The Matrix (the first one) lost my interest on the second viewing.
What I keep enjoying is that strange scene where Agent Smith explains to Morpheus that the Matrix isn't the first or best version - but a compromise:
The AIs that took over the world sincerely tried to make humans happy, by making a simulated paradise for them - and it failed. The humans instinctively sensed that something was wrong (ah, but wrong in what sense?) and tried to break out of the illusion.
Humans can adapt to anything... except paradise. This isn't a new observation.
Artists and churches have spent a perverse amount of money and imagination to think up ways in which Hell can be awful to the souls of the dead. But how do they depict Heaven? It's reduced to a pamphlet. Even Dante wrote a brief section on Heaven, but seemed unable to stop dwelling on the agonies of Hell.
What happens to the very rich, who can afford all the pleasures of a good life? They get bored, or become workaholics, or get ambitious about political power, or they get chummy with Jeffrey Epstein. They'll do anything but be happy.
It's one of the mysteries of the human condition, neatly condensed in that one speech by Agent Smith.
A very interesting observation. I still enjoy the first movie very much. It stroke a nice balance of, as you succinctly put it, condensing philosophical ideas neatly and in a digestible way. Even if you took the scene for only its surface level merits, your subconscious digested it. The sequels, on the other hand, hit you over the face with their philosophical nonsense that stops the movie dead in its tracks. Add a little bad acting and boring green-screen backgrounds and you end up with a big, boring mess.
I agree that Lost World Jurassic Park owes you a great debt good sir. Gangs of New York is in my top Scorcese films cause of Daniel Day Lewis; but it is definitely the start of a different Scorcese I haven’t been much into. I missed Aviator for a while and assumed it was kinda just like the other leo-flics. Dope movie.
It's amusing how we share the exact same opinion about Lynch and Tarkovsky. Both we can agree are excellent, unique minds - but Christ, Lynch's films can be a drag all for the sake of "it's supposed to be confusing!" and for Tarkovsky, I wish he would have made his films at least 40 minutes shorter. I tried to rewatch Stalker the other day and I just couldn't do it. Solaris, however, I love love love. When are you gonna get Letterboxd dude??
Dang you got me hyped to watch some movies today, then hit me with that last line... I will just go stare at my old dusty DVD collection in the closet now...
'Reloaded' was my favourite of the series, and I loved 'Dark Knight Rises. 'Beau is Afraid' and 'Mother' definitely underrated, as intelligently disturbed movies are. I'm unlikely to bump into anyone who watched last year's slow burning and unnerving Spanish movies, 'The Coffee Table (Dir Caye Casas) and 'The Wait' (Dir F. Javier Gutiérrez).
I'm a movie buff so I really enjoyed reading "Perfect Moments in Imperfect Movies." I have all the Matrix movies; they came in a package, and I've never watched "Reloaded." Now, because of the Star Wars information, I'm going to have to check it out.
Joquin Phoenix makes me nervous, and I tend to avoid any movie he's in, but I will tell you something about one movie in which I saw him and Mel Gibson (who I detest). It was "Circles" - I had an uneasy feeling about the movie and when you finally saw the Aliens, I said to my wife, "Those aliens are symbolic Jews. I'll bet you Gibson's next movie is about Jesus." It was, and of course he had the Jews shown as monsters who laughed at Christ's agony. Mel seemed to have forgotten thatJesus was a Hebrew.
Jesus likely spoke Aramaic as his first language. But skipping past that totrture porn, you need to see Phoenix in 'You Were Never Really Here'. An action movie by Lynne Ramsay ('We Need to Talk About Kevin') was bound to be excellent (and not a blockbuster).
Report back after watching The Matrix sequels! I'll be curious for your thoughts. Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix, two nut jobs in one movie, what's not to like?! I definitely wouldn't want to be in a room with Phoenix, but I've enjoyed most of his performances.
LOL. I love the " I would want to be ina room with Phoenix." I actually think that he's a fine actor. I'll definitely take a look at the Matrix sequels. I saw the first sequel and it was 'okay' - no where as good as the first, but visually spectacular.
Matrix Reloaded commentary and no mention of Monica Bellucci?!?!
Otherwise great article, I grew up on those movies around the same time as you.
I was too busy gooning over her to write about her. My bad G. I'll fix it in the next one!
The Matrix (the first one) lost my interest on the second viewing.
What I keep enjoying is that strange scene where Agent Smith explains to Morpheus that the Matrix isn't the first or best version - but a compromise:
The AIs that took over the world sincerely tried to make humans happy, by making a simulated paradise for them - and it failed. The humans instinctively sensed that something was wrong (ah, but wrong in what sense?) and tried to break out of the illusion.
Humans can adapt to anything... except paradise. This isn't a new observation.
Artists and churches have spent a perverse amount of money and imagination to think up ways in which Hell can be awful to the souls of the dead. But how do they depict Heaven? It's reduced to a pamphlet. Even Dante wrote a brief section on Heaven, but seemed unable to stop dwelling on the agonies of Hell.
What happens to the very rich, who can afford all the pleasures of a good life? They get bored, or become workaholics, or get ambitious about political power, or they get chummy with Jeffrey Epstein. They'll do anything but be happy.
It's one of the mysteries of the human condition, neatly condensed in that one speech by Agent Smith.
A very interesting observation. I still enjoy the first movie very much. It stroke a nice balance of, as you succinctly put it, condensing philosophical ideas neatly and in a digestible way. Even if you took the scene for only its surface level merits, your subconscious digested it. The sequels, on the other hand, hit you over the face with their philosophical nonsense that stops the movie dead in its tracks. Add a little bad acting and boring green-screen backgrounds and you end up with a big, boring mess.
I agree that Lost World Jurassic Park owes you a great debt good sir. Gangs of New York is in my top Scorcese films cause of Daniel Day Lewis; but it is definitely the start of a different Scorcese I haven’t been much into. I missed Aviator for a while and assumed it was kinda just like the other leo-flics. Dope movie.
“I’m nawt a cawp.”
I got to tell you, Aviator is absolutely fantastic. Shame it’s sandwiched in between those other two moopies.
It's amusing how we share the exact same opinion about Lynch and Tarkovsky. Both we can agree are excellent, unique minds - but Christ, Lynch's films can be a drag all for the sake of "it's supposed to be confusing!" and for Tarkovsky, I wish he would have made his films at least 40 minutes shorter. I tried to rewatch Stalker the other day and I just couldn't do it. Solaris, however, I love love love. When are you gonna get Letterboxd dude??
The day I commit and finally get Letterbox will be something I put off as long as possible because once I start it's going to consume me.
I'm in the LB abyss, and you know what, it's never letting me go again :') I'm in deep!
Dang you got me hyped to watch some movies today, then hit me with that last line... I will just go stare at my old dusty DVD collection in the closet now...
Let me know what you end up watching!
'Reloaded' was my favourite of the series, and I loved 'Dark Knight Rises. 'Beau is Afraid' and 'Mother' definitely underrated, as intelligently disturbed movies are. I'm unlikely to bump into anyone who watched last year's slow burning and unnerving Spanish movies, 'The Coffee Table (Dir Caye Casas) and 'The Wait' (Dir F. Javier Gutiérrez).
I watched The Coffee Table! I'm cooking up a plan to watch that one with an assuming large group of friends. It's gonna be a riot!
I'm a movie buff so I really enjoyed reading "Perfect Moments in Imperfect Movies." I have all the Matrix movies; they came in a package, and I've never watched "Reloaded." Now, because of the Star Wars information, I'm going to have to check it out.
Joquin Phoenix makes me nervous, and I tend to avoid any movie he's in, but I will tell you something about one movie in which I saw him and Mel Gibson (who I detest). It was "Circles" - I had an uneasy feeling about the movie and when you finally saw the Aliens, I said to my wife, "Those aliens are symbolic Jews. I'll bet you Gibson's next movie is about Jesus." It was, and of course he had the Jews shown as monsters who laughed at Christ's agony. Mel seemed to have forgotten thatJesus was a Hebrew.
Jesus likely spoke Aramaic as his first language. But skipping past that totrture porn, you need to see Phoenix in 'You Were Never Really Here'. An action movie by Lynne Ramsay ('We Need to Talk About Kevin') was bound to be excellent (and not a blockbuster).
Report back after watching The Matrix sequels! I'll be curious for your thoughts. Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix, two nut jobs in one movie, what's not to like?! I definitely wouldn't want to be in a room with Phoenix, but I've enjoyed most of his performances.
LOL. I love the " I would want to be ina room with Phoenix." I actually think that he's a fine actor. I'll definitely take a look at the Matrix sequels. I saw the first sequel and it was 'okay' - no where as good as the first, but visually spectacular.