2. References of the word “Matrix” Biology: A basic substance without inner structure Biology: Outer covering of our chromosomes Mineralogy: The material containing the minerals Mathematics: A rectangular scheme of numbers Latin: Source; cause; mother animal; uterus

4. Thomas A. Anderson aka Neo… (Keanu Reeves ) "Neo" Neo means "New" (Greek) N-E-O is an anagram of O-N-E Ander = "Man" (Greek) Son = "Son" Anderson = "Son of man". An attribute also given to Jesus. "Neo Anderson" would mean "New son of man". "Thomas A." is reference to "Thomas Aquinus" a famous saint of the catholic church.

5. Trinity …(Carrie-Anne Moss) "Trinity" Trinity = "3 in 1" The catholic belief that God can be divided in 3 parts (or persons or features or gods). –Warrior/Protector ~ Wife/Lover ~ Mother

6. Morpheus… (Lawrence Fishbourne) Morpheus is the Greek god of dreams -Morpheus to Neo: "Have you ever had a dream, Neo, that you were so sure was real. What if you were unable to wake from that dream. How would you know the difference between the dream world and the real world?" -Morpheus: "You've been living in a dream world, Neo." -Morpheus: "The Matrix is a computer generated dream world" Morpheus is like Moses…brings the “rules”…keeper of the knowledge.

7. Cypher … (Joe Pantoliano) Cypher means "void" / "zero" / "nil" / "not real" / "not entity" Some Possible Interpretations… Since "decipher" = "decode, then "Cypher" could mean "encode", because he keeps the Matrix alive rather than de-code or (destroy) it. "Cypher" sounds similar to "Lucifer"

8. Other Minor Characters… "Apoc“ = Apocalypse (to die) Dozer = ? (dies) Tank = like a machine…indestructible Mouse = ? (dies) Switch = ? (dies) The Oracle Agents Brown & Jones –Notice agents have the most common American names.

9. Agent Smith… (Hugo Weaving) Represents the “logic” of technology The idea of “nothing special”… opposite to human feelings about self Agent Smith explains to Morpheus that the “first Matrix was a perfect human world,” that Artificial Intelligence originally created a surrogate reality of earthly bliss, a return to Eden, but that humanity rejected it out of hand, that “no one would accept the program”.

10. Meanings of Numbers in The Matrix Numerology… just a few… #101 Neo's room/apartment "Room 101" is a torture chamber (George Orwell's 1984) Links to the idea of basic understanding ie: "Physics 101", "Math 101" = "course for beginners" #303 The room where Matrix 1 starts off (with Trinity fighting the policemen) The room (it's the very same room) where Neo is shot by Agent Smith 3+3 = 6 : On the 6 th day, God created man…

11. Numerology of #6… Neo is Morpheus' 6th candidate for The One. (The other 5 die before Morpheus meets Neo) 6 is the numerological symbol of "choice" or "decision that will determine the future" On the 6th day, man was created and the creation of the world was completed. 6 is mathematically the first perfect number (= a number that is the sum of its divisors): 1+2+3=6 The are 6 anagrams of "n-e-o": –neo = new –one = alone –eon = An indefinitely long period of time; an age –eno = ? (acronym) –noe =Noah (a variation of the Biblical name) –oen = ? (acronym)

12. Even More Meaning….! Believe It or Not! DA203 ( Morpheus' car) Bible: Daniel 2:03 "I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means." "Mark III No 11 Made in the USA Year 2069" "Mark 3 #11 M" is Morpheus' ship's number. Bible: Markus 3:11 "Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, 'You are the Son of God'."

13. Other Movies Referenced in The Matrix Dark City –The checkboard ground of the hotel where the Agents chase Morpheus and Neo is a reference to Dark City –The roof top where Trinity flees from the Agent is a reference to Dark City. Star Wars –The scene where the sentinels come for the first time is Reference to Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. It's a combination of the scenes where Lando and Chewie fly the falcon after getting Luke's hand fixed, and the asteroid field scene. Luke, having just gotten a new hand, sort of limps in the cockpit with Leia; in the Matrix, Neo just woke up and hobbles in with Trinity. The cockpit is almost identical, and Morpheus says Star Wars lines from the asteroid field scene, "Set her down there" and "Here they come" Terminator –The fading red eye of the bug [Matrix 1] thrown out of the car window and the fading red eye of the sentinels (electrocuted at the end of Matrix Reloaded) are allusions to the Terminator's fading red eyes.

14. Setting Symbolism… Rain –It rains on Neo when he meets Trinity, Switch and Apoc in the car. –It rains on Agent Smith's interrogation of Morpheus (Sprinkler system) Water Images –The cleaning of the windows in Neo’s bosses office Meaning: Rain/water represents a cleansing. Things being “washed” and “cleaned”…the dirt cleaned away…but also ideas, thoughts, or a “fresh” perspective or understanding.

15. Colors and Hues The Matrix has a green tint –“Throw-back” to the original computer monitors that showed either green or orange text/images. Most heroes and agents wear black: –Black is the color of evil. –Black can also be a color of elegance or class –Black can represent ideas such as power, sophistication, mystery, fear, evil, unhappiness, depth, anger, and mourning and emptiness.

16. Settings…the Matrix Normal… –The Matrix world is often shown as dirty, neglected, “not- normal” Containment… –In the Matrix we often get a sense of being “boxed in”: Neo’s small apartment Neo’s cubical and the maze of the office Interrogation room

17. Symbolic use of doors in the film. *Neo chooses to answer the door and follow the white rabbit. *He tries to flee the office building through the exterior window (just a different type of door) *He enters through the car door to be taken to Morpheus, and later decides not to exit the car. *He enters the door to the apartment when meeting Morpheus. *He enters the door to see the Oracle. Fate becomes a path which leads Neo through a sequence of doors; at each door he must make a decision, and each door that is opened leads to another door. This series of doors will describe a unique path for each person, our destiny.

18. The Matrix References –The Matrix vs. The Real World Morpheus: "Have you ever had a dream, Neo, that you were so sure was real. What if you were unable to wake from that dream. How would you know the difference between the dream world and the real world?“ –Ignorance vs. Clarity/Knowing Cypher says: “Ignorance is bliss…” When talking to the Agents about being placed back into the Matrix Failings of Humanity vs. The Saving of Mankind “You’re my savior man, my own personal Jesus Christ…” Humans are like a parasite…they destroy their environment and then spread… (Agent Smith to Morpheus)

19. Reality vs. Fantasy What we know vs. what we think we know is questioned in the opening scenes –Police/agents (good or bad?) –Trinity/Morpheus (good or bad?) They have “unreal” abilities/powers…how/why? Keeps us questioning about what is going on…just like Neo

20. Reality Clues… Trinity to Neo: “Are you awake or sleeping” We see many views of Neo sleeping (at computer, in bed, in cocoon, on ship… –Early on, these events confuse us…which is dream, which is real? Being “plugged in” The belly bug Neo’s mouth disappearing The agents at his workplace

21. Neo as “Christ-like” Figure “Neo” means New = New World/New Life –Cypher to Neo “You’re here to save the world” –When Neo is taken out of the Matrix/out of the Machine’s Cocoon, he falls into water and is cleansed/baptized/rebirth –Morpheus will sacrifice his life for Neo (reference to John the Baptist) The Miracle is that they both survive (as mentioned by Cypher before being killed by Tank) Morpheus then calls Neo “The One”

22. Themes… Humanity as lost but is worth saving –To risk your life for the good of all is noble and worth while Love conquers all (even overcomes death) –Emphasizes the importance of relationships… Humanity vs. Our Own Creation (ie: machines) –Alice in Wonderland reference: The novel looks at/questions the nature of society, government, social order, conformity… MORPHEUS: “You take the red pill and you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.”

24. The Matrix’s Evolution from Comics… The Matrix was originally conceived in a comic book format. Special techniques were used to transform the comic-strip idea in the fluid- flowing motion of film. –Speed-up/slow-motion These two changes in the speed of the image/scene help capture the picture like a frame in a comic strip (ie: the shot of the bullets falling from Neo’s gun/helicopter, the movement of a character (fighting scene with Neo & Trinity ) http://www.leechvideo.com/key/e xplosives-special-effect/http://www.leechvideo.com/key/e xplosives-special-effect/

25. Other “old-style” movie genre references: Kung-fu Hong Kong films have been the biggest influence on Hollywood filmmaking in recent memory Westerns key scenes reflect the old west images, especially the face-off between Agent Smith and New in the subway station. The scene even shows a paper blowing between them, like the old tumbleweeds that blew down dusty main street in old films.