First, Thomas A. Anderson (Keanu Reeves), a.k.a. "Neo," is portrayed from the beginning of the film as a "normal Joe" who holds the potential of a world savior, yet without the narcissism. He does not have X-ray vision or the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but rather, he is a lowly computer programmer for a respectable computer company. He does not appear important to anyone else in the film at first, and it is because of his lifestyle.

Mister Anderson is immersed in the world of computers. As a result, he is lonely and alienated from the world or "reality." This feeling is also reflected in the high, swooping camera angle found in the film, which is characteristically Noir.

But what is reality? The truth? "Neo" makes the conscious choice to "see how deep the rabbit hole goes." One finds out later in the film that at the point of making such a choice, he was nothing... or nothing more than an oversized Energizer; but upon choosing the "truth" he is also trying to "free his mi

nd" from the prison he cannot taste or touch or see.

Existentialism of the 20th century is an avid part of this film, as in most other Noir films of the mid 20th century. As the Movement portrayed to us, The Matrix shows that we are responsible for our own choices and decisions. We as individuals are alienated from any other being and given free will to move about this planet and cosmos as we choose. It is at that point that we realize that our choices affect our own destinies, our own future, and no one else's. It is at these defining moment that we realize one thing: the Matrix has us...

These people had the Noir template in consideration when writing and editing this film. It is evident that Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving), the head Sentient Program hunting Neo, is the hard-boiled detective, and Neo is the "Fugitive from a Chain Gang" that is always on the run. Moreover, there is the classic "tilt shot" seen in the film that clues the viewer to the film's Noir-like style. This modern-day, science fiction, Kung Fu fighting Neo-Noir (no pun intended) thriller is clearly rooted in film classics from the past.

This film is deep in plot and character development. As mentioned in class (8 Jan, '00, Jones) with color film, it is much more difficult to present such an ominous "darkness" as a more evenly lit subject is required for a good quality film. So, character development has to deepen to compensate for the different lighting, as it does in this film. Everything that characters in this film say and do is on two or even three levels of thought. Everything has a second or third meaning, and all going back to one common theme: Fate. No one likes to believe that they are not in control of his or her own life, which is understandable. However, in the film, when Morpheus reveals what is the true history of the planet, he displays the "desert of the real." Solar power was the key to the planet, and the only way to exterminate the machines of Artificial Intelligence was to scorch the sky. It is this event that spawned the Matrix. Morpheus then shows that "Fate is not without a sense of irony." There is a higher power at work here... Whether it be an omnipotent being or just simple Fate. The entire film is about Fate and it's effect on us simple, insignificant humans. Belief is a tremendous power. It cannot be put any better than how Neo himself stated it when Morpheus had been captured and digitally "interrogated." "This can't be just coincidence... It can't be!" The Oracle had told Neo that he would [again] have to choose between sacrificing his own life or Morpheus'. This is what initiated this final rescue mission for Morpheus. Because of what the Oracle had told Neo, he knew he could not fail, if Fate indeed was real. Since Neo was alive, that meant Morph

Some common words found in the essay are:
Mister Anderson, Noir Style, Red Pill, Mister Anderson's, Morpheus Oracle, White Rabbit, Morpheus Fate, Artificial Intelligence, Thomas Anderson, Keanu Reeves, agent smith, mister anderson, thomas anderson, alter ego neo, film noir, noir films, entire film, 20th century, ego neo, citizen kane, alter ego, respectable computer company, deep rabbit hole, programmer respectable computer, rabbit hole goes,
Approximate Word count = 1869
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)