Week 3 Day 3: Turning Points – THE MATRIX

[Sherry Miller]

Neo, a computer programmer is in denial. Monstrous machines have taken over the world and sucking energy from humans to survive. Never saw much of these movies, just bits and pieces but now see the fascinating premise. After all, AI is a big concern today. And I do love watching Keanu Reeves in many of his movies. Regarding Turning Point. Morpheus, who has escaped The Matrix (place where these humans are stuck) is trying to get together a sort of army to defeat them. Neo, computer programmer by day and hacker by night is trying to get to the bottom of his discontent, suspicions, to find the Matrix. Trinity, the girl, leads him to Morpheus, in a dark laboratory where this scene opens. Darkness and shadows help make this scene. Neo now realizes there is a Matrix. He must get free from The Matrix by taking a red pill or blue pill. If blue, his fantasy of regular life he always knew would continue. But he’d forget everything. He’s conflicted, not sure he wants to stay in that place. The Red Pill is scary, full of unknowns, but will lead him to the truth. He takes the Red pill just as Morheus says, “Buckle your seatbelt, Dorothy. Because Kansas is going bye-bye.” Love this line. It’s sort indicates a reversal of fantasy and real, a foreshadowing. Which will he experience? What follows is horrifying. As a viewer, my own eyes went wide. Neo was in a cocoon as were other human bodies. Attached to cords that were sucking the very strength and life out of him. He fights; he’s shocked. What makes him engaging is he doesn’t believe what he’s told at first and has a hard time believing it even as his journey’s happening. But he changes forever in this scene. And it’s his Turning Point. He will join, fight with Morpheus and Trinity. Just as he tries to fight a monster machine which throws itself at him, hating his rebelliousness. He’s changed forever, no longer content or just curious. Keanu Reeves is so good at showing character depth. His expressions, body language, all of it takes us to the next plot point. Breakthrough: He will fight to the bloody end to restore the life he once knew.