The Matrix

There is something so cerebral about this movie. So cerebral that the pace of it feels so cluttered; information overload if you will. The conversations on A.I, the rising fear of technology, and simulations are thought-provoking. Even by today's standards, what this film says about the "humans vs. A.I" debate still reads as nuanced. I think this film is very pro-human in a way. It is not the technology warping how we think, we as the human race warp A.I. into how they think. This statement on being better than technology is solely based on the fact that we are human lies in this film's deconstruction of the "spectacle". The 3rd industrial revolution had a lot of people misinterpreting the rise of technology in our lives as fear, not change. It was the fear that tech would replace humans, it was the fear that tech would be too advanced for us, and there was a fear in the movie industry that tech would replace the tactile nature of film form. This film stands to disprove that last part. The Wachowskis are students of the "spectacle". It is obvious from the constant kung-fu references throughout the movie. It is their knowledge of what makes a movie "spectacular" that makes The Matrix's themes so resonate--even 20 years after its release. The film plays with digital technology to make the spectacle appear...well...more spectacular. That scene where Trinity jump-kicks the police officer and the camera spins around her like it's a video game immediately sets this precedent. However, what remains the spectacle is what the human body is doing, not the fancy camera work and special effects. This is a recurrent theme throughout the movie. This constant talk of Neo being "the one" is an inherently spectacular device. That this one person, this one body is capable of amazing things appeals to the idea of the personal affect. "If this computer nerd can be the one, why can't I?" Not only is the chosen one dynamic play with the spectacle, but it is also what they do with this device that is especially interesting in terms of the film's comments on technology. There is a conflict that is introduced in the Oracle scene. That Neo is challenged to believe that he isn't the one. Throughout the movie, we as audience members begin to question this as well. It is all but proven when Agent Smith "kills" Neo. At that very moment though, Trinity professes her love to Neo and kisses him. The most spectacular thing that can happen to a human: love. Neo then is revived, and that iconic scene of Neo blocking every one of Agent Smith's punches is a visual representation that man is better than machine. That even with digital technology bleeding into film and "tainting" what is considered a cinematic marvel, what humans perceive as spectacular hasn't changed. That boiled down, tech isn't changing what we view as spectacular, we as a human race will always define what is spectacular.