Lee Choon Kiat (4S216)

20/4/2011

The use of formal techniques and symbolism in The Matrix contributes greatly to the viewers understanding of the film. In the film, symbolism such as the use of colour to differentiate between the Matrix and the real world, and film techniques such as the use of the bullet-time effect and the use of mise-en-scne, have played an important role in helping the viewer to understand and better grasp some of the concepts that the film tries to convey, increasing the viewers understanding of the film. Symbolism is employed in The Matrix to further the viewers understanding of the film. In The Matrix, one philosophical idea lies at the very core of the film, upon which the whole premise of The Matrix is based that there are two different worlds in The Matrix: a false world of appearances that obstructs or disguises the true world. Only when we clear away that illusion, can we then dwell in the real world the age-old line between appearance and reality. In The Matrix, colour is used to symbolise the distinct difference between appearance and reality, allowing the viewer to better understand the potent and paranoid metaphor about the falsity of reality that The Matrix seeks to convey. Everything is bathed in a green light, as if viewed through a set of green-tinted lens when in the matrix, while in the real world, a bluish tone is employed, with very dim and dark lighting preferred. The green colour of the Matrix is the same colour as the characters on many computer screens before the advent of more modern software, suggesting that all that the viewer perceives of the Matrix is being filtered through something else, while the blue tinge of the real world reflects the bitter and austere reality of the real world. The use of colour to differentiate between the two worlds is most apparent in the chase scene near the end of the movie, where Neo is pursued relentlessly by the Agents while trying desperately to find a land line to escape. In the scene, the green colour of the buildings that Neo runs into is most evident. However, after Neo defeats Agent Smith and escapes from the Matrix just in time to save Trinity and Morpheus from certain death, the bluish tinge of the real world returns, with the blue EMP and the blue lighting of the set giving a visual cue that informs the viewer that Neo has returned from the Matrix and is back in the real world. This shows how colours are used as symbols to reinforce the strict division between the two parallel worlds in The Matrix, as the viewer is given a set of very strong visual clues about the setting of a particular scene the world in which the scene is taking place in can be immediately identified by its distinctive tinge. This helps to anchor the viewer and allow him/her to maintain his/her awareness of the separation of the Matrix world and the real world even during the rapid scene transitions between the different worlds of The Matrix. Thus, we can see that the use of symbolism in The Matrix contributes to the viewers understanding of the film.

Lee Choon Kiat (4S216)

20/4/2011

In The Matrix, the the Wachowski brothers made liberal use of the bullet time effect in various scenes, with the opening scene, where Trinity takes on a group of policemen unarmed, and the Lobby scene, where Trinity and Neo manage to fend off a group of over 20 policemen wielding M-16s and automatic shotguns typical examples of scenes that employed the use of the spectacular bullet time effect. In these scenes, extreme slow motion is displayed in a incredible show of bullet time effects, where normally imperceptible and unfilmable events, such as a flying bullet are made observable by the audience seated comfortably in their seats. The bullet time effect that was employed during the film provides viewers with a feeling of control, and imparts an almost invincible aura to the characters in the film, helping the viewers to grasp more of the concepts that the film tries to convey. The portrayal of the characters to be incredibly powerful helps to reinforce the fact that the characters in the Matrix have pierced the veil of truth and gained enlightenment, allowing them to be able to achieve feats of superhuman strength and agility that those who have not gone down the rabbit hole cannot achieve. Thus, viewers are able to better understand the Matrixs message that control over the simulacrum of simulation, the matrix, like Neos, can only be attained when one manages to view the simulacrum of simulation for what it really is a symbol of a false reality. For example, Neo, as a hacker in the matrix at the beginning of the film, is able to exercise some control over the simulacrum of simulation, as he has a splinter in [his]mind, something that others do not have. Thus, the message that The Matrix wants to bring across that the control of the simulacrum of simulation can only be attained through enlightenment, setting the stage for the audience to understand Neos resurrection as the One, where he has managed to gain complete enlightenment, and thus complete control over the simulacrum of the simulation. From all this, we can see that the use of the bullet-time effect has helped The Matrix to better convey its ideas and concepts to the viewers, increasing the viewers understanding of the film. The white room scene, where Morpheus reveals to Neo what the Matrix really is, is another example of the effective use of mise-en-scne in The Matrix. In this scene, the setting is extremely minimal, with nothing in it other than the two characters, a small table, and a television set, with the rest of the room a vast and never-ending expanse of white. This is in stark contrast to the majority of film scenes, where rich-textured backgrounds filled with props are the norm. This use of mise-en-scne creates a sense of unrealism, as the reader would understand that no place in the real world can be as void of objects as the room. Thus, this use of mise-en-scne helps to explain Morpheus point that all that Neo can see, feel, touch, smell and hear in the Matrix are nothing but electrical signals interpreted by the brain, helping The Matrix to successfully convey the concept of appearance versus reality to the viewer that we might be living in a world full of the simulacrum of simulation, that we might be experiencing the third order of simulacra, that things might not be as they seem, as they are all simulacrum. Therefore, when Neo manages to see through the simulacra of simulation, he

Lee Choon Kiat (4S216)

20/4/2011

manages to see things in the Matrix as what they really are green lines of code, and can thus gain supernatural powers. Thus, we can see that the use of mise-enscne, especially in the white room scene, can help the viewer to better understand the film.