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The Matrix is a 'trans metaphor', Lilly Wachowski says. "That was the original intention but the world wasn't quite ready," says Lilly Wachowski, who came out a

The Matrix is a 'trans metaphor', Lilly Wachowski says. "That was the original intention but the world wasn't quite ready," says Lilly Wachowski, who came out as trans along with her sister Lana after the films came out. https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-53692435 https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-53692435 That killed my interest in it because I didn't want to see a message movie. I liked the earlier movies because of the Science Fiction and people like Elon Musk asking "Are we living in a simulation?". That's fun. I also watch movies to escape into a couple hours of enjoyable fantasy and get away from daily issues. I couldn't watch "Don't Look Up" for the same reason.

Spivak 5y ago
That quote is talking about the first movie. The original one. Neo’s story is a cleverly hidden but also extremely thin metaphor about a trans woman finding herself. That scene with the red and blue pills is literally Neo choosing estrogen over antidepressants. “Mr. Anderson” with that iconic over the top emphasis on the mister is Neo getting deadnamed. Neo has this feeling that the world is wrong (gender dysphoria) and finds the truth in online chat rooms and in a bar full of people who wear full leather outfits (a crude stand-in for the LGBT community). I could keep doing this for every part of the movie but you get the picture. And it’s all canon.
- boxmonster 5y ago
  I know but this article is from 7 August 2020 so I got the impression, given the climate of the day, for this Matrix to be even more about it. There are movies built around a social issue like Philedelphia or Leaving Las Vegas, but I think the filmmaker needs to use gritty realism. Trying to steer The Matrix Science Fiction movies in that direction about trans I thought would probably be a disaster.
- the_doctah 5y ago
npunt 5y ago
Nothing wrong with taking away what you want from art, but uh.. you're exactly describing the 'blue pill' (the comforts of escapism), so there is some irony in that with regard to the Matrix in particular. That's one of the reasons the original was so smart; it worked on multiple levels, letting you have your cake (escapism/fantasy/action movie) and eat it too (the message that makes you think long after seeing it).
- boxmonster 5y ago
  It ebbs and flows with what is happening. Escapist fantasies are popular when times are hard. I feel times are hard now. Philidelphia and Leaving Las Vegas are two of my favorite movies, but I saw them when times were pretty good. However, I would enjoy an interesting movie about social issues being debated these days, just not with a Matrix backdrop and theme.
  - dereg 5y ago
    I think this is on you. Take a break from the news and from the chatter. I too read Lily's trans explanation for the Matrix. Unlike you, I wasn't triggered by the film. I didn't even think about it too much and, when I did think about it, it wasn't anything negative.
    - boxmonster 5y ago
      Getting triggered would be how some reacted to The Last Temptation of Christ by Martin Scorsese. I was the opposite. I was untriggered by this Matrix. I'm uninterested because I predicted (correctly it seems) that this Matrix was going to be a dull and uninteresting film.
  - npunt 5y ago
    Makes sense, times are indeed hard.

Spivak 5y ago

That quote is talking about the first movie. The original one. Neo’s story is a cleverly hidden but also extremely thin metaphor about a trans woman finding herself. That scene with the red and blue pills is literally Neo choosing estrogen over antidepressants. “Mr. Anderson” with that iconic over the top emphasis on the mister is Neo getting deadnamed. Neo has this feeling that the world is wrong (gender dysphoria) and finds the truth in online chat rooms and in a bar full of people who wear full leather outfits (a crude stand-in for the LGBT community). I could keep doing this for every part of the movie but you get the picture. And it’s all canon.

boxmonster 5y ago
I know but this article is from 7 August 2020 so I got the impression, given the climate of the day, for this Matrix to be even more about it. There are movies built around a social issue like Philedelphia or Leaving Las Vegas, but I think the filmmaker needs to use gritty realism. Trying to steer The Matrix Science Fiction movies in that direction about trans I thought would probably be a disaster.
the_doctah 5y ago

npunt 5y ago

Nothing wrong with taking away what you want from art, but uh.. you're exactly describing the 'blue pill' (the comforts of escapism), so there is some irony in that with regard to the Matrix in particular. That's one of the reasons the original was so smart; it worked on multiple levels, letting you have your cake (escapism/fantasy/action movie) and eat it too (the message that makes you think long after seeing it).

boxmonster 5y ago
It ebbs and flows with what is happening. Escapist fantasies are popular when times are hard. I feel times are hard now. Philidelphia and Leaving Las Vegas are two of my favorite movies, but I saw them when times were pretty good. However, I would enjoy an interesting movie about social issues being debated these days, just not with a Matrix backdrop and theme.
- dereg 5y ago
  I think this is on you. Take a break from the news and from the chatter. I too read Lily's trans explanation for the Matrix. Unlike you, I wasn't triggered by the film. I didn't even think about it too much and, when I did think about it, it wasn't anything negative.
  - boxmonster 5y ago
    Getting triggered would be how some reacted to The Last Temptation of Christ by Martin Scorsese. I was the opposite. I was untriggered by this Matrix. I'm uninterested because I predicted (correctly it seems) that this Matrix was going to be a dull and uninteresting film.
- npunt 5y ago
  Makes sense, times are indeed hard.