Forum Overview :: Rants

The sequels were bad. by blackwater 04/28/2014, 9:09pm PDT The original Matrix perfectly captured a certain feeling. It was a feeling of being alienated from society and the suit-wearing populace. A fear of the future. And also a certain kind of weird fetishistic sexuality, with all the black leather and latex. It was never really about the plot, but all about the style, the cinematography, and the ambiance. The plot in the original was simple. Basically it's a movie about how Neo learns the truth about the world and eventually becomes a kind of god figure. The original movie left no room for sequels. How do you follow up on the main character becoming a god? You have to retcon a bunch of stuff in a very clunky way, and it will be lame. Highlander had the same problem. The Matrix sequels were overly long, had overly intricate plots, and just plain did not need to bee made. Worse than that, they're pretentious. They really show the limitations of the Wachowski brothers. Kubrick might have been able to make a movie like this and keep it interesting. These guys are just reciting undergrad-level philosophy as if it were deep. If you are looking for something else out of the Wachowski brothers, try their first movie, Bound. It's sort of a noir-ish movie about a lesbian ex-con. Larry Wachowski is a transvestite and I feel like he has an ability to write these kinds of gay / lesbian / alienated characters convincingly. If you are looking for a good movie about virtual reality... well, the best is Existenz. Silly-sounding name, but awesome movie by Cronenberg. The 13th Floor is another often-overlooked virtual reality movie. These movies explore a lot more of the serious themes-- what kind of moral responsibilities do we have towards simulations, what is the nature of reality and perception, how can we tell if we are in a simulation, etc. Honorable mention goes to Avalon for being a fun (but not particularly creative or deep) virtual reality movie. And of course Lawnmower Man, which is so bad that it's good. All of these are better than the Matrix sequels. Hell, even watch the Animatrix, if you want more VR. It's actually pretty good for a bunch of shorts.

Pop-culture critique of Matrix seqs. will recenter trilogy as pivotal 00 event. by Gutsby 04/26/2014, 10:32am PDT     Your syntax is as bad parts 2 & 3. Are you announcing or requesting a critique? NT by Mischief Maker 04/26/2014, 11:28am PDT         Just trying to get Caltrops a scoop. by Gutsby 04/26/2014, 7:02pm PDT             Re: Just trying to get Caltrops a scoop. by laudablepuss 04/28/2014, 12:35pm PDT     Sequels were mostly bad with a few neat scenes. by They're just movies, man. 04/26/2014, 12:08pm PDT         Wow! You must be really cool! by Mischief Maker 04/26/2014, 1:58pm PDT             Hey, I don't think this other clown was one of us. NT by Ice Cream Jonsey 04/26/2014, 3:13pm PDT             I am! I am fucking amazing! NT by You should be more like me MM. 04/27/2014, 9:50am PDT                 Passionless, Anonymous, and Cowardly? NT by Mischief Maker 04/27/2014, 5:25pm PDT                     Awesome, Beautiful, and Fan-fucking-tabulous! NT by Like, duh as if it wasn't obvious:P 04/27/2014, 11:02pm PDT                         We were just talking about you! by Roop 04/28/2014, 3:09pm PDT                             Ya mon gameplay's gonna be just Clive Barker jerkin' me with one hand :) NT by Chokin' me with the other :D 04/29/2014, 12:08pm PDT     The sequels were bad. by blackwater 04/28/2014, 9:09pm PDT         Re: The sequels were bad. by Eurotrash 04/29/2014, 6:41am PDT         Re: The sequels were bad. by laudablepuss 04/30/2014, 1:46pm PDT     Irritatingly, I once did. by Mischief Maker 04/29/2014, 6:37am PDT         The best criticism is that the philosophy was INSUFFICIENTLY DEEP. by laudablepuss 04/29/2014, 9:37am PDT             "I'd buy that for a dollar!" *gut-busting laughter in response* by Mischief Maker 04/29/2014, 3:49pm PDT                 http://www.caltrops.com/pointy.php?action=viewPost&pid=142974 by Jerry Whorebach 04/29/2014, 5:20pm PDT                 Maybe that had something to do with the ending? by laudablepuss 04/30/2014, 1:38pm PDT             You're in stage 4, by the way... by Mischief Maker 04/30/2014, 9:27am PDT                 Re: You're in stage 4, by the way... by laudablepuss 04/30/2014, 1:30pm PDT                     Personal rankings by Horrible Gelatinous Blob 04/30/2014, 2:13pm PDT                         Re: Personal rankings by laudablepuss 05/01/2014, 9:41am PDT         Please elaborate on "The Architect's intentionally impenetrable dialogue" NT by laudablepuss 04/30/2014, 2:14pm PDT             Re: Please elaborate on "The Architect's intentionally impenetrable dialogue" by Mischief Maker 04/30/2014, 4:32pm PDT                 ARGH I WAS INSULTED by laudablepuss 04/30/2014, 5:06pm PDT                     Now you're regressing to stage 3. by Mischief Maker 04/30/2014, 6:27pm PDT                         Keep banging that drum by laudablepuss 05/01/2014, 8:25am PDT     Is this what you're looking for? by Mischief Maker 04/29/2014, 10:22pm PDT         Really wet mouth, but not smart/arrogant enough. But thanks! NT by Gutsby 04/30/2014, 10:25am PDT     I unironically love and will always love the first Matrix movie. by Jerry Whorebach 04/30/2014, 11:14pm PDT         Yeah, I thought it was about robbing a bank. by Gutsby 05/01/2014, 3:03pm PDT         I saw it with my little sister and her bff. Even they geeked out. NT by What a fun movie. - Last 05/01/2014, 4:55pm PDT