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A service to His little ones (which includes at-home teens) through you, their parents and grandparents, in His name by His Word MAR23051  (2003), RAnalysis Date: May 12, 2003 CAP Score: 24 out of 100 CAP Influence Density: 2.05 MinMax: -92 |
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(2003), R -- dazzling ... action-packed ... standard-setting ... but it is rated R and deserves it. Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): NPV Entertainment, Silver Pictures, Warner Bros. Distribution (US): Warner Bros. Director(s): Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski Producer(s): Bruce Berman, Grant Hill, Andrew Mason, Vicki Popplewell, Steve Richards, Joel Silver, Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski Written by/Screenplay: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski (characters and written by) Cinematography/Camera: Bill Pope Music: Tim Commerford, Don Davis, Zack De La Rocha, Rob Dougan, Marilyn Manson, Tom Morello, Paul Oakenfold, Linkin Park, Brad Wilk, Rob Zombie Film Editing: Zach Staenberg Casting: Mali Finn Production Design: Owen Paterson Art Direction: Jules Cook, Mark W. Mansbridge,Catherine Mansill,Charlie Revai Viewed At: Loews Keystone Park 16, Dallas, Texas. Courtesy of Levenson & Hill, Movie Dept. Wow!. An outstanding mixing of what I suspect is cgi with photography to get dazzling action sequences. The computer-supported anime martial arts displays were beyond description ... and beyond belief. If you have a phobia of being run over by 18 wheel trucks, don't watch The Matrix Reloaded. The camera takes the viewer under the carriage and wheels of numerous trucks at breakneck speeds in one of the most action-packed and standard-setting traffic chase scenes I have ever seen. X2 may have lost its place at the head of the "summer" collection of blockbusters. I still say let us wait to see what Dr. David Banner does to The Matrix Reloaded usurping X2. At least X2 was PG-13 ... err ... R-13. It's the same story as The Matrix with a lot more action and more definition befitting a sequel. In The Matrix we saw that Artificial Intelligence (AI) machines grew in intelligence and ambition and developed designs to eradicate the world of humans. A war ensued between the AI machines and the humans in which the humans "scorched the sky" and retreated to the underground. Literally. The AI machines then ruled human existence and grew humans in massive farms for the sole purpose of providing energy for the AI machines which then wrote little subroutines or computer codes for each of the humans being grown to give them a sense of purpose to make them think they are each an integral part of reality. That which the humans see as reality is nothing more than a supremely intricate computer fantasy generated by the AI machines -- the matrix. These conditions have not changed in The Matrix Reloaded. Such is a rather worn-out science fiction formula plot but The Matrix Reloaded manages to put a brighter coat of paint of many colors on The Matrix and manages to skew the logic enough to titillate the imagination, in spite of the droll little episodes of mundane philosophizing. The 127 minutes of The Matrix Reloaded will not let you check your brain at the door. It is quality performances by high wattage performers in an elaborate story of multi levels, much like multi-tasking in computers, each level intricately interwoven with other levels but, like multiple voices in polyphony, the levels seem to be independent while serving a common goal. In this second of three parts to The Matrix trilogy (the third coming out in November this year), Neo, a.k.a. Thomas A. Anderson (Keanu Reeves), Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and others are out to defeat the AI machines and free the minds of all the humans being grown by the AI machines. The Sentinels (sort of anti-virus programs of the matrix, the brilliant performance of Hugo Weaving as one of the Sentinels, Agent Smith) do their best to kill all humans who have broken free of the matrix and who are aware of the real reality and of the oppression of the matrix. Morpheus and his crew have for years been freeing the minds of the humans being grown for fuel and helping them escape such horror to live as real humans in Zion, an underground city of all the humans who have escaped the matrix. Neo is the one Morpheus, a Captain of the Zion army, believes is the fulfillment of prophecy - the One to enable the humans to defeat the AI machines and destroy the matrix and end the 100-year war between humans and the AI machines. I am not comfortable with Neo being called "the One" and being fulfillment of prophecy since the the Bible repeatedly refers to Jesus as the One and fulfillment of prophecy [e.g., Ps. 113:5, John 1:14, John 15:21, Jude 14]. Indeed, Neo is greeted like the Messiah when he enters the city of Zion. Even the name of the city, Zion, which is the city of David in the Bible, is suggestive of mockery. At least the writers did not call Neo "the Deliverer" or "the Redeemer." Granted that this is an R-rated movie but that does not keep the minor children out. "R" is like a padlock which is only a signal to an honest man which does not prevent unauthorized entry to anyone determined to get past the lock. "R" is only a signal, not a barricade. Of the R-rated movies in the more than 700 analyses we have conducted so far, only about four did not have minor children in attendance. If you want to know more about why we analyze R-rated movies, see our Frequently Asked Questions.
There are a few new characters thrown in the mix-trix. Captain Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith) is a fellow pilot for the Zion army. She seems to be included only to provide fuel for Morpheus' humanity in the form of jealousy. Merovingian (Lambert Wilson) and his sexually dissatisfied wife, Persephone (Monica Bellucci) serve to lead Neo and company to another new character, the Keymaster (Randall Duk Kim) who has the key to the system file of the matrix. Also adorning the dreamstate projections were the pasty ghostlike twins (Adrian and Neil Rayment) who were able to shape shift into vapor as bullets and other dangers threatened them. IMDb originally had a character named Lazarus listd in the cast. I've gotten reports from a filmmaker that IMDb sometimes makes errors (don't we all). I no longer remember a Lazarus character in The Matrix Reloaded but it would certainly make sense in view of the other instances of mimcry/mockery of the Sctipoures. If a Lazarus charater in The Marix Reloaded is true, would it not be further suggestive of Biblical intentions? In the Bible, Lazarus was a good friend of Jesus and was one of the, I believe seven, Biblical resurrections - just like Neo in The Matrix. The Matrix Reloaded is a computer geek's hearty meal and a sci-fi fanatic's cinematic fix, but it is rated R and deserves it. Sexually immoral behaviors include the unmarried Reeves and Moss getting sexually involved ... fully [1Cor. 7:2], vulgar dancing with upper female nudity, suggestions of oral sex and more [1 Cor. 6:18]. Martial arts violence is extensive. Gunfire to kill is as dense or more dense as in The Matrix. Impalement of fingers into chests, visible bullet penetration, brain impalements and sword impalement plus other mechanisms of murder and death are quite frequent and graphic. [Prov. 3:31-32] The three/four letter word vocabulary is used 27 times with three uses of the most foul of the foul words [Col. 3:8]. God's name in vain both with and without the four letter expletive is used 13 times [Deut. 5:11]. And the vain philosophy in this film coupled with narcotic sensory counterfeitings coupled with alluring nightmarish properties might conceivably lead some into making poor decisions, even into copycat decisions [Col. 2:8]. Please read the listing in the Findings/Scoring section before you decide whether to accept The Matrix Reloaded as entertainment for your family. By the way, Marilyn Manson has a word or two of vulgarity in this movie and the hate-sounding techno style is there, too.
SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ]. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. ***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry*** As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
 Wanton Violence/Crime (W) Impudence/Hate (I) Sex/Homosexuality (S) Drugs/Alcohol (D): Offense to God (O) Murder/Suicide (M) |
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| NOTE: While the Summary/Commentary section of these reports is precisely that -- a summary in commentary format which can be and sometimes is subjective, the actual CAP Analysis Model (the Findings/Scoring section) makes no scoring allowances for trumped-up "messages" to excuse, for manufacture of justification for, or camouflaging of ignominious content or aberrant behavior or imagery with "redeeming" programming. Disguising sinful behavior in a theme/plot does not excuse the sinful behavior of either the one who is drawing pleasure or example of behavior or thought from the sinful display or of the practitioners demonstrating the sinful behavior. We make no attempt to quantify the "artistic" or "entertainment" value of a movie -- whether a movie has any positive value or "entertainment" value is up to mom/dad. The CAP analysis model is the only known set of tools available to parents and grandparents which give *them* the control they need, bypassing the opinion-based assessment of movies by others and defeating the deceit of those who would say anything to convince their parents otherwise. The model is completely objective to His Word. Our investigation standards are founded in the teachings and expectations of Jesus Christ. If a sinful behavior is portrayed, it is called sinful whether Hollywood tries to make it otherwise. That the sinful behavior is "justified" by some manufactured conditions does not soften nor erase the price of sin. Whether there is application of fantasy "justification" or "redemption" is up to mom/dad. |
| "There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our more than eight years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
