Sina presents

The Matrix• Science fiction action film• USA 1999• Very successful film known for

its special effects;Gross revenue $460,379,930

• Oscars for film editing, sound effects editing, visual effects and sound

• Awards for Best Science Fiction Film, Best Direction, Best Sound, Best Achievement in Special Visual Effects

Writer and Director• Written and directed by the

Wachowski brothers Andy and Larry• Other films written and directed by

them are:“Bound”(1996), the Matrix sequences“The Matrix reloaded ”(2003) and “ The Matrix Revolutions”(2003), “V for Vendetta”(2006) etc.

• Music by Don Davis– Has worked on a variety of films from horror to comedy– Emphasized on mirrors which appear frequently in the

film when making its score

Visual Effects

• By John Gaeta• Film is known for “Bullet time” which allows the

viewer to explore a moment progressing in slow-motion as the camera appears to orbit around the scene at normal speed

• The Matrix had a strong effect on action film- making in Hollywood => use of slow-motion, spinning cameras, and the famed bullet time effect of a character freezing or slowing down

Starring

• Keanu Reeves– Well known Canadian actor for playing in action

and adventure films

• Laurence Fishburne– Famous American actor, director and producer

=> Big Budget: $63,000,000

Aims of the film• Morpheus simplification of what the matrix is as

explained to Neo early in the film “the matrix is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to keep you from the truth” has been quoted several times

• The Matrix strikes an emotional and spiritual nerve• There are parallels between the Matrix and the

world of its audience e.g. Increasing reliance upon information technology

• Some people spend more time “plugged in” to the internet than they do in the real world

• The Matrix film is a spiritual wake-up call. It is encouraging the audience to look deeper, ask questions, pay attention to their instincts.

• People who have freed their minds of materialism in the modern world understand exactly what Morpheus is talking about in his blue pill/red pill speech. “… the matrix is everywhere … You can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work. When you go to church. When you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth … that you are a slave Neo … born into a prison that you cannot smell or taste or touch. A prison for your mind. Unfortunately no one can be told what the matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.” Morpheus description of the Matrix fits perfectly as a description of the marketing empire that brainwashes billions of people today.

Chapter 33: Subway Showdown

• Long shot – at first audience can see legs on the stairs which emphasize that the characters are running away

• Makes audience impatient• Only diegetic sound of the telephone which is big

within the frame – the ring tone sounds urgent as if it would say “hurry up”

• Apart from that it is silent => spooky• Then mid-shot and close-up on man lying in the

corner, he seems curious

• Quick mid-shot to bring it on a more personal level and to see the relationship between Morpheus and Neo (Neo cares for him)

• then long shot so that audience can observe the whole scene and get to know location

• Audience might see stairs in the background as possible danger => creates excitement

• Editing to the mid shot is quiet slow, takes tension away – enables the audience to see all three characters and their faces

• Sound supports the disappearance of Morpheus• Nero and Trinity seems to be strained and under

pressure• However that they stand together support their

relationship and their feelings for each other

Mise-en-scène

• Clothes• Trinity wears a black tight shirt => gives her

power and emphasizes her as a strong woman who can defend herself in a world which is dominated by men

• Neo wears only a t-shirt• Stands in contrast with antagonist who wears a

suit and black glasses => shows his authority

• Then straight cut to old man, close up• Audience can see his surprised face – that reminds

the audience that these three characters have special abilities

• Sound gets louder and introduce excitement• Reaches the “top” when antagonist turns round in a

close up• It is as if he looks at Neo in the following scene• => smooth transition• narrative device that he will take influence?

• Neo hangs up the phone, seems in control• Music is soft but has something exciting• Audience wants to know what she is going to say => curiosity• Sound of phone stretches it and makes audience even more

impatient• Camera switches in close ups between Neo and Trinity when

she talks to him=> audience feels included as it is as in real conversation

• Trinity’s face tells us that she does not know how to express herself, Neo in contrast seems a bit confused

• We hear the extreme loud sound of the tube (Off screen sound)

• indicates that something is going to happen, audience wants characters to be quick

• The close up on characters’ faces and the ring of phone makes it as if they are far away in a dream, it stretches the time => impatience

• Extreme close up on phone creates excitement as we are unable to see what is going on around it

• Flabbergasted face of old man is a narrative device, it let the audience know that something terrible is going to happen

• However we only see the point of view shot of Trinity – and there is only the tube...

• Close up on antagonist=> audience’s speculation was right

• We know that something will happen!• Sound support this by getting louder• Trinity put up the phone very slowly

=> excitement - oh oh• We see antagonist coming towards us• His determined and “nasty” face• The black glasses making him look serious

• Close up – camera focus on Trinity's face• That shows her feelings• She seems shocked but in control• Her body language, the movement with her hand,

shows us “stop”• fast editing to next shot

• Long shot – audience suppose that he is going to shoot, his arm is in direction of the audience as if he is going to shoot on them

• He comes out of the shade in a mid shot• Body language shows his great stature• Fast editing guides us to the next shot

• Extreme close up - because of fast editing it has a shocking effect on the audience

• Audience can see the damage in detail• They want to know what happens to the

character in the phone box – Is she dead?

• Extreme close up – audience can see the whole procedure of what is happening

• They are provided with details

• Makes audience worried about Neo – what’s he going to do? He has no phone anymore!

• Changes between “space shuttle” and subway station built up tension

• Sound slowly but exciting• Neo turns round slowly => audience impatient• Mid shot – shows us both characters

(as if they want to show them us before the big fight and later afterwards…)

• Pause – no sound – very silent• Long shots from both sides but we can see the hand

of both characters within the frame• Tells us their tension and that they are strong

• Long shot• Camera shows us

characters from each point of view

• That means they can observe the movement of both

• Fast editing

• Medium long shots• Switch between both

characters provide audience with information of both

• Can imagine when they are going to “meet”

• Long shot – tackle• Different angles, e.g.

low angle emphasizes their turning in a circle

• Special effect in slow motion

• Stretches tension

• Extreme close up• Camera angle allows us

to see both characters and their guns

• It seems a bit like a point of view shot as we see the antagonist’s face in nearly the same angle as Neo

• Sound gets more calm again• Body language of baddy shows his authority• However Neo seems to be better than him• Fast editing, sound reflects action which is going on• Pause indicates that Neo has won the first fight• Antagonist’s broken glasses are an important symbol

for that• Close up shows antagonist’s disappointment• He is furious (=> teeth)

• There is a turning point• antagonist throws him against the wall• Close up shows us that Neo must be hurt• However he gets up right away => strong, resistance• Mid shot enables us to see the fight and attacks of

both characters• High angle and close up show baddy’s nasty face; still

fast editing, sound is getting louder• Extreme close up on hands/arms – equal• Long shot shows Neo flying in direction of the

audience => excitement

• Close up on Neo lets audience identify with him; Music slows down

• antagonist looks nasty, sure that he has won• Close up – tells us that Neo does not give up

=> body language => sign as Morpheus• Crane shot shows scene from above emphasizes

Neo’s helplessness• antagonist is now stronger than him => turning point

• Close up on baddy indicates that he is not sensitive => tough, does not feel sorry

• antagonist pulls Neo behind him => symbol for contempt• Audience can identify with him => close-up• Camera moves with Neo as he is thrown against the wall, we

can see his hard landing on the ground• Low angle – we see baddy as if we were on the rails, too• Close up provides information about Neo’s feelings => bricks

show that he fell hardly

• We see his head from the front when antagonist tackles him => pity, can imagine how it hurts

• Close up on antagonist’s face shows that he has no feelings for Neo

• Straight cut – see tube coming• Audience can imagine what is going to happen• Close up shows us Neo’s determined face

• Music gets louder• Matches with the new

action• Quick editing: Crane shot –

slow motion• then mid shot which

shows how antagonist crashes into the ceiling of the tunnel

• Low angle => familiar as we have to look up

• Audience see the tube arriving before they come down again

• Long shot shows us the danger – we observe the whole scene

• Close up - will Neo succeed?• Long shot – we see his

amazing jump => one of the special effects often used in “The Matrix”

• Mid shot provides us with antagonist’s reaction• Neo’s legs tell us that he is still there• We see that Neo just managed to get off the rails• Close up on his face – Neo is unsure, running away• Extreme close up on wheels => emergency stop• He turns round again – antagonist leaves the carriage• Neo starts running – camera switches to Morpheus etc.• Creates excitement – what happens next?

The End