I always thought that Matrix superpowers and Star Wars superpowers are very similar. Even "stop trying to hit me and HIT me" sounds a little like "Do or do not, there is no try". And so, Neo's training in the Matrix is very similar to Luke's training on Dagoba, and children's training by the Oracle might be very similar to the Jedi kids' training in the Jedi Temple.
Also, to me romance between Trinity and Neo was always the most underdeveloped part of the movie. It seemed that she fell in love with him only because she thought that he was the One, and not because of other, more natural causes.
Really excellent essay! I love this comparison to superpowers. I've always felt that the scene with the Potentials was like something out of the X-Men.
I'm particularly struck by the idea of the way self-belief is informed by what others believe about you - I'm thinking about it as a dynamic interaction. As you explain, Neo is ultimately moved to completely unshackle himself from the (un)reality of The Matrix and defy death because of how Trinity's love confirms everything Neo slowly starts to believe (and how it all fits into The Oracle's predictions). Her belief in him is the tipping point. Similarly, Morpheus' unwavering belief in the idea that Neo is The One seems to inform the training sequence; Neo starts winning as he unshackles himself, but also because Morpheus believes Neo will start to beat him - and every step in that direction solidifies Morpheus' belief (and perhaps in part causes him to lose) and diminishes Neo's skepticism.
I do like the "maybe the next life, kid" line which is also proven true. But like a lot of creative things the W's became increasingly more concerned with what the story meant to them than to anyone else and so muddled it in the sequels and public comments to force it into that mold
Great essay!
I always thought that Matrix superpowers and Star Wars superpowers are very similar. Even "stop trying to hit me and HIT me" sounds a little like "Do or do not, there is no try". And so, Neo's training in the Matrix is very similar to Luke's training on Dagoba, and children's training by the Oracle might be very similar to the Jedi kids' training in the Jedi Temple.
Also, to me romance between Trinity and Neo was always the most underdeveloped part of the movie. It seemed that she fell in love with him only because she thought that he was the One, and not because of other, more natural causes.
Best film ever. This is a massive, impressive, and poignant essay detailing all that.
Really excellent essay! I love this comparison to superpowers. I've always felt that the scene with the Potentials was like something out of the X-Men.
I'm particularly struck by the idea of the way self-belief is informed by what others believe about you - I'm thinking about it as a dynamic interaction. As you explain, Neo is ultimately moved to completely unshackle himself from the (un)reality of The Matrix and defy death because of how Trinity's love confirms everything Neo slowly starts to believe (and how it all fits into The Oracle's predictions). Her belief in him is the tipping point. Similarly, Morpheus' unwavering belief in the idea that Neo is The One seems to inform the training sequence; Neo starts winning as he unshackles himself, but also because Morpheus believes Neo will start to beat him - and every step in that direction solidifies Morpheus' belief (and perhaps in part causes him to lose) and diminishes Neo's skepticism.
I do like the "maybe the next life, kid" line which is also proven true. But like a lot of creative things the W's became increasingly more concerned with what the story meant to them than to anyone else and so muddled it in the sequels and public comments to force it into that mold