Mike James
The One... and the Two
offline
Registered: May 2003
Local time: 10:25 AM
Location: Rice University
Posts: 1191
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Welcome to the Matrix Reloaded Forum at INReview!
Before you start posting, please take a moment to review the following information:
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Rules for Posting
News stories and general Matrix Reloaded discussion goes here in the Reloaded Forum Archive.
Discussion of theories and spoilers goes in the Theories, Scripts, and Spoilers room.
This area is NOT for discussing the Matrix: Revolutions. DO NOT post any information that has to do with the Matrix Revolutions. That goes in the Matrix: Revolutions room.
Offensive content (anything that violates INReview Policy) HAS NO PLACE HERE! Offensive posts will be deleted, and warnings will be assigned.
Before you post, look back through the forum to make sure that what you are posting has not been posted before. Duplicate posts will be deleted.
When you are in a discussion, STAY ON TOPIC. Off-topic points will be DELETED, and WARNING POINTS WILL BE ASSIGNED.
Moderators are here to help you, not to make stupid meaningless rules. Please listen to mods and follow the rules.
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Appropriateness of Content
The following is taken from INReview's Forum Policy
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| Please refrain from posting offensive material that is sexually explicit, and/or gorey or disgusting. There are places to post that kind of material, but INReview is not one of them. This is a family-oriented website whose content should be appropriate for your mother or 10 year old brother. |
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Hejimony's Rules for Interpreting the Matrix
Hejomoy posted the following in the old forums. Please consider these things when discussing pre-Revolutions information.
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Rule #1: There is no single, right interpretation of any of these movies. If there were, it would make the movies much less interesting and valuable. They aren't simple allegories that have a one-to-one correspondence with any one theory or philosophy, where, once you "get it," there's nothing else to say. These movies have multiple interpretations, which will change and grow with time, just like all great fiction does... Anyone who thinks they have the final answer is simply wrong.
Rule #2: Nothing in the movies is accidental. Every gesture, glance, or detail matters and, given the degree of creative control the W's wielded in the film, some of the smallest details may matter most. That doesn't mean that all details are equally meaningful or central, or that their meaning will be clear. i.e. The architect's tone of voice when Neo says "the oracle" to the mother of matrix reference.
Rule #3: While many allusions have been noted to various philosophies, religions, periods in history, etc, the interpretations made on the basis of these outside sources must finally come from the movies themselves. That is, the outside reference can support ideas already visible in the movies, but cannot themselves establish an interpretation that can't be made without them. We shouldn't have to be religion majors or memorize the Merovingian dynasty to get these movies.
Rule #4: Ditto for the Animatrix and Enter the Matrix. The movies have to stand on their own, but these "extras" should support them, given their "official" connection to the movie.
Rule #5: The theory or interpretation that can explain the greatest number of details, characters and plot elements wins. Just because you can't explain everything doesn't mean you aren't right: no one can (not even the creators themselves, I woudl argue).
Rule #6: No really good interpretation can leave unexplained the central questions of the plot, which is the whole point of the story.
Rule #6a: Explaining the central question of the plot means the ending, where it all comes together. The best interpretation will make most sense of the ending.
Rule #7: No really good interpretation relies on some hidden "assumptions" (that can't be demonstrated from within the movies themselves) to construct its case (assumptions often "obvious" to the interpreter, but not to anyone else.
Rule #8: The quality of the interpretation corresponds directly to the number of people who agree with it. The "I know I'm right and everyone else is ignorant" stance is just foolish. We are all pretty smart and thouhtful people, or we wouldn't be wading through all this stuff in the first place, so give readers the credit of knowing a good idea when they see one...
Rule #9: Just because there is not one right interpretation doesn't mean that all views are equally valid. Some interpretations are more supportable than others, but they have to be supported by readers who weigh them and compare them to alternative views. Its the whole group that gets to decide. And yet, EVERY idea should be respected.
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If you have any questions about the purpose or policy of this room, please include them in a reply to this post. Thanks in advance for you cooperation - Have fun!
Last edited by Mike James on 11-04-2003 at 11:21 PM | Reason For Edit: Formatting
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11-04-2003 07:20 PM
