them. But I can get you the man who does.

Agent Smith: Morpheus.

Smith refers to Cypher as Mr. Reagan, which seems to be the alias that he gave the agent. However, there are other references in this exchange that are reminiscent of President Reagan. Cypher or "Mr. Reagan" wants to be reinserted into the matrix, and he doesn't want to remember anything. If you recall, during the Iran-Contra hearings, President Reagan was criticized for responding with "I don't remember," or "I can't recall," to many questions. A few years after the end of his second term, it was revealed that he was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, which causes memory loss. Cypher also says that he wants to be reinserted as someone rich, "like an actor." President Reagan was a former actor. 113

Cypher has been associated with Judas Iscariot, however, because his betrayal was directed towards the crew, and more specifically Morpheus, and not Neo, then the connection simply becomes more symbolic. At this point, the Agents are not aware of Neo's significance, and Cypher does not believe that Neo is the One, so the main concentration remains Morpheus.

Judas was one of Jesus' disciples, just as Cypher is one of Morpheus' crew. Judas left the meal with Jesus (the 'Last Supper') to betray Him, while Cypher betrayed Morpheus over steak (at the end of the credits, "steak" is given as one of the codewords for the official website) dinner. Also, Judas shared the cup with Jesus; and Cypher did the same in the scene where he gives Neo a cup of liquor, while expressing his doubts about him being "The One." Neo hands him the unfinished drink, and Cypher finishes it– which today is a socially unacceptable practice. His price for betrayal was to be reinserted into the Matrix as someone "rich," which equates to Judas' 30 pieces of silver. Instead of a kiss, Cypher will betray his comrades with a sneeze.

Even more diabolical comparisons have been made, with the name Cypher sounding like the name "Lucifer." He wears a reptile skin coat, which alludes to the Biblical representation of Satan as the serpent. He wears red clothing, and has a goatee, equating him with the devil. When they visit the Oracle, Cypher's red sweater has a hole right over his heart, perhaps indicating that he is "heartless."

Meat is a metaphor that media theorist Marshall McLuhan (author of the 1964 book, Understanding Media ) uses to describe the tricky distinction between a medium's content and its form. As he puts it, the "content of a medium is like a juicy piece of meat that the burglar throws to distract the watchdog of the mind." He also writes: "Literacy remains even now the base and model of all programs of industrial mechanization; but, at the same time, locks the minds and senses of its users in the mechanical and fragmentary matrix that is so necessary to the maintenance of mechanized society."

Mouse, Apoc, Switch, and Trinity are sitting around a table in the 'kitchen' of the Nebuchadnezzar. Tank dispenses some mush into a bowl and gives it to Neo.

Tank: There ya go buddy, the breakfast of champions.

Mouse (Matt Doran): If you close your eyes, it almost feels like you're eating runny eggs.

Apoc: Yeah, or a bowl of snot.

Mouse: Do you know what it really reminds me of? Tasty Wheat. Did you ever eat Tasty Wheat?

Switch: No, but technically neither did you. 114

Mouse: That's exactly my point, exactly! Because you have to wonder now, how do the machines really know what Tasty Wheat tasted like? Maybe they got it wrong. Maybe what I think Tasty Wheat tasted like, actually tasted like, uh, oatmeal, or, uh, tuna fish. It makes you wonder about a lot of things. You take chicken for example, maybe they couldn't figure out what to make chicken taste like, which is why chicken tastes like everything. And maybe they...

Apoc: Shut up, Mouse.

Dozer: It's a single-cell protein, combined with synthetic aminos, vitamins, and minerals. Everything the body needs.

The crew complaining about their food kind of brings to mind the Israelites complaining about having nothing to eat in the wilderness but manna (Numbers 11:6).

The crew is eating their meal with a "spork," which is a spoon and fork combined– another symbolization of duality.

Mouse: It doesn't have 'everything the body needs'... (to Neo) So, I understand that, uh, you've run through the agent training program. You know, I, um, wrote that program.

Apoc: Here it comes...

Mouse: So, what did you think of her? 115

Neo: Who?

Mouse: The woman in the red dress. I designed her. She, ah, well, she doesn't talk very much, but, but, if you'd like to meet her, I can arrange a much more personalized milieu.

Switch: The digital pimp, hard at work.

Mouse: Pay no attention to these hypocrites, Neo. To deny our own impulses is to deny the very thing that makes us human.

Morpheus enters room.

Morpheus: Dozer, when you're done, bring the ship up to broadcast depth. We're going in. I'm taking Neo to see her.

Trinity looks at Cypher.

Neo: See who?

Tank: The Oracle.

Neo, Morpheus, Trinity, Cypher, Mouse, Apoc, and Switch are all sitting in the jack-in chairs, Tank is at the computer punching in commands.

Tank: Everyone please observe the fasten seatbelt and no smoking signs have been turned on. Sit back, and enjoy your flight.

116

An old-style black phone which sits on a table in a room in the matrix begins ringing. The crew appears.

Morpheus: (to Tank) We're in.

Outside, the crew exits the door of a loading dock of a hotel.

We hear the song Prime Audio Soup by the Meat Beat Manifesto.

Two signs are seen during this scene. One that says "Keep Clear," another reflection on the window cleaning scene in Rhineheart's office; and another which says "Loading Area Only - No Parking." This is ironic because this is the building where they "load" in and out of the Matrix. 117

From the time we saw Trinity, and the agents, early in the movie, till now, when Neo goes back into the Matrix for the first time since his rescue, we can see a prominence in wearing black. It is a color that adds an air of mystery, but also the sense of power because of its ability to intimidate. Which is why the "bad guy" is the one that wears black, and when we see Trinity for the first time in the hotel, the impression that we get, because the cops are after her, is that she is a "bad guy." The color black is associated with death, and also a loss of consciousness (as in "blacking out").

The humans in the Matrix are unconscious, and are "dead" to the truth, and the real world. But because the Matrix is the real world to those in the Matrix, which in reality, it is not– it is like the opposite of reality. When the three primary characters of Neo, Morpheus, and Trinity enter the Matrix, the opposite of real, the positive image, becomes a negative one, but is still the same.

With the agents, their black clothing communicates secrecy, evil, darkness, and deceit.

Switch, wears black in her first scene, then "switches" to the only one wearing white.

Morpheus: (to Apoc and Switch, who are to stay behind) We'll be back in an hour.

Cypher dials a phone number, then secretly drops his cell phone into a trashcan.

118

Inside the car (1964 Lincoln Continental, license number "AA 034"), Morpheus is in the front passenger seat, while Neo and Trinity are in the back seat. This is Neo's first visit back inside the Matrix, and he stares out the window, looking at everything in a completely different way.

Morpheus: Unbelievable, isn't it?

Neo: God...

Trinity: What?

Neo: I used to eat there. (referring to a restaurant they just passed) Really good noodles. I have these memories from my life. None of them happened. What does that mean? 119

Trinity: That the Matrix cannot tell you who you are.

Neo: And an Oracle can?

Trinity: That's different.

Neo: Did you go to her?

Trinity: Yes.

Neo: What did she tell you?

Trinity: She told me...

Neo: What?

Morpheus: We're here. Neo, come with me.

Morpheus and Neo enter the hallway of a building. They pass what appears to be a blind man sitting on a bench. Morpheus nods to him, and the blind man nods back. They enter the elevator.

Since the man has dark glasses and a white cane, we have assumed that he is blind– yet they nod to each other. Was he actually guarding the elevator and only masquerading as a "blind man," or, does he somehow relate to Tiresias, the seer in Greek mythology who was blinded by the gods for possibly disclosing their secrets to mortals. He communicated with the gods is his dreams (tie to Morpheus), and after his death met with Odysseus in Hades to help him find his way home. 120

Or is this simply paying homage to a culture. The movie was shot in Australia, home of the Aborigine people. In their culture, they have a tradition known as "Dream Time," and they believe that their culture is in "Dream Time," and that life is just a dream. The state of blindness simply indicates that it will be by spiritual sight, and not physical sight, that the Matrix will be exposed.

Neo: So, is this the same Oracle that made the, uh, prophecy?

Morpheus: Yes. She's very old. She's been with us since the beginning.

Neo: The beginning?

Morpheus: Of the resistance.

Some fans believe, since they had to go into the Matrix to see her, that the Oracle may be a renegade A I.

Neo: And she knows what? Everything?

Morpheus: She would say she knows enough.

Neo: And she's never wrong?

Morpheus: Try not to think of it in terms of right and wrong. She is a guide, Neo. She can help you to find the path.

Neo: She helped you?

Morpheus: Yes.

Neo: What did she tell you?

Morpheus: That I would find the One.

They got off the elevator and walk up the hallway, pausing outside of a door.

Morpheus: I told you I can only show you the door. You have to walk through it.

As Neo reaches for the handle, the door opens (apartment number C960 on ninth floor).

Priestess (Deni Gordon): Hello, Neo. You're right on time. Make yourself at home, Morpheus. Neo, come with me. 121

The woman shows Neo to a living room, where there are other people: children, a young woman, a woman carrying a baby. On the TV, scene of giant rabbits (from the 1972 movie Night of the Lepus about four foot tall mutant rabbits terrorizing Arizona ranchers), which hearkens to the previous comments of "following the white rabbit," "tumbling down the rabbit hole," and Alice in Wonderland .

Priestess: These are the other potentials. You can wait here.

Two girls are levitating toy blocks (characters on the three blocks are 3, 9, V, Z, P, L, I, W). A bald boy is staring at a spoon, which bends. Several bent spoons lay in front of him. He hands a straight spoon to Neo. 122

Just before meeting the bald-headed boy, he walks past a rack of collectable spoons on the wall.

Spoon boy (Rowan Witt): Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead... only try to realize the truth.

Neo: What truth?

Spoon boy: There is no spoon.

Neo: There is no spoon?

Spoon boy: Then you'll see, that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.

Neo stares at the spoon, which bends.

Priestess: The Oracle will see you now.

He looks towards the Priestess, then back to the spoon, which is straight again.

123

"Two monks were arguing about the temple flag waving in the wind. One said, 'The flag moves.' The other said, 'The wind moves.' They argued back and forth but could not agree. Hui-neng, the Sixth Patriarch, said: 'Gentlemen! It is not the flag that moves. It is not the wind that moves. It is your mind that moves.' The two monks were struck with awe."

The Matrix has been criticized for containing Gnosticism, New Age propaganda, Eastern Philosophy, and Jungian archetypes.

One of the New Age elements is that Morpheus can be perceived as a cult leader, as well as the notion of achieving godhood. In a pagan twist, where the characters are viewed as being 124 patterned after Greek paganistic ideals, Neo's union with Trinity is seen as symbolizing man's attempt to seduce the "feminine nature of God" to become as God, while others have seen Neo's transformation as an occult initiation. Because of the symbolism that is not understood by all who see the movie, the movie has been labeled as esoteric.

Hardline critics claim that Neo and Trinity are meant to be symbols of the Godhead, and not just humans trying to be as God– which is a Buddhist/gnostic philosophy. Another Buddhist element is in the scene with the bald-headed boy, who, because of the shaved head, and the way he is dressed, represents Buddhism. The charge has been leveled that the boy is speaking things that reflect Buddhist (and also Vedantic Hinduism) philosophy. Another hint of Buddhism is when Neo rejects reality and life as he knows it for self-sacrifice and a striving for truth. Buddha's conclusion was that "ignorance is the root of all suffering," and when Neo realizes that those in the Matrix do not know what they have been caught up in, he returns to expose the Matrix and free them.

And indeed, in their online interview, in response to the question: "Did ideas from Buddhism influence you in making the film?" The Wachowski's responded by saying: "Yes. There's something uniquely interesting about Buddhism and mathematics, particularly about quantum physics, and where they meet. That has fascinated us for a long time."

One thing you have to remember is that Neo is in the Matrix, and what the bald-headed boy says is an accurate statement because it reflects the reality of the situation, and has nothing to do with pagan religious philosophy. However, the "potentials" could be seen as a represention of the occult.

Neo enters the kitchen of the Oracle, who is sitting in front of an oven. The song I'm Beginning to See the Light by Duke Ellington plays faintly in the background.

The color orange, associated with the sun and fire, or feelings of warmth, is very prominent in the Oracle's apartment, and is meant to convey the feeling that we should be comfortable with her, that she can be trusted.

Oracle (Gloria Foster): I know you're Neo. Be right with you.

Neo: You're the Oracle?

Oracle: Bingo. Not quite what you were expecting, right? Almost done. Smell good, don't they?

Neo: Yeah.

Oracle: I'd ask you to sit down, but, you're not going to anyway. And don't worry about the vase. 125

Neo: What vase?

Neo turns to look for a vase, and as he does, he knocks a vase of flowers off a little shelf.

Oracle: That vase.

Neo: I'm sorry.

Oracle: I said don't worry about it. I'll get one of my kids to fix it.

Neo: How did you know?

Oracle: Ohh, what's really going to bake your noodle later on is, would you still have broken it if I hadn't said anything? You're cuter than I thought. I can see why she likes you.

Neo: Who?

Oracle: Not too bright though. You know why Morpheus brought you to see me. So, what do you think? Do you think you are the One?

Neo: Honestly I don't know.

The Oracle points to a sign over the kitchen door: 'Temet Nosce.'

Oracle: You know what that means? It's Latin. Means 'know thyself.' I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. Being the One is just like being in love. No one can tell you you're in love, you just know it, through and through, balls to bone. Well, I better have a look at you. Open your mouth, say aaahhh.

126

The Latin phrase "Know Thyself" was inscribed in marble at the ancient Greek temple at Delphi; and was spoken by the Greek philosopher Thales (625-547 BC), as well as Socrates (470-399 BC).

The Oracle looks in his mouth, at his eyes, in his ears, up his nose, then looks at his hands.

Oracle: Okay... I'm supposed to say, hmmm, that's interesting, but, then you say...

Neo: But what?

Oracle: But, you already know what I'm going to tell you.

Neo: I'm not the One.

Oracle: Sorry, kid. You got the gift, but it looks like you're waiting for something.

Neo: What?

Oracle: You're next life, maybe. Who knows. That's the way these things go. (Neo smiles) What's funny?

Neo: Morpheus. He, uh, he almost had me convinced.

Oracle: I know. Poor Morpheus. Without him, we're lost.

Neo: What do you mean, without him? 127

Oracle: Are you sure you want to hear this? Morpheus believes in you, Neo. And no one, not you, not even me, can convince him otherwise. He believes it so blindly that he's going to sacrifice his life to save yours.

Neo: What!

Oracle: You're going to have to make a choice. In the one hand, you'll have Morpheus' life. And in the other hand, you'll have your own. One of you is going to die. Which one, will be up to you. I'm sorry, kiddo, I really am. You have a good soul. And I hate giving good people bad news. Ohh... don't worry about it. As soon as you step outside that door, you'll start feeling better. You'll remember you don't believe in any of this fate crap. You're in control of your own life, remember? Here, take a cookie. I promise, by the time you're done eating it, you'll feel right as rain.

Neo walks out of the kitchen.

Morpheus: What was said, was for you, and for you alone.

Neo takes a bite of the cookie, as he leaves with Morpheus.

Oracle is the name of a large software company; and Delphic Oracle is the name of a company that produces computer game software. In the ancient Greek culture, the title of "Oracle" is directly connected to the priests or priestesses who were the overseers at the temples to the gods, and directly communicated with them. With the Oracle's (who symbolically represents a Prophet– possibly the Prophetess Anna who testified of the Christ child when he was brought to the Temple to be named in Luke 2:37-38) comments about "you're next life," and that "one of you is going to die," Neo's death and resurrection is foretold, just like Jesus.

The Oracle, in not seeing Neo as "the One," is just like the Jewish leaders in Christ's day who didn't accept Jesus as the Messiah 128

When the Oracle said that the thing that he was waiting for may be his "next life," it illustrates the fact that we need to accept the new life in Christ that he offers us if we are to be fulfilled in the call that God has on our life.

The cookie, given its wafer-like quality, has been compared to the Holy Communion ritual that is part of the Catholic Church.

129

CHAPTER FOUR

A DESTINY REVEALED

Mouse, back at the Hotel, is looking at a pin-up picture of the Woman in Red. The cell phone rings, and he answers it.

Tank: (talking on phone) They're on their way.

The car returns to the delivery entrance of the Hotel, where Apoc and Switch are waiting. As the crew ascends the winding staircase of the building. Neo sees a black cat walk by a doorway, then sees another black cat do the same thing again.

Neo: Oh, deja-vu.

The crew stops, and turn towards him.

Trinity: What did you just say?

Neo: Nothing, just had a little deja-vu.

Trinity: What did you see?

Cypher: What happened?

Neo: A black cat went past us, and then another that looked just like it. 130

Trinity: How much like it, was it the same cat?

Neo: It might have been, I'm not sure.

Morpheus: Switch, Apoc.

Neo: What is it?

Trinity: A deja-vu is usually a glitch in the Matrix. It happens when they change something.

Back at the ship

Tank: Oh my God...

131

Outside the Hotel we see bolt-cutters slicing through a cable.

Morpheus: Let's go!

In the room upstairs, Mouse's cell phone rings, he answers.

Tank: (phone) They cut the hard line, it's a trap, get out!

Mouse opens some curtains to reveal a brick wall behind them.

Mouse: Oh no...

Tank: Oh no...

Mouse throws open a large black case, and pulls out two machine guns.

132

The cops enter and Mouse fires both weapons, but is outmanned, and his body is riddled with bullets. On the ship, his body reverberates with the impact of the bullets, and blood seeps from his mouth. He flatlines.

The crew, hearing the shooting, race up the stairs. In the room, they also see the brick wall.

Cypher: Ohh, that's what they changed, we're trapped.

Morpheus: Be calm. Give me your phone.

Cypher reaches into his pocket as if he had it, which he didn't; and Trinity hands him her phone.

Trinity: They'll be able to track it.

Morpheus: We have no choice.

He calls Tank at the ship.

Tank: Operator.

Morpheus: (on phone) Tank, find a structural drawing of this building, find it fast.

Tank punches up plans.

Tank: Got it.

Morpheus: (phone) I need the main wet wall.

Agent Smith: (pushing in his earpiece to hear better, says to Agent Brown) 8th floor, they're on the 8th floor.

The crew prepares to go down the hall.

133

Morpheus: Switch, straight ahead.

Apoc: Neo...

Apoc twirls a handgun and gives it to Neo.

Apoc: I hope the Oracle gave you some good news.

Tank: (on phone) Now left, that's it.

Morpheus: Good.

They walk into a bathroom.

The agents are out in a hall.

Agent Brown: Where are they?

The crew has made a hole in the wall, and are climbing down the pipes inside the walls. The cops are out in the hall looking for them, then go into the bathroom. In the wall, dust falls, and Cypher coughs, then sneezes.

Cop: They're in the walls, they're in the walls!

The cops open fire on the wall. Neo shoots back. One of the cops morphs into Agent Smith, who thrusts his arms right through the wall and grabs Neo.

Cypher: It's an agent!

Morpheus yells, and smashes his head through the wall, falling on top of Agent Smith. 134

Trinity: Morpheus!

Morpheus: You must get Neo out! He's all that matters!

Neo: No, no Morpheus, no!

Morpheus: Trinity, go!

Trinity: Go!

Switch, Apoc, and Cypher slide down the inside of the wall.

Neo: We can't leave him!

Trinity: We have to! 135

Trinity pulls Neo down the wall. Outside, cops fire at them, Apoc and Switch fire at cops. The cops throw a tear gas canister at them, and they climb into a street grate.

Trinity: Cypher, come on!

Cypher 'falls down,' and doesn't make an attempt to reach them.

Back in the bathroom.

Agent Smith: The great Morpheus. We meet at last.

Morpheus: And you are?

Agent Smith: Smith, Agent Smith.

Morpheus: You all look the same to me.

136

This comment by Morpheus reflects the fact that the last names of the Agents, "Smith," "Jones," and "Brown," are all common names, they all dress the same, and wear the same type of sunglasses. The agents are a generic symbol of conformity. Also, what is ironic, is that Morpheus, a black man, is saying something to a white man, that in the past, had been said about blacks.

Morpheus and Agent Smith fight until Morpheus seems sufficiently weakened. Smith walks out of the room.

Agent Smith: (to the waiting police officers) Take him.

137

The cops enter the room, and beat Morpheus with their nightsticks.

Back at the ship–

Tank: Nooooo!

On the street, a manhole cover opens, and Trinity climbs out.

On the ship, Tank answers the phone.

Tank: Operator.

Cypher: (phone) Yeah, I need an exit fast.

Cypher is at a payphone, near a flaming vehicle.

Tank: Cypher?

Cypher: Yeah, there was an accident, a god***n car accident. All of a sudden, boom. Someone up there still likes me.

Tank: Gotcha.

Cypher: Get me outta here, stat!

Tank: The nearest exit is Franklin and Erie, an old TV repair shop.

Cypher: Right.

The phone rings again. 138

Tank: Operator.

Trinity: Tank, it's me.

Neo: Is Morpheus alive?

Trinity: Is Morpheus alive, Tank?

Tank: Yes. They're moving him, but I don't know where to yet.

Trinity: He's alive. We need an exit.

Tank: You're not far from Cypher.

Trinity: Cypher?

Tank: I know... over at Franklin and Erie.

Trinity: Got it.

At the TV repair shop, Cypher kicks in a boarded up window to reach the ringing phone.

On the ship.

Tank: Got him.

Dozer unhooks him.

Cypher: Where are they? 139

Tank: I'm making the call.

Cypher: Good.

Trinity, Neo, Switch, and Apoc enter the TV repair shop, where the phone is ringing.

Meanwhile, Cypher gets a huge rifle from underneath a blanket on the ship, and stands behind Tank.

Trinity: You first, Neo.

On the ship, Cypher blasts Tank with an electrical discharge from the gun.

Dozer: Noooooo!

Dozer lunges at Cypher, who blasts him also.

At the TV repair shop. Neo is holding the phone.

Neo: I don't know, it just went dead.

Trinity takes the phone from him. She pulls out her cell phone.

Cypher: (phone) Hello, Trinity.

Trinity: Cypher? Where's Tank? 140

Cypher leans over Trinity's jacked-in body.

Cypher: You know, for a long time, I thought I was in love with you. I used to dream about you. You're a beautiful woman, Trinity. Too bad things had to turn out this way.

Trinity: You killed them.

Apoc: What?

Switch: Oh God. 141

Cypher: I'm tired, Trinity. I'm tired of this world. Tired of fighting, I'm tired of this ship, of being cold, of eating the same god***ned goop every day. But most of all, I'm tired of that jack-**f and all his bulls**t.

Cypher jumps on top of Morpheus' jacked-in body.

Cypher: Surprise, a**hole. I bet you never saw this coming. Did you? God, I wish I could be there. When they break you. I wish I could walk in just when it happens, so right then, you'd know it was me.

Trinity: You gave them Morpheus.

Cypher: He lied to us, Trinity, he tricked us. (to Morpheus) If you would have told us the truth, we would-a told you to shove that red pill right up your a**!

Trinity: That's not true, Cypher, he set us free.

Cypher: Free, you call this free? All I do is what he tells me to do. If I have to choose between that and the Matrix, I choose the Matrix.

Trinity: The Matrix isn't real!

Cypher: I disagree, Trinity. I think the Matrix could be more real than this world. All I do is pull the plug here. But there, you have to watch Apoc die.

Apoc: Trinity...

Cypher unplugs Apoc's body on the ship, and in the Matrix, Apoc's body slumps to the floor.

Switch: No!

Switch runs over to Apoc. 142

Cypher: Welcome to the real world, huh, baby!

Trinity: But you're out, Cypher, you can't go back.

Cypher: Oh, no, that's what you think. They're gonna re-insert my body. I go back to sleep, and when I wake up, I won't remember a god***ned thing. By the way, if you have anything terribly important to say to Switch, I suggest you say it now.

Trinity: Oh no, please don't.

Switch: Not like this. Not like this.

Cypher unplugs Switch's body on the ship, and in the Matrix, Switch's body slumps to the floor.

Cypher: Too late.

Trinity: God***n you Cypher!

Cypher: Don't hate me, Trinity. I'm just a messenger. And right now, I'm gonna prove it to you. If Morpheus was right, then there's no way I can pull this plug, I mean, if Neo's the One, then there'd have to be some kind of a miracle to stop me. Right? I mean, how can he be the One, if he's dead? You never did answer me before. If you bought into Morpheus' bulls**t. C'mon, all I want is a little yes or no. Look into his eyes, those big, pretty eyes. And tell me. Yes or no.

Cypher made his "deal with the devil," (which was also symbolized by him wearing a dark red shirt in the real world, as the devil has been portrayed since medieval times as having red skin or dressed in red clothes) and in identifying himself as a "messenger," reflects the Scripture in 2 Corinthians 12:7, which says: "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the 143 abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure."

Trinity: Yes.

Cypher: No– I don't believe it!

Cypher's response is actually referring to the sight of Tank who has gotten up, and is pointing the rifle at Cypher.

Tank: Believe it or not, you piece of s**t, you're still gonna burn!

Tank blasts Cypher, then spits towards him.

144

In the TV shop, the phone begins ringing again. Neo picks up the phone and gives it to Trinity.

Neo: You first.

On the ship, Trinity is unplugged.

Trinity: You're hurt.

Tank: I'll be alright.

Trinity: Dozer?

He looks down. She hugs him.

At the office where the agents are holding Morpheus, he is handcuffed and sitting in a chair.

145

Agent Smith: (at the window) Have you ever stood and stared at it? Marveled at its beauty, its genius? Millions of people just living out their lives, oblivious. Did you know that the first Matrix was designed to be a perfect human world where none suffered, where everyone would be happy. And it was a disaster, no one would accept the program, entire crops were lost. Some believed that we lacked the programming language to describe your perfect world. But I believe that as a species, human beings define their reality through misery and suffering, and the perfect world was a dream that your primitive cerebrum kept trying to wake up from. Which is why the Matrix was redesigned to this, the peak of your civilization. I say your civilization, because as soon as we started thinking for you, it really became our civilization, which is of course what this is all about. Evolution, Morpheus, evolution. Like the dinosaur. Look out that window. You've had your time. The future is our world, Morpheus. The future is our time.

The revelation of an earlier Matrix where life was perfect, but was rejected by man in lieu of a world with suffering, is a reflection on the Garden of Eden, which was spurned when Adam and Eve sinned against God.

When Agent Smith compares humans to dinosaurs, consider the analogy that we get a large part of our energy from fossil fuels, just as the AI of the Matrix use humans as "batteries," or an energy source.

Agent Jones comes into the office.

Agent Jones: There could be a problem. 146

On the ship, Tank, Neo, and Trinity, are standing around Morpheus' jacked-in body.

Neo: What are they doing to him?

Tank: They're breaking into his mind, it's like hacking a computer, all it takes is time.

Neo: How much time?

Tank: Depends on the mind, but eventually he'll crack, and his alpha-patterns will change, from this (clicks screen) to this. When it does, Morpheus will tell them anything they want to know.

Neo: But what do they want? 147

Tank: The leader of every ship is given codes to Zion's mainframe computer. If an agent got the codes and got into Zion's mainframe, they could destroy us. We can't let that happen. Trinity, Zion's more important than me, or you, or Morpheus.

Neo: Well there has to be something that we can do.

Tank: There is. We pull the plug.

Trinity: You're gonna kill him. Kill Morpheus.

Tank: We don't have any other choice.

At the office where they are holding Morpheus, Agent Smith is standing with Agent Jones and Agent Brown, and has seemingly been informed that Cypher has not succeeded .

Agent Smith: Never send a human to do a machine's job.

Agent Brown: If indeed the insider has failed, they'll sever the connection as soon as possible. Unless...

Agent Jones: They're dead. In either case.

Agent Smith: We have no choice but to continue as planned. Deploy the sentinels immediately.

At the ship, Tank rubs his hand on the head of Morpheus.

Tank: Morpheus, you're more than a leader to us. You were a father. We'll miss you always.

When Tank said that Morpheus was like a "father," rather than a representation of John the Baptist because he proclaimed the coming of the One; he is seen more as a representation of God the Father.

Tank reaches down to pull out the plug of Morpheus.

Neo: Stop. I don't believe this is happening.

Tank: Neo, this has to be done.

Neo: Does it? I don't know. This can't be just coincidence, it can't be.

Tank: What are you talking about?

Neo: The Oracle. She told me this would happen. She told me... that I would have to make a choice. 148

Trinity: What choice?

Neo goes over to the equipment.

Trinity: What are you doing?

Neo: I'm going in.

Trinity: No you're not.

Neo: I have to.

Trinity: Neo, Morpheus sacrificed himself so that we could get you out. There is no way that you're going back in.

Neo: Morpheus did what he did because he believed that I'm something I'm not.

Trinity: What?

Neo: I'm not the One, Trinity. The Oracle hit me with that too.

Trinity: No, you have to be.

Neo: I'm sorry, I'm not. I'm just another guy.

Trinity: No, Neo, that's not true. It can't be true.

Neo: Why?

Tank: Neo, this is loco. They've got Morpheus in a military-controlled building, even If you somehow got inside, those are agents holding him. Three of 'em. I want Morpheus back too, but what you're talking about is suicide. 149

Neo: I know that's what it looks like, but it's not. I can't explain to you why it's not. Morpheus believed something, and he was ready to give his life for what he believed, I understand that now. That's why I have to go.

Tank: Why?

Neo: Because I believe in something.

Trinity: What?

Neo: I believe I can bring him back.

Neo goes to the jack-in chairs, and Trinity follows. 150

Neo: What are you doing?

Trinity: Going with you.

Neo: No you're not.

Trinity: No? Let me tell you what I believe. I believe Morpheus means more to me than he does to you. I believe if you are really serious about saving him, you are going to need my help. And since I am the ranking officer on this ship, if you don't like it, I believe you can go to h**l – because you aren't going anywhere else. Tank, load us up.

Just as Morpheus had sacrificed himself for Neo, Neo has made the decision to sacrifice himself for Morpheus. But in doing so, Neo has begun to walk in the path of his destiny. In Romans 12:1 it says:

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

Neo has submitted to his destiny, and has submitted to a new life by showing that he is willing to die to self. When we accept the new life that Christ offers us, and acknowledge that we can't defeat the world in our own strength, that is when we become overcomers.

Back at the office, Agent pulls up a chair to sit in front of Morpheus.

Agent Smith: I'd like to share a revelation that I've had, during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species. I realized that you're not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You move to an area, and you multiply, and multiply, until every natural 151 resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area...There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is. A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet, you are a plague, and we are the cure.

Just as Agent Smith declared his hatred of humans, Satan also hates us, in 1 Peter 5:8 it says: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour..."

On the ship.

Tank: Okay, so what do you need, besides a miracle. 152

Neo and Trinity, in the whiteness of the Construct.

Neo: Guns, lots guns.

Many racks of guns slide toward them.

Trinity: Neo, no one has ever done anything like this.

Neo: That's why it's going to work.

At the Agent's office. 153

Agent Smith: Why isn't the serum working?

Agent Brown: Perhaps we're asking the wrong questions.

Agent Smith: Leave me with him. Now.

Both agents leave. On the ship, Tank wipes off Morpheus' face with a towel.

Tank: Hold on, Morpheus, they're coming for you. They're coming.

Agent Smith removes his sunglasses and his earphone.

Agent Smith: Can you hear me, Morpheus? I'm going to be honest with you. I hate this place. This, zoo, this prison, this reality, whatever you want to call it, I can't stand it any longer. It's the smell, if there is such a thing. I feel saturated by it. I can taste your stink, and every time I do I fear that I have somehow been infected by it, it's repulsive, isn't it? I must get out of here, I must get free, and in this mind is the key, my key. Once Zion is destroyed, there's no need for me to be here, don't you understand? I need the codes, I have to get inside Zion, and you have to tell me how. You're going to tell me, or you're going to die.

Agent Smith is very adamant about getting the codes to the Zion mainframe, which Morpheus possesses. Prophetically, Jerusalem is a very important city

In Luke 17:21, Jesus said: "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

And in Matthew 16:19, Jesus said: "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven:"

154

Through a revolving door, Neo enters the lobby of the government building, and places a bag on the baggage x-ray machine. The metal detector beeps as he walks through it.

Guard: Would you please remove any metallic items you are carrying, keys, loose change...

Neo opens his trenchcoat to reveal a veritable arsenal.

Guard: Holy s**t!

Neo whacks the guard in the chest, then shoots other guards.

Guard 2: (into his radio) Backup, send backup!

155

There is a clip from the song Spybreak! by the Propellerheads that plays during the ground floor shooting sequence.

Trinity walks through the metal detector, it beeps, and she shoots Guard 2. A large number of cops appear.

Cop: Freeze!

Neo and Trinity dash to the sides, and in a hail of bullets, battle with guards until there are no guards left standing. Trinity picks up the bag, discards a large gun on the floor, and they go into the elevator.

156

157

158

The lobby scene took 11 or 12 days to film.

At the government office, agents Brown and Jones come back into the room, and Agent Smith steps away from Morpheus.

Agent Brown: What were you doing?

Agent Jones: He doesn't know.

Agent Smith: Know what?

159

Inside the elevator, Neo clicks the emergency stop button at the 41st floor, and Trinity unzips the bag to reveal an explosive device, which she sets. She and Neo go through the hatch to the top of the elevator.

Agent's office.

Agent Jones: I think they're trying to save him.

Neo attaches a harness to the elevator cable. Trinity holds onto him. Neo shoots once at the cable's connection to the elevator. They hold on to each other.

Neo: There is no spoon.

Neo shoots the cable again, and the elevator plummets downward, as they soar upwards. In the lobby, the elevator crashes and explodes in a fireball. 160

161

In dream interpretation, going upwards symbolizes the desire for success; or spiritually- speaking, to seek spiritual renewal, progress, or to go to the next level. Neo and Trinity use the elevator shaft as a means to get to the top of the building. Other examples:

• Trinity runs up to the roof of the hotel, in the beginning of the movie, to escape from the agents. • Morpheus tells Neo to use the scaffolding to get to the roof of the building. • Neo and Morpheus use the elevator to go visit the Oracle. • In the Lafayette Hotel, the crew uses the steps to go up to the eighth floor to get away from the agents. • Neo uses the fire escape to climb to the third floor of the "Heart o' the City Hotel" to get to the phone so he can exit the Matrix. • Neo flies up into the sky.

Fire represents swift change, growth, and purification; and the exaggerated display here, and when the helicopter slams into the side of the building, symbolically signals the demise of the hold that the Matrix has on the people.

Inside the office, the lights go out, and the sprinkler system goes off, soaking the three agents.

Agent Smith: Find them and destroy them.

On the building rooftop.

Pilot: (in helicopter) I repeat, we are under attack. 162

Trinity and Neo fight and disable the cops. The pilot in the helicopter morphs into Agent Jones, who gets out of the helicopter, as Neo and Trinity continue battling the other guards.

163

Neo shoots at the agent, but he dodges the bullets.

He runs out of ammunition and the agent points his gun at Neo.

Neo: Trinity, help!

The agent shoots at Neo, who dodges the bullets, until one grazes him on one leg, and then the other, and he falls. 164

The agent walks up to Neo to shoot him at close range.

Agent Jones: Only human.

Meanwhile, Trinity has come up behind the agent, and aims point-blank at the back of his head.

Trinity: Dodge this.

She fires. The agent falls, then disappears from the host body. Trinity helps Neo to his feet.

165

Trinity: How did you do that?

Neo: Do what?

Trinity: You moved like they do. I've never seen anyone move that fast.

Neo: It wasn't fast enough. (looking at the helicopter) Can you fly that thing?

Trinity: Not yet. 166

Trinity takes out her cell phone.

Tank: Operator.

Trinity: Tank, I need a pilot program for a B-212 helicopter. Hurry.

Trinity's eyelids momentarily flicker.

Trinity: Let's go. 167

Outside the government building, the helicopter descends to the office where Morpheus is being held.

Agent Smith: No.

Sitting in the doorway of the helicopter, Neo fires a .50 caliber machine gun into the office, as the agents fire back at him. The agents are all cut down. Agent Smith's body reverts back into a cop, while Agent Smith enters the body of another cop who morphs into Smith. Morpheus, still sitting in the chair, is the only one left.

168

169

170

171

Neo: Morpheus, get up... get up, get up.

Morpheus, summoning whatever strength he has left, yells, then pulls his handcuffs apart.

All three agents walk through the door, into the office, as Morpheus runs towards the window. Smith is able to shoot him in the leg, causing him to stumble just as he jumps.

Neo: He's not gonna make it.

Hooked to a tow-line, Neo jumps away from the helicopter and catches Morpheus in midair. As Neo falls, the impact of reaching the end of the rope jars him, causing Morpheus to slip out of his grasp– but he is able to grab his hand.

Neo: Got you. 172

173

Trinity angles the helicopter away from the building.

Agent Smith shoots at the helicopter, puncturing the hull, causing fuel to leak out. Neo and Morpheus dangle from the rope as Trinity flies away. But the helicopter begins to plummet. She positions the helicopter over a tall building so that Morpheus can drop down onto the roof. As the helicopter continues to drop, Neo lands on the roof, with the tow-line. The helicopter goes over the edge of the roof. 174

175

Neo: Trinity...

Neo wraps the tow-line around his waist…

…and the helicopter pulls him along the roof towards the edge.

176

Once Neo reaches the roof's edge, he stands and braces himself…

Meanwhile, Trinity has jumped out of her seat, grabs the tow-line, and shoots it away from the clamp which is holding it to the floor. As the helicopter falls away from her, she swings from the line, while the helicopter crashes into the side of the building and explodes. Trinity slams into the side of the building.

177

178

179

Tank: I knew it. He's the One.

Neo pulls Trinity up from the side of the building, and Trinity looks at him, not really believing what just happened, and fighting the feelings that she has for him.

Morpheus: Do you believe it now, Trinity?

Neo: Morpheus, the Oracle. She told me...

Morpheus: She told you exactly what you needed to hear, that's all. Neo, sooner or later you're going to realize just as I did, there's a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path.

180

Tank: Operator.

Morpheus: Tank...

Tank: God***n, it's good to hear your voice, sir.

Morpheus: Need an exit.

Tank: Got one ready. Subway station. State and Balboa.

The agents walk out to the top of the building. Agent Smith picks up the abandoned tow-line.

181

Agent Smith: D**n it.

Agent Brown: The trace was completed

Agent Jones: We have their position.

Agent Brown: The sentinels are standing by.

Agent Jones: Order the strike.

Agent Smith: They're not out yet.

Neo, Morpheus, and Trinity arrive at the subway station as the payphone is ringing.

Neo: You first, Morpheus.

182

Morpheus places the phone to his ear, and disappears. A bum looks on in disbelief.

Trinity: Neo, I want to tell you something...but I'm afraid of what it could mean if I do. (the phone begins to ring) Everything the Oracle told me has come true. Everything but this.

Neo: But what?

A train comes rushing noisily by. She steps into the phone booth, and picks up the phone, just as Agent Smith enters the body of the bum, and fires at her. She disappears just before the bullet hits the phone. 183

When Trinity sees Smith takes aim at her, she puts her hand to the glass as she picks up the phone in the other hand. She does the same thing in the beginning of the movie when Smith tries to run her over with the garbage truck, except it's from the opposite direction.

On the ship, Tank unplugs Trinity. 184

Trinity: Neo.

Tank: What the h**l just happened?

Trinity: An agent, you have to send me back.

Tank: I can't!

At the subway station, Agent Smith walks towards Neo.

Agent Smith: Mr. Anderson...

Trinity: Run, Neo, run...

Neo looks at the stairway which would take him out, but instead, turns around to face Smith.

Trinity: What is he doing?

Morpheus: He's beginning to believe.

185

186

The final showdown between Neo and Agent Smith at the subway, was scheduled for five days, but took over 10 days to film, and paid homage to Sergio Leone, the renowned director known for bringing us the "Spaghetti Western."

In the beginning of the movie, Trinity ran from the agents; Cypher told Neo, that if he ever saw an agent, he was to run, the crew ran from the in the hotel; and in this scene, Trinity tells him to run. However, Neo made the decision to stand and fight.

187

188

Agent Smith and Neo run towards each other, exchanging gunfire. They jump at each other, landing with their guns against each other's heads.

Agent Smith: You're empty.

Neo: So are you.

Back in the Interrogation room, Agent Smith's words enabled him to cause Neo's mouth to grow shut, but now, Neo's faith has risen. Instead of dwelling on the fact of whether or not he was indeed out of ammunition, he responded in like fashion- with authority. If he hadn't, he may have been shot.

They toss their guns to the side, and begin to fight hand-to-hand. A spinning kick from Neo slams against Smith's face, breaking his glasses. He takes off the broken frames.

189

Agent Smith: I'm going to enjoy watching you die, Mr. Anderson.

They fight some more, and Smith appears to be overpowering Neo, who is punched so hard that he is slammed to the floor. He spits out blood.

On the ship, his body is being buffeted about in the chair.

Trinity: J****, he's killing him.

Trinity rips apart a piece of fabric to wipe blood from Neo's face.

Again, the name of Jesus is used in a profane way, yet its intention is to connect Neo, with Jesus, and the parallel that Neo is being beaten, just as Jesus was before His crucifixion.

190

Neo gets off the floor, and prepares to again engage Smith, who looks surprised that he is still able to continue. Neo motions to Smith with his fingers, which infuriates him, and Smith lunges at him as they begin fighting again. Neo seems to be holding his own until Smith slams him into the wall, and then strikes him repeatedly till his arms are a blur.

At the ship, Neo's body is bouncing around the chair.

191

Smith punches Neo through a wall, then grabs his foot, drags him over to the track, picks him up and throws him against the wall above the track. Neo is stunned. Smith jumps down onto the track and grabs Neo in a headlock. A train approaches.

Agent Smith: You hear that, Mr. Anderson? That is the sound of inevitability. It is the sound of your death. Goodbye, Mr. Anderson. 192

Again, Neo takes authority over words of cursing by refusing to believe that he was going to die. We should not believe the lies of the enemy. He is choosing his own identity, and accepting his destiny by rejecting a lifetime of programming by the matrix to tell him who he is.

Neo: My name... is NEO.

Neo jumps upward, with Smith on his back, and slams him against the ceiling. They both fall down onto the track as the train approaches. Neo backflips onto the platform, but Smith doesn't have a chance, and the train slams into him.

193

Neo starts toward the steps and is standing at the bottom when he hears the train stop. He turns around to see Agent Smith get off the train. Neo runs from the station.

At the ship.

Trinity: What happened?

Tank: I don't know, I lost him.

Alarm sounds.

Tank: Oh s**t.

Trinity: Sentinels...How long?

Morpheus: Five, maybe six minutes. Tank, charge the EMP. 194

Trinity: You can't use that until he's out.

Morpheus: I know, Trinity, don't worry. He's gonna make it.

On the street, we see someone talking on their cell phone.

Bystander: Flat or pumps? No, just... 195

Neo runs by and snatches his cell phone.

Guy: What the s**t! That's my phone! That guy took my phone!

Agent Smith appears in the guy.

Phone rings.

Tank: Got him! He's on the run.

Neo: Mr. Wizard, get me the h**l out of here!

Tank: Got a patch on an old exit, Wabash and Lake.

At a street market, Neo sees an agent. 196

Neo: Oh s**t!

He runs. Agent Smith fires at him. Neo runs into an alley which comes to a dead end.

Neo: (to phone) Uh, help, need a little help!

Tank: (phone) The door!

Neo kicks in a door, and runs up the stairs, into a hallway, as the agents are shooting at him.

Tank: (phone) The door on your left... no, your other left.

He goes into an apartment with a couple of elderly ladies in it.

Tank: (phone) The back door!

Agent Smith appears in an old woman, and throws a knife at Neo, which lands in the wall. They leap off the fire escape, and they're down on the ground again.

Trinity and Morpheus watch the monitors for the sentinels.

Trinity: Oh no.

Morpheus: Here they come.

Sentinels attack the ship. Morpheus prepares to turn the EMP switch. 197

Morpheus: He's going to make it.

Neo runs towards the Heart o' the City Hotel.

Tank: (phone) The fire escape at the end of the alley, room 303.

He reaches the fire escape, and begins to climb it, as the agents shoot at him.

On the ship, the computer screen reads 'Warning: Hull Breach.'

Tank: They're inside.

Trinity: (to Neo's body in the chair) Hurry, Neo.

198

199

Neo runs down the hall of the hotel, as the phone is ringing. Neo opens the door of room 303, and is face-to-face with Agent Smith, who shoots him at point blank range.

At first, he doesn't realize it, until he touches his fingers to the wound and sees the blood.

200

Smith continues to fire at him repeatedly, as Neo backs up against the wall. Smith walks up and still continues to fire at him unto Neo slumps to the floor.

Neo's monitor flat-lines. He is dead.

When he looked down at the blood on his finger, it paralleled the scene after he left the Jump program, when he puts his fingers in his mouth, and they had blood on them.

Just as Doubting Thomas did not believe that Jesus had risen from the dead till he put his fingers into the nail holes; when Neo was shot by agent Smith, he didn't believe he was shot till he looked down and put his finger into the bullet hole.

201

Morpheus: It can't be.

Agent Smith: (to Agent Brown) Check him.

Brown checks Neo's pulse.

Agent Brown: He's gone.

Agent Smith: Goodbye, Mr. Anderson.

Back at the ship, the Sentinels continue to cut through the ship with their lasers.

Trinity leans over Neo and whispers to him. 202

Trinity: Neo, I'm not afraid anymore. The Oracle told me that I would fall in love, and that that man, the man that I loved, would be the One. So you see, you can't be dead. You can't be. Because I love you. You hear me, I love you.

Trinity kisses him. Neo's monitor indicates he is alive again.

At the hotel, his eyes slowly open.

Trinity: Now get up!

Neo stand up.

203

The Wachowski's were asked during their online interview: "What was the thinking behind the use of numbers that can be read both ways like 303, " and the brothers said that, "like wordplay, there's a lot of numbers play in the movie as well."

When Neo is killed, shot by three Agents, instead of being dead for three days, it is more like three minutes. This is part of the symbolism of the number of the room number, 303 (remember, in the beginning of the movie, Neo's room number was 101). Neo runs through apartment number 30 while trying to outrun the agents. Trinity's name also reflects the number three. The Greek philosopher and mathematician, Pythagoras (580-500 BC), taught that three was the perfect number. The number three symbolically represents the three days and three nights that Jesus was in the grave, in addition, the number three is a very significant factor in the life and ministry of Jesus:

• Jesus raised 3 from the dead during His earthly ministry. • There were 3 hours of darkness when He was on the cross. • Jesus said, that if the temple was destroyed, in 3 days He would raise it up. • The Wisemen presented 3 gifts. • Jesus was buried 3 days and 3 nights. • Pilate said 3 times that he found no fault in Jesus and wanted to release Him. • Peter denied Jesus 3 times. • Jesus asked Peter 3 times if he loved Him. • The wedding was on the 3rd day in Cana. • Jesus prayed 3 times in the Garden before He was betrayed. • Jesus was crucified on the 3rd hour.

What brings Neo back to life is the love of Trinity, When she leans over and kisses him (shades of Prince Charming's kiss in Sleeping Beauty ), it is a symbolic representation of God blowing the breath of life into Adam. Also, the name "Trinity," which does not appear in the Bible, is an 204 obvious reference to the New Testament concept of a triune (three-part) God, consisting of the Father (God), Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit.

Some have linked the love interest between Neo and Trinity as a repackaging of the alleged relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene that was portrayed in the movie The Last Temptation of Christ .

The first words Neo hears are more like orders ("Now get up!"), which is reminiscent of the command that Jesus gave to Lazarus, remember as Morpheus' second-in-command, she had authority over him.

The agents turn and see him, then begin to fire at him.

205

Neo: No.

Neo puts out his hand, and the bullets stop in midair. He takes one and drops it then the rest fall to the ground.

206

Tank: How?

Morpheus: He is the one.

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." (Ephesians 6:16)

When Neo came back to life, he suddenly knew that, yes, he was the One. He had the faith to begin operating in the authority that his destiny had given him.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)

Just as an unarmed Neo had the power to stop the bullets of the Agents, we are being shown that we don't battle against flesh and blood, in a physical world; it is a spiritual war.

Neo begins to see the floor and walls of the hotel, and the agents, as they truly are– nothing but digital images. 207

Agent Smith tries to attack Neo, who actually fights him off with only one hand, and is so fast, that Smith is no match for him. Neo kicks him so hard that he flies down the hall.

Smith is shocked and bewildered.

Then Neo begins to runs towards Smith, who looks as though he may try to run, but instead braces himself for the attack. Rather than an external attack, Neo dives into him, and actually goes inside his body. We see movement underneath Smith's skin, until finally he explodes. 208

Neo stands in the hall, and as he flexes his muscles, the walls of the Hotel flex also, the sight of which causes Agents Brown and Jones to run away.

Right after Smith exploded, Agents Brown and Jones looked at each other, then ran in opposite directions. Neo and Trinity did the same thing during the lobby scene.

When Jesus rose from the dead, Matthew 28:3 says:

"His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:" 209

In fact, it is this brilliance which is believed by some to have caused the image to appear on what is known as the Shroud of Turin. After the resurrection of Jesus, he had more power, such as being able to move through solid objects. Neo exhibited the same attributes when he is able to convert himself into a form that is able to enter into the body of Agent Smith, causing it to explode within, revealing Neo to be an incandescent figure. Jesus said: "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12) In Revelation 21:23, it also speaks of the light of Jesus: "And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb (Jesus) is the light thereof."

Light is used to represent truth, hope (a "ray" of hope), good overcoming evil, spiritual power, and represents consciousness, or the revelation of the real world. In the book A Dictionary of Dream Symbols , lightning represents "consciousness penetrating the consciousness," and beams or flashes of light are used to pierce the darkness.

Some of the uses of the sun, lightning, light, and flashes of light:

• In the beginning of the movie, when we are initially pulled through the Matrix code, we see the beam of a policeman's flashlight. • The window that Trinity sees on the rooftop is lit up. • There is a flash of light as Neo moves past a man standing at a copy machine in his office. • There are bolts of lightning during the storm when Neo is first taken to see Morpheus. • There are flashes of lightning around the area where Neo's pod is. • We see lightning in the scene when Morpheus is showing how the world was nearly destroyed, and what it actually looks like. • In the Oracle's apartment, the song I'm Beginning To See the Light is softly playing in the background. • There is a sun-shaped clock in the apartment of the Oracle. • There is a flash of lightning on the roof, when Trinity shoots the agent in the head. • In the subway scene, when Smith throws Neo over the track into the wall, there is a faded billboard ad for Sol beer. The word "sol" is Latin for the sun. • There is a flash of light on Neo's face when he is first shot in the chest. • When Neo dies, a spark of light surrounds Neo and Trinity as she kisses him. • Blue waves of lightning flash around the Nebuchadnezzar when Morpheus flicks the electromagnetic pulse switch (EMP) to prevent the sentinels from destroying the ship. • "Sun" is a homonym for the "Son," as in the "Son of God."

210

At the ship, the sentinels are bearing down.

Trinity: Neo!

Neo runs towards the ringing phone, as the sentinels begin entering the main deck.

Trinity: Now!

The EMP is activated, and the sentinels fall down. Neo is back, and he leans forward to kiss Trinity.

A phone rings, and a cursor blinks on a computer monitor, which gives way to- 'Call trans opt: received, 9-18-99 14:32:21 REC:Log>'

211

Neo: (V.O.)I know you're out there. I can feel you now. (monitor says- 'Warning: carrier anomoly,' then, 'Trace program: running') I know that you're afraid. You're afraid of us. You're afraid of change. I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it's going to begin. I'm going to hang up this phone, and then I'm going to show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world, without you. A world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries, a world where anything is possible. Where we go from there, is a choice I leave to you.

Neo steps out of a phone booth on a city street, puts on sunglasses, looks up, then flies straight up into the air.

Again, Neo parallels Jesus. After telling the A I that he was going to change the world, he hangs up the phone, and "ascends" into the sky. This scene is reminiscent of the scene at the end of 212 the Superman movie, starring Christopher Reeves, with his long coat acting as a cape. Another reference is that they entered phone booths, and both Trinity and Morpheus leaped "tall buildings in a single bound." Of course, this could also be a connection to Nietzsche's "Superman."

The song playing is called Wake Up , by the group Rage Against the Machine, which talks about how corporations control and manipulate people, and rails against those who are ignorant.

Written and Directed by

Larry and Andy Wachowski

Produced by

Joel Silver

Executive Producers

Barrie M. Osborne

Andrew Mason

Andy Wachowski

Larry Wachowski

Erwin Stoff

Bruce Berman

Director of Photography

Bill Pope

Production Designer

Owen Paterson 213

Editor

Zach Staenberg

Costume Designer

Kym Barrett

Co-Producer

Dan Cracchiolo

Casting

Mali Finn, C.S.A.

Shauna Wolifson

Music Composed, Orchestrated, and Conducted by

Don Davis

Visual Effects Supervisor

John Gaeta

a Warner Bros. presentation in association with

Village Roadshow Pictures

Groucho II Film Partnership

A Silver Pictures production

CHAPTER FIVE

THE TRUTH

WHAT IS THE MATRIX?

When I was finally able to sit down and watch the whole movie with an open mind, because of my research, my immediate impression was that the Matrix represented the New World Order. When I began looking for more information, I found the original script , and in it "Anthony," (whose name was changed to Choi in the movie) says to DuJour: "I told you, honey, he may look like just another geek but this here is all we got left standing between Big Brother and the New World Order." Also, in a chatroom called "The Matrix," we find the following exchange:

Quark: "The Matrix is a euphemism for the government."

Superastic: "No, the Matrix is the system controlling our lives."

The Orwellian phrase (from George Orwell, author of the book 1984 ) of "Big Brother" was grafted to the term, New World Order, which was the connected to the belief that government is controlling people's lives. Since this information, didn't make it into the movie, the existence of this original script confirmed my initial inclination.

Perhaps the Wachowskis did not want to make the point so obvious because they didn't really believe that; or, they do believe it, but didn't want to be blatant about it and have the movie viewed as a political statement. Nonetheless, because of how the Matrix is explained by Morpheus, the idea is still communicated without hitting people over the head with the idea.

One thing that Morpheus says really hammers the point home, and I want to dissect that portion of the script to let you know what I think it all means.

When Neo initially meets Morpheus at the Lafayette Hotel, here is what Morpheus tells him:

"Do you want to know what it is? The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window, or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes, to blind you from the truth."

Now, let's analyze each aspect of his comments:

"The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window,"

This identifies the Matrix as an all-encompassing system that can not be avoided, or escaped, and brings to mind "Big Brother." From the time you are brought into this world, you are raised in an artificial environment– a creation of what can ultimately be attributed to some kind of government, be it local (city, town or county), state, or federal. Although you may not be able to see it, every aspect of your life is controlled and manipulated because of the foundations put in 215 place many years ago. In school, I was taught about the freedoms we won at the cost of many lives. I was told that we enjoyed more freedoms than any other country on earth. But, after much study, and experience, I'd like to know what freedoms they are talking about. We have been oppressed by so many laws, rules, and regulations; and forced into allowing a small group of people to dictate their will on an entire population.

"or when you turn on your television."

Television has drastically changed in the last fifty years. From three networks received on a 'rabbit ear' antenna, to a couple hundred channels available from a satellite in space. From its moral, family-oriented beginnings, it has become a depository of profanity, violence, and sexually-explicit matter– all in the name of freedom of expression, and giving the people what they want.

With the news available 24-hours a day, television has become an information machine. Yet, you very seldom hear the truth. It is no secret that the news has a liberal slant, and that opinion is being manipulated and swayed by propaganda to support an agenda that deviates from the principles this country was founded upon. It is brainwashing the world.

In addition, you need to realize exactly what television is. It is a diversion. It is thousands of hours of mindless programming to divert your attention away from what is really happening. It exists to take your mind off of the realities of life.

"You can feel it when you go to work,"

As soon as you graduate from school (either high school or college)– you will have to work. It is unavoidable. For the next 40-50 years, you will have to leave your house and go to a job. Some people have to go to a couple of jobs. You will spend more quality time there then you will with your family. You have to also consider your commuting time back and forth– times known as "rush hours." That is why the concept of work has come to be known as the "rat race."

Now, back when I was little, my Mother didn't have to work. She held the exclusive title of "homemaker." But because of the worsening economy in this generation, both parents have to work. This has destroyed the family unit by causing the development of dysfunctional relationships. Parents devote less time to their children- which allow the school (i.e. government) to be more influential in their upbringing. It also enables the television (the internet, and computer games) to become a babysitter and a mentor.

The word "work" is also meant to make you think about money, and actually refers to the economy. Since 1781, the International Bankers had attempted to get central banking established in this country, but failed. But on December 23, 1913, the Federal Reserve Act was passed by Congress, and signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson, which allowed our gold, silver, and monetary supply to be controlled by a banking entity beyond the influence of our government. The purpose of this was to destroy our country's financial structure. 216

Rep. Carter Glass, Chairman of the Banking and Currency Committee, who was part of this fiasco, would later say: "I had never thought the Federal Bank System would prove such a failure. The country is in a state of irretrievable bankruptcy."

Our paper currency was formally known as U.S. Notes, now you can see that they are called Federal Reserve Notes. The Federal Reserve is not part of the United States Government. It is a privately held corporation owned by such international stockholders as: Rothschild Banks of London and Berlin; Lazard Brothers Bank of Paris; Israel Moses Seif Bank of Italy; Warburg Bank of Hamburg and Amsterdam; Lehman Brothers Bank of New York; Kuhn, Loeb, and Co. of New York; Chase Manhattan Bank of New York (Rockefeller-owned); and Goldman, Sachs of New York.

Even though the U.S. Constitution says that only Congress has the right to issue money, the Federal Reserve began doing it, but since 1933, has printed too much, which has decreased the value of our money, and has caused prices to go up. They are also responsible for setting the interest rate that member banks can borrow from the Reserve, and therefore control the interest rates of the entire country.

Rep. Louis T. McFadden, who, for more than ten years was Chairman of the Banking and Currency Committee in the House of Representatives, said in 1932: "When the FED was passed, the people of the United States did not perceive that a world system was being set up here...A super-state controlled by international bankers, and international industrialists acting together to enslave the world for their pleasure!"

"when you go to church,"

Although religion has been around for a few thousand years, what Christians refer to as 'the Church,' is the institution that was established by Jesus during the first century. Since its inception, however, it began developing into an entity made up of many denominations, believing in different doctrines– to the exclusion of all others. However, in the last 50 years, the lines of division began to get blurred as an ecumenical movement started by the World Council of Churches began to gather steam. Their stated goal is to be a "fellowship of churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Savior according to the Scriptures and therefore seek to fulfill together their common calling to the glory of One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit."

The problem is, that the "Scriptures" they are referring to, has evolved into a book of many versions that has omitted entire verses, removed the name of Jesus, deleted references to the "blood," and has succeeded in watering-down the Bible into a book that can be accepted by a One-World church.

And then on top of all that, because of churches wanting to be a non-taxed, non-profit organization, they have allowed their hands to be tied because of the 501(c)(3) regulations which deny the church a voice in the political and governmental affairs of this nation. In essence, the churches are controlled by the government.

Here is something I read many years ago, and it aptly describes the state of the church today in America: "Christianity began in Palestine as a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, and then moved to Greece and became a philosophy, and then moved onto Rome where it 217 became an institution, and then to Western Europe to become a culture, and then moved to America and became an enterprise."

"when you pay your taxes."

On February 25, 1913, it was announced that the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution had been ratified by three-fourths of the 48 states. It created a progressive, graduated income tax. This tax, as well as the central bank (Federal Reserve), were two things that Karl Marx said (in his "Communist Manifesto ") was necessary to bring about socialism.

Taxes have succeeded in robbing the earnings of the lower and middle class; which has oppressed the middle class, and increased the lower class. In addition, through taxation, another plank of the Communist platform was realized, and that was the elimination of private ownership. Even if you "own" your home, if you don't pay the taxes on it, it will be taken from you. So you see, you can never truly own your own home.

To say that we have become over-taxed is an understatement. Shortly after I got married, in the early 1990s, I determined, for a period of one year, to keep track of all the taxes I paid. At that time, I would have probably been considered lower middle class, but I was shocked to discover that 24% of my income went for some kind of tax. What you need to do sometime, is to sit down and actually list all the taxes that you pay. Below is a run-down on mine:

Federal Income Tax State Fuel Tax (Gasoline & Oil) Social Security Tax State Sales Tax on Electrical Service Medicare Tax State Gross Receipts Tax on Electrical Service State Income Tax State Sales Tax on Cellular Service State Unemployment Tax State Gross Receipts Tax on Cellular Service Local Income Tax State Sales on Phone Local Occupation Tax State Gross Receipts Tax on Phone Service Federal Tax on Phone Service School Occupation Tax 911 County Tax on Phone Service School Residence Tax State Sales Tax on Cable/Satellite Service School Per Capita Tax Local Sales Tax on CableSatellite Service Township/Borough Per Capita Tax Borough Real Estate Tax County Real Estate Tax And then on top of all that, when I die, my Estate County Library Tax will be assessed a State Inheritance Tax. You are Municipal Real Estate Tax re-taxed for everything you paid tax on before. Fire Protection Tax This is double taxation. You are taxed coming State Sales Tax and going– what I like to call the Circle of Federal Fuel Tax (Gasoline & Oil) Taxation.

218

"It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes, to blind you from the truth."

The corporate efforts of the super-rich and international bankers to control the world were brought together in 1776 through an organization known as the Illuminati. Their goals were:

• The abolition of the monarchy and all ordered government. • Abolition of private property • Abolition of inheritance. • Abolition of patriotism. • Abolition of family, marriage, and morality; and the institution of communal education. • Abolition of all religion.

The purpose of these six points was to divide the people politically, socially, and economically, to weaken countries and ultimately create a one-world government. They made great strides in just a short period of time.

President James Madison (our 4th President, 1809-17) wrote: "History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling money and its issuance."

In January, 1815, President Thomas Jefferson (our 3rd President, 1801-09) wrote to James Monroe (who would later serve as our 5th President, 1817-25): "The dominion which the banking institutions have obtained over the minds of our citizens...must be broken, or it will break us."

In 1816, Jefferson wrote to John Tyler (who became our 10th President, 1841-45): "If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issuance of their currency, first by inflation, and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered...I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies...The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the Government, to whom it properly belongs."

During the 1828 Presidential campaign, Andrew Jackson (our 7th President, 1829-37) said in an address before a group of bankers: "You are a den of vipers. I intend to rout you out and by the Eternal God I will rout you out...If the people only understood the rank injustice of our Money and Banking system, there would be a revolution before morning."

Sounds like serious stuff, doesn't it. These international bankers were able to push Woodrow Wilson into the Presidency, and he was the one who signed the Federal Reserve Act and Federal Income Tax into law. With the control of our financial structure assured, the international bankers turned their attention toward controlling educational institutions, the media, corporations, and our government.

In the United States, in 1921, the American contingent of this group became known as the Council on Foreign Relations. The U.S. Government took advantage of the CFRs experience in finance and foreign affairs, and one of their study groups, the Advisory Committee on Post-War Foreign Policy, became part of the State Department in 1941. The secret goal of this study group, was to condition the Congress, and the people of this country to accept the 219 establishment of the United Nations. Initiated in 1945, the UN does not seek to promote world peace and cooperation– it was the first step towards a one-world government.

Since then, the Bilderberger Group (1954), The Club of Rome (1968), and the Trilateral Commission (1972), have expanded and accelerated their plans around the world. In fact, Jimmy Carter was hand-picked by the Trilateral Commission to run for President in 1976. After Carter beat Ford, Hamilton Jordan, his chief aide, said: If, after the inauguration, you find Cy Vance (former President of the Rockefeller Foundation) as Secretary of State and Zbigniew Brzezinksi (a Rockefeller advisor, and first Director of the Trilateral Commission who drafted its Charter) as head of National Security, then I would say we have failed." In all, 291 members of the Trilateral Commission and the Council on Foreign Relations joined the Administration, and in essence, controlled the federal government.

Congressman Larry P. McDonald said in 1976: "The drive of the Rockefellers and their allies is to create a one-world government combining supercapitalism and Communism under the same tent, all under their control...Do I mean conspiracy? Yes I do. I am convinced there is such a plot, international in scope, generations old in planning, and incredibly evil in intent."

There's no way that I could adequately cover all the research I've done to confirm this conclusion, however, if you want more proof, allow me to direct you to my book Final Warning: A History of the New World Order (which is now out of print, but you can read it free on my website). This is the definitive book on the history of one-world government, and will give you an in-depth view of how this takeover is being orchestrated. Once you understand what is going on behind the scenes, you will see things in a totally different light.

The money supply and world economy is manipulated and controlled by international banking institutions that have existed for generations. The farmers of this nation were pushed out so the food supply of our country could be controlled by huge conglomerates. Giant corporations control the retail industry and national distribution, and dictate the initiation of technology that will force smaller stores to go out of business. Our failing economy and the lure of cheap labor has caused the erosion of the manufacturing base in this country, and has put us at the mercy of the world to provide us with goods.

Now, in 2008, we have seen the price of a barrel of oil reach $130, and the price of a gallon of gas go past $4.00 a gallon. The price of food has skyrocketed. The cost of health insurance rises every year. The stock market is volatile, and we're in the midst of a sub-prime mortgage disaster that has caused many people to lose their homes. On top of that, billions of dollars in credit card debt, and rising interest rates, have caused many people to be unable to pay their bills. This is all by design. This has all been done for a reason.

The country we live in has been manufactured to be what the New World Order wants it to appear to be. What we consider the "land of the free," and government "by the people and for the people," is nothing but a facade. Just like Morpheus says: "It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes, to blind you from the truth." The Matrix represents the controlled world we live in, and the A I (artificial intelligence) that created it, symbolizes the International Bankers and World Leaders that are the New World Order.

220

WHAT IS THE REAL WORLD?

During an online interview, the Wachowski's were asked: "Do you believe that our world is in some way similar to the 'Matrix,' that there is a larger world outside of this existence."

The answer: "That is a larger question than you actually might think. We think the most important sort of fiction attempts to answer some of the big questions. One of the things that we talked about when we first had the idea of the 'Matrix' was an idea that I believe philosophy and religion and mathematics all try to answer. Which is, a reconciling between a natural world and another world that is perceived by our intellect."

On an intellectual level, it may be difficult to comprehend the possibility that another world could be co-existing with the reality we see with our own two eyes, and experience every day. Yet, there seems to be a segment of the scientific community who is exploring the idea of another world that can't be seen.

Chuck Missler writes in his book Cosmic Codes: Hidden Messages From the Edge of Eternity about a theory that was put forth by a protégé of Einstein, David Bohm, of the University of London, one of the most respected quantum physicists in the world.

In his work at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, he discovered that in plasmas (gases consisting of high-density electrons and positive ions), the particles would stop acting singularly and began taking on characteristics of being part of a larger, interlocked body. At Princeton University, in 1947, he continued his research in the action of oceans of particles, paying particular attention to what appeared to be an organized behavior, almost as if they knew what each of the other particles were doing.

Bohm's theory deals with nature of location, because his interpretation of quantum physics pointed to the fact that at the subquantum level, "location ceased to exist." More specifically, "all points in space become equal to all other points in space, and it was meaningless to speak of anything as being separate from anything else." This property is called "nonlocality." Paul Davis of the University of Newcastle, in Tyne, England, found out in his research, that with all the particles constantly interacting and separating, "the nonlocal aspects of quantum systems is therefore a general property of nature."

One of the amazing observations that Bohm had made, is that the tangible reality of the world as we know it, is actually an illusion, much like a holographic image; and under that is a "deeper order of existence," or an immense, primary level of reality that "gives birth to all the objects and appearances of our physical world," just as a holographic film reveals holographic images. Bohm called this deeper level of reality, the "implicate order" ('enfolded'), while he calls our level of existence the "explicate order" ('unfolded'). From the evidence of his research, Bohm has suggested that "our world and everything in it are only ghostly images, projections from a level of reality so beyond our own that the real reality is literally beyond both space and time."

Missler, a Naval Academy graduate, and former CEO of several international high-tech companies, writes that "the disturbing insight from our present understanding of reality is that the universe may be some kind of digital simulation." 221

All physical objects are composed of matter, the smallest particles of which are atoms. God created all things, which means He not only created atoms, but He is controlling the atoms, and holding them together in all their various configurations.

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1:16-17)

God resides in the spirit realm, as well as Satan (who the Bible, in 2 Corinthians 4:4 calls the "god of this world"), angels, and demons. This spirit realm was in existence before this earth was created. This spirit realm is the Real World. Our physical world, our perceived reality, is a created environment, a world within a world, an anomaly. It is not real. When we consider Bohm's theory in the light of the implications made in The Matrix , the following line of thinking is developed:

Explicate - the physical world, or the Matrix - our perceived reality.

Implicate - the spiritual world.

The Bible paints a detailed picture of what we are. Rev. Bill Anderson explains it this way: "Man is a spirit, it is who he really is, but he possesses a soul, that makes him unique and different from everyone else and he lives in a house called a body."

If man is a spirit, that explains why Romans 8:1 says: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." The "flesh" refers to the physical body within which our spirit resides in our physical world.

When Morpheus and Neo entered the sparring program of the Construct, Morpheus said that it was "similar to the programmed reality of the Matrix. It has the same basic rules, rules like gravity. What you must learn is that these rules are no different than the rules of a computer system. Some of them can be bent. Others, can be broken."

James 5:17, says that Elijah "was a man subject to like passions as we are," yet he called fire down from heaven, parted the Jordan River, and brought the widow's son back to life. He clearly had the ability to function within the spirit realm. Yet, there were very few willing to invest in the kind of relationship with God that it took to reach that level. But that would change.

"And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." (1 Corinthians 15:45-49)

In Matthew 3:2, John the Baptist preached that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand." In Matthew 4:17, we find Jesus preaching the same exact thing. The term "at hand" is the Greek word eggizo (Strong's # 1448) and according to Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon is translated as "to 222 draw or come near, to approach." In the past, this was thought to refer to the end-time period when Jesus would return to this Earth to rule and reign. However, this is incorrect. Another meaning of the term is to "to bring near, to join one thing to another." Jesus came to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth, and to teach the concept of being able to operate within the spirit realm. Look at the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:10– He said: "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." He is identifying the kingdom principle of doing on earth what is done in heaven.

After Jesus finished His Sermon on the Mount and went to Capernaum, He healed Peter's Mother-in-Law, and that night, many came to be prayed for, and were healed. Because of the throng, He decided to travel by boat to the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee. It was on that trip that a storm arose, and because of their fear, the Disciples awoke Jesus, who got up and rebuked the storm and the sea became calm. On the other side, in the country of the Gergesenes (Gadarenes), He was approached by two demon-possessed men who lived among the tombs in the local cemetery. A demon spoke (Matthew 8:29) through one of the men: "What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" You'll find another rendition of this event in Mark 5:1-20 that goes into more detail; but the book of Matthew was written by a Jew for Jews in the early Church, and as such, seems to concentrate more on the establishment and growth of the kingdom.

The Jimmy Swaggart Bible Commentary believes that the word "time" refers to the period outlined in Revelation 20:1-3, when Satan, fallen angels, and demonic spirits would be shut-up in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. However, at this point of time, would Satan know of this? Though it occurred early in Jesus' ministry, it was not recorded by Matthew until later. The earliest copy of Matthew has a writing style that was used in the first century, and it most certainly was written before the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 - maybe as early as A.D. 60. It has long been assumed to be the first Gospel. Whereas, the book of Revelation , which contain the visions of the Apostle John, is believed to have been written during the period of A.D. 90-95. There was nothing in the writings of the Prophets of the Old Testament that would give Satan any detail of his fate. That calls into question what the term means.

The word "time" is translated from the Greek word kairos , which according to Thayer's Greek- English Lexicon of the New Testament means "before the time appointed," while The New Analytical Greek Lexicon indicates that it refers to "a destined time."

Because this phrase appears in Matthew and not Mark , which is more detailed, my feeling is that this comment is actually recognizing Satan's knowledge of the intent of the ministry of Jesus, and what its success would mean to the kingdom of darkness.

The 3½ years of Christ's earthly ministry was made up of doing signs and wonders, healing the sick, and doing the Father's will. In heaven, sickness does not exist, so for Jesus, in teaching the kingdom concept of operating within the spirit realm, He had to teach that we have the authority to eradicate the things that do not have the right to co-exist.

In Matthew 14:26, when Jesus walked on the water, he "bent" the physical laws of this world. But then, He is the Son of God. Jesus imparted, not only power and authority to his disciples, but also the knowledge of operating in the spirit realm. Peter was able to walk on water (Matthew 14:29) and Philip was able to supernaturally transport himself (Acts 8:39). 223

Jesus said that those who followed Him were not of this world, just as He was not of this world (John 17:14); and He said to those who opposed Him: "Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world." (John 8:23)

Jesus, and those who followed Jesus, although living on this physical world, considered themselves separated from it, and were able to operate within the spirit realm. Jesus said: "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19)

The same power and authority pertains to the followers of Christ today. Jesus said: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John 14:12)

Throughout the New Testament, there are constant reminders of our Spiritual nature, that, as Christians, we have to be mindful of, if we are to fulfill the destiny and purpose that God has planned and purposed for our lives.

"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15)

So, what The Matrix may be telling us, is that the real world represents the spirit realm, and the Matrix represents the physical world, that we perceive to be the real world. A clue to this possibility lies in the city of "Zion" that Tank talked to Neo about– identifying it as the only remaining refuge for humans. Earlier I referred to the fact that Zion was one of the hills that the city of Jerusalem stood on, and the name became synonymous with that city. However, as I also mentioned, with the Wachowski Brothers being from Chicago, all the street names used in the movie were from Chicago. But did you know that "Zion" is also a name from Chicago.

In 1900, Evangelist John Alexander Dowie (May 25, 1847-March 9, 1907) from Scotland, purchased 6,600 acres (10 square miles) of farmland about 40 miles north of Chicago (between Chicago and Milwaukee), on the west shore of Lake Michigan in Lakeland County, to establish Zion City, a "city of God," that would be a Christian community. He said: "God's rule is the only government that brings peace." Because many people were being healed, his ministry became very successful, and his Christian Catholic (Apostolic) Church was headquartered in a seven- story building in Chicago. He was arrested 100 times in a single year for practicing medicine without a license. His printing company distributed their weekly publication Leaves of Healing , he had 13 "healing homes" (for ministry to the sick), and he had a worldwide missions program. 224

John Alexander Dowie

Along with Washington, DC, it was one of the few cities in the country to be completely planned before construction ever started. He communicated with the mayors of several large cities for suggestions, and he was able to pull in consultants from Chicago to lay out streets, lots, utilities, parks, a golf course, and a marina. Dowie modeled the street layout after the Union Jack flag of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. All the north-south streets had Biblical names and were in alphabetical order. The only non-biblical name was "Caledonia," the Roman word for Scotland. The east-west streets were numbered, starting with 1st Street at the state line (now Russell Road). All of the main streets led to the center of town where the Church was located– the 6,000 seat Zion Tabernacle (which burned down in 1937). It had originally extended all the way to the Lake, until the land around the Lake was purchased by the state of Illinois to preserve the beach, and some of the diagonal streets were never finished.

Dowie started companies to provide work for those who were moving in. He relocated the Zion Lace Factory from Nottingham, England. It was the first lace company in America, and they exported around the world. He established the Zion Cookie Factory who exported fig bars to Europe and Asia. There was also the Zion Candy Factory, Zion Bank, Zion Hotel (which housed workers helping to build the city), a brick kiln factory, lumber mill, electric plant, and general store. He established a public school system– even a 4-year college. The City of Zion even issued their own postal stamps.

The City of Zion was established in July, 1901, with the first house being built in August, 1901, and by the end of the year, construction was proceeding very quickly. The lots were leased to settlers through Zion Land Investments, and held in trust by the Church for 1,100 years. The reasoning behind that, was that Jesus would be returning in 100 years, and then after the 1,000 year millennium, there would be no reason for leases. The profits from the businesses, as well as the tithes and offerings would support the church. 225

Within a couple years, Dowie became an alcoholic, was accused of polygamy, went insane, suffered a stroke and partial paralysis before dying in Zion. His 25-room mansion, known as Shiloh House, which was built in 1901, is still standing, is privately owned, and is home to the Zion Historical Society and a museum.

Shiloh House

Although it is no longer the Christian refuge envisioned by Dowie, today, the city of Zion is a viable community of 8.2 square miles, with a population of about 25,000 people.

Even though Dowie's ministry ended in controversy and failure, the fact remains, that for a time, he did operate in the supernatural, because the walls of his church were lined with hundreds of braces, canes, and crutches of people who were healed through his ministry. Because of his credibility, he established the right to pray for the sick without interference from government authority; and some of his followers became influential figures in the Pentecostal revival movement, such as John G. Lake, who was a deacon in his church.

To a Christian wanting to escape the secular world to live in a self-sufficient Christian community like Zion, the prospect of it certainly seemed like heaven on earth. I believe that the Wachowskis used Zion as an allegory in The Matrix to add another layer of meaning within the movie, and that was to associate a Christian community with the real world– thus giving it a spiritual identity.

At the end, Neo tells the A I (a symbolic representation of the kingdom of darkness): "I know that you're afraid. You're afraid of us. You're afraid of change. I don't know the future. I didn't come 226 here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it's going to begin. I'm going to hang up this phone, and then I'm going to show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world, without you. A world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries, a world where anything is possible..."

This is a very powerful statement, and if we break it down into its various spiritual aspects, we can get a better idea of what he is saying:

"...and then I'm going to show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world, without you."

As Christians, we are to be a "light to the world," to take people out of the darkness, where they are blinded and living in deception, to the light of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who represents truth. Jesus said (John 8:32): "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." As followers of Christ, being in the world, but not of the world, we should be able to see through the veil that has been placed over the eyes of those entrenched in the world system. In Heaven, sickness doesn't exist, depression doesn't exist, and the works of darkness do not exist. Jesus empowered his Disciples, and by extension, the Church, to apply kingdom principles here on earth to operate within the spirit realm to destroy the works of darkness.

"A world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries,"

From the very beginning, it has been Satan's (the "god of this world") goal to rob people of their true spiritual heritage. Through his deceit of mankind, he manipulated cultures through government authority, and to a certain extent, church authority, in an attempt to reshape this world into a place devoid of God, and His influence. It says in Colossians 2:20– "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances..." Because of the spiritual authority, attributes, and power available to all Christians, we have the ability to be separate from this world. Because of the truth of God's Word, we can see through the lies of Satan, and not be forced to stay within the confines of the physical realities of this world. These physical realities, or physical boundaries, do not exist in the spirit realm, and therefore we are not obligated to recognize or be restrained by them.

"a world where anything is possible..."

Jesus said (Luke 18:27): "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." This brings us back to the fact, that as the Creator, God is ultimately in control of everything. The world we live in is subject only to God's power and authority, and Satan is only able operate if he is given the opportunity. To gain the upper hand, he uses lies (because he is the father of lies, John 8:44) to hide his true nature to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). Only through relationship with God, and by walking in the spirit, can we access the authority and ability to not be held back by the things of the physical world that seek to keep us bound.

227

WHO IS NEO?

Since you now have an understanding of the basic premise of the symbolism and representations of the movie, we can now move onto the underlying message of The Matrix .

Without a doubt, the movie is a Biblical allegory, much like The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan; but done in a way, that if a person wasn't a Christian, they wouldn't know it. In other words, they weren't hit over the head with a religious message. Jesus used parables when He wanted to give an illustration of the concepts He was teaching, which simply conveyed His point in a way they could understand it.

When Rev. Bill Anderson used the movie as a sermon illustration, his take was that it was an allegorical tale of Spiritual rebirth, and that Neo was a general representation of Christians, and their progression from a world of sin, to salvation; finding faith and realizing the call of God on their lives; and dying to self through sacrifice to fulfill their destiny. This certainly was one dimension of its message.

Soon after the film was released, the Christian response was that it was a "Messianic movie," with the character of Neo representing Jesus. As I have outlined, there are many parallels between Neo and Jesus. Being that it was allegorical, and it was a secular movie, exact correlations are not possible, and shouldn't be expected. But without a doubt, the movie went to great lengths so that you would make the connection between the two. However, more than being a "messiah" figure that comes to "save" the world, it is important to analyze it in the proper context.

Taking into consideration the facts and aspects of the movie, and our understanding of what the Matrix is, what emerges is the realization that the movie is a revelation that exposes the control we are experiencing as a society in the physical realm, and the deception we have been dealt in the spiritual realm. Each dimension of this multi-dimensional movie represents a different level of understanding, so wherever a person is at, this movie is able to impact them in a different way.

CONCLUSION

Let me reiterate that I don't believe The Matrix is a Christian movie. Let me also say, that I don't believe it to be a "Word of the Lord" to the Church. However, the movie undeniably presents Scriptural facts and truths, and stimulates a Spiritual awareness. If this movie succeeds in stirring a Spiritual awareness that seemingly fills a void in someone's life, then it is important to redirect that awareness into a life-changing decision. This is not a movie that you can show in church, but perhaps it is a movie that can be used as a tool to illustrate a point. There are now quite a few Christian movies out there that you can rent and buy, but generally, the only ones who see them, are Christians.

As a secular movie, reaching a secular audience, but presenting a Spiritual message, it is opening a door to a large number people who have begun to question themselves and what they believe in, as well as the truth about the world we live in. As such, it is important to take advantage of this hunger for truth, and to have answers to those questions by understanding the 228 concepts presented in the movie, and being able to translate it in a way that people can understand.

Each dimension of the movie gives hope for the future, and a promise that there is an answer. The answers are all the same, and lead to a belief, reliance, and commitment to Jesus, the allegorical hero of The Matrix . We need to use this movie to preach Jesus, and we need to use this movie to preach truth. By unlocking the secrets of The Matrix , we can do that.

229

APPENDIX

SOURCES CONSULTED & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ARTICLES

• Baudrillard and Simulation: A Synopsis of 'Simulacra and Simulation' (www.uta.edu/english/hawk) An essay by Byron Hawk (Assistant Professor of English at George Mason University)

• Baudrillard on the Web (www.uta.edu/english/apt/collab/baudweb.html) This website has a list of links to works about, and by Jean Baudrillard Compiled by Alan Taylor (a graduate student of the University of Texas at Arlington)

• Online information on John Alexander Dowie was obtained from:

Dowie Family website (www.dowie.org/john_alexander_dowie.htm) Article written by Alice Marshall (of the Zion Historical Society) Published in the News-Sun (August 28, 1996)

The Life & Ministry of John Alexander Dowie (www.truthinhistory.org/life-ministry-of-john-alexander-dowie.html) Written and compiled by Charles A. Jennings

City of Zion (www.cityofzion.com)

Zion Historical Society (www.zionhs.com)

Wikipedia (www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion%2C_Illinois)

BOOKS

• Cosmic Codes: Hidden Messages From the Edge of Eternity (Chapter 23: Our Digital Universe, pages 333-346) Written by Chuck Missler Published by Koinonia House (www.khouse.org), P. O. Box D, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83816-0347 © 1999 (505 pages) • The Matrix: An Interpretation (A Parable for High Tech Times) 230

• Miracle Workers, Reformers, and the New Mystics (Chapter 5: Hidden Streams, pages 129-135) Written by John Crowder Published by Destiny Image Publishers (www.destinyimage.com), P. O. Box 310, Shippensburg, PA 17257-0310 © 2006 (397 pages)

MOVIES

MATRIX CLUBS ONLINE

Club of the Matrix (http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/clubofthematrix)

Escapers of the Matrix (http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/escapersofthematrix)

Matrix (http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/matrix)

The Matrix (http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/thematrix)

The Matrix Mainframe (http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/thematrixmainframe)

The Ultimate Matrix Club Ever (http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/theultimatematrixclubever)

Wake-up The Matrix Has You (http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/wakeupthematrixhasyou)

231

WEBSITES

The following is a list of websites on the Internet, where I gathered information for this project. It is with profound gratitude and appreciation that I give recognition to the webmasters and writers whose individual efforts have been brought together collectively to be hung upon the framework of my own research, observations, and opinions:

"The Age of Simulation" (www.transparencynow.com/tablesim.htm)

"Allegory of the Cave" (www2.centenary.edu/fye/thematrix/main.html)

"Believe the Unbelievable" (www.believetheunbelievable.com)

"Bigdummy's Movie Page: The Matrix " (www.bigdummys.com/movies/thematrix)

"Buddhism, Christianity, and The Matrix " (www.unomaha.edu/~wwwjrf/thematrix.htm)

"Coming Attractions: The Matrix " (www.corona.bc.ca/films/details/matrix.html)

"Cracking The Matrix " (http://ihatemovies.port5.com/matrix.htm)

"Dark Horizons: The Matrix " (www.darkhorizons.com/1999/matrix/matrix-n.htm)

"Dew's Matrix Fan Page" (www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Theater/9175/neo/home.html)

"Down the Rabbit Hole" (http://personal.centenary.edu/~aschiffn/matrix.html)

"Escaping The Matrix " (http://cyberjournal.org/cj/rkm/WE/jun00Matrix.shtml)

"Filmwork for The Matrix " (www.angelfire.com/id/gncg1/matrixrenders.html)

"Heather's Matrix Site" (http://maggie_jo_2.tripod.com/moviegallery/matrix.html)

"Hinde Sight: The Matrix " (www.ozcraft.com/scifidu/matrix.html)

"Into The Matrix " (www.intothematrix.net)

"Is the Movie The Matrix about the Christianity Meme?" (www.christianitymeme.org/matrix.html)

"Jen's Matrix " (www.scary-monsters.com/mindex.html)

"Jumacd's Matrix " (www.geocities.com/matrix_dead/)

"KeanuWeb: The Matrix Reloaded " (www.keanuweb.com/credit/movie.matrix2.html)

"Know The Matrix " (www.knowthematrix.com)

"Knowledge Titles in The Matrix " (http://abc3.home.texas.net/MatrixTitles.html) 232

"The Matrix " (Official Website) (www.whatisthematrix.com)

"The Matrix " (The IMDb movie listing) (http://us.imbd.com/Title?0133093)

"The Matrix " (Movie Page listing) (www.movie-page.com/1999/Matrix.htm)

"The Matrix " (www.angelfire.com/ny3/dav)

"The Matrix " (The Original Screenplay) (www.angelfire.com/or/hubele/Matrix.txt)

"The Matrix : Dialogue From the Movie" (www.ix625.com/matrixscript.html)

"The Matrix and Berkeley's Metaphysics" (www.ursasoft.com/publish/matrix.htm)

"The Matrix and Jean Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simulations " (http://transcriptions.english.ucsb.edu/archive/courses/warner/english122tg/MatrixBaudrillard.ht ml)

"The Matrix Community" (www.matrixcommunity.org)

"The Matrix Credit List" (www.angelfire.com/id/gncgi/matrixcredits.html)

"Matrix Fans" (www.matrixfans.net)

"The Matrix FAQ" (www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Boulevard/3590/matrixfaq.htm)

"The Matrix Hacked" (www.thematrixhasyou.com)

"The Matrix Has You" (www.stud.ntnu.no/~kimare/matrix.html)

"The Matrix : A Hollywood Jesus Movie Review" (www.hollywoodjesus.com/matrix.htm)

"The Matrix as Messiah Movie: The Real Message Encoded Within The Matrix " (www.awesomehouse.com/matrix)

"The Matrix Metaphor" (www.zenzibar.com/Articles/matrix.asp)

"The Matrix - Neo's Tribute" (http://neomatrix88.virtualave.net)

"Matrix : The New World Order" (www.parascope.com/mx/matrix02.htm)

"The Matrix News & Rumors" (http://matrix.morrisonfilm.com/indexf.html)

"The Matrix and Nondual Spirituality" (www.nonduality.com/matrix.htm)

"The Matrix Scripts" (www.angelfire.com/ny2/TheMatrix/script.html)

"Matrix Midi Underground" (http://pages.prodigy.net/ehammer/matrix1.html) 233

"The Matrix Online" (www.thematrixonline.com)

"The Matrix : Reality is a Thing of the Past" (www.ozcraft.com/scifidu/matrix.html)

"The Matrix Realm" (http://thematrixrealm.virtualave.net)

"The Matrix Score" (Filmtracks) (www.filmtracks.com/titles/matrix.html)

"Matrix Sound Index" (www.primenet.com/~wherever/sounds/sounds.html)

"The Matrix Soundtrack" (Maverick Records) (www.maverickrc.com/thematrix/music.html)

"The Matrix Special Effects and Techniques" (www.calvin.edu/~rmoell72/)

"The Matrix : Spirituality Fiction" (http://christianity.about.com/ library/weekly/aa042099.htm?iam=dpile&terms=The +Matrix +movie)

"Matrix Spoof" (www.detonate.net/matrix/1.htm)

"The Matrix - the Theme!" (www.glitchsys.com/matrix/)

"The Matrix Unfolded" (www.suspensionofdisbelief.com/matrix/)

"The Matrix Unofficial Fan Page" (www.angelfire.com/ny2/TheMatrix/main.html)

"The Matrix Virtual Theater" (www.warnervideo.com/matrixevents/wachowski.html)

"Metaphilm" (www.metaphilm.com/philms/matrix1.html)

"The Metaphysical Metaphors of the Movie The Matrix " (http://bobcat.bradley.edu/~dpatnode/bom/matrixmetaphors.html)

"The Matrix - My Personal View" (http://pages.intnet.mu/ali2000/Metaphysics.htm)

"Neo's Reality" (www.geocities.com/neodamatrix/)

"The New Gnostic Gospel" (www.envoymagazine.com/backissues/4.5/coverstory/html)

"Observations About the Movie The Matrix " (www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Heights/6495)

"One Man's Interpretation of The Matrix " (www.knowthematrix.com/home.htm)

"Tim Parker's Matrix Movie Page" (www.bv.net/~tim/matrix.html)

"Plato's Allegory of the Cave" (www.geocities.com/larkspur10/neo/matrixplatoscave.html)

"Plato and His Dialogues" (http://plato-dialogues.org/plato.htm) 234

"Raghuram's Matrix Page" (www.matrixthemovie.cjb.net)

"The Realm of the Shifting Sands: The Matrix " (www.crosswinds.net/~safr_gryphon/matrix/)

"SciFlicks: The Matrix " (www.sciflicks.com/the-matrix)

"Seanworld: The Matrix Soundtrack" (www.seanworld.com/matrix)

"Symbolic Use of Color in The Matrix " (www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Theater/9175/neo/matrixcolors.html)

"Through the Looking Glass: Mirror and Religious Symbolism in The Matrix " (http://personal.centenary.edu/~rgroenlu/matrix1.htm)

"The Unofficial Matrix Website" (www.homepagez.com/grantsmatrix/main.htm)

"Welcome to The Matrix " (www.primenet.com/~wherever/matrix.html)

"Welcome to The Matrix " (http://welcome.to/the.matrix)

"Welcome to the Desert of the Real" (www.angelfire.com/ut/thematrix)

"Welcome to the Real World" (www.intothematrix.net)

"Why is The Matrix a Popular Movie?" (www.heaven.net.nz/writings/matrix.net)

"Zion Mainframe" (http://pluto.spaceports.com/~matrix1/index.html)