KnockBack, Episode 101: The Matrix
Added 2020-01-16 17:15:03 +0000 UTCThe 1999 sci-fi film The Matrix was released at an interesting inflection point in the history of nerd culture. It launched at a time when -- with the help of Star Wars' resurgence, the soon-to-be-released Lord of the Rings movies, and others -- dorkiness went mainstream, and The Matrix might have been the straw that broke the camel's back, in this regard. The story of Neo, Morpheus, and Trinity, and their battle to break out from a computer simulation and into a horrifying reality, is considered a genre classic, and with good reason. More than two decades later, it holds up shockingly well, with deep philosophical, technological, and even religious messaging that seems to uncannily predict at least one permutation of our actual future. So let's chat about The Wachowski Brothers' (now Sisters') stylish tour de force, and maybe learn some kung-fu along the way.
Comments
Great episode! Another Plot Hole: Cipher meets with agent Smith in the restaurant. Wouldn't he need an operator to jack him into the Matrix for that ?
Daniel Boyer
2020-02-13 22:47:04 +0000 UTCVal Kilmer? Eh.
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-30 18:28:20 +0000 UTCI found another video of Will Smith talking about turning down the movie. He added that Val Kilmer would have been casted as Morpheus if he accepted the role. One other great/not-so-great Keanu Reeves movie from the 90’s was Johnny Mnemonic, where he had to smuggle a whooping 320gb worth of data in his head.
Brian Lau
2020-01-30 16:35:43 +0000 UTC=)
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-28 20:18:59 +0000 UTCThis movie is such a classic. Iconic in almost every way. I loved hearing Dagan talk about Gloria Foster. ❤️
NeO JD
2020-01-25 17:56:18 +0000 UTCha ha, I think I'll leave it at that then
Surge!
2020-01-21 23:43:22 +0000 UTCI don't know what you're talking about. LOL.
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-21 21:15:34 +0000 UTCWe're glad you enjoyed the podcast. Thanks for listening!
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-21 21:15:23 +0000 UTCDamn you, Dagan!!!
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-21 21:15:11 +0000 UTCLOL. Indeed!
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-21 21:15:03 +0000 UTCWe'd do one for each, I think.
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-21 21:14:58 +0000 UTCJust to be cool.
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-21 21:14:49 +0000 UTCIt's horrible, whatever the excuse. LOL.
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-21 21:14:41 +0000 UTCTHEY'RE ON THE LIST!
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-21 21:14:30 +0000 UTCFair enough. =)
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-21 21:14:22 +0000 UTCIs it just me, but does anybody else laugh when the oracle told Neo to open his mouth and Neo goes, "ahhhhhhhh"
Surge!
2020-01-20 22:54:22 +0000 UTCProbably the single most formative movie for me, and one of my favorite episodes of the podcast. I went and rewatched The Matrix after many years and it's stunning how well it holds up visually, but it's also crazy how it skirts the line between cutting-edge hollywood cinema and a complete shlock. If the script, acting, cinematography and production design were all just 10% worse, it likely would have been the latter.
Michal Dudic
2020-01-20 14:02:15 +0000 UTCCorrection: The FedEx guy at the beginning is NOT mouse. I watched with much anticipation to see your claim come to fruition and was met with disappointment, and a good movie. Thanks for giving me an excuse to rewatch this modern classic.
Ben Emmons
2020-01-19 07:47:59 +0000 UTCFor a movie that doesn't make any sense, it was actually pretty good
Matthew Cooper
2020-01-18 21:09:12 +0000 UTCFantastic discussion and appreciate the 3 hours to really give this film the time of day. It was clear on your feelings regarding the sequels lol worh that said I would like episodes for the sequels or maybe just one episode for it. Maybe your feelings have changed? Revolutions is actually my favorite of the trilogy.
Marcus Brown
2020-01-18 01:21:10 +0000 UTCI think it’s very clear that if he took the blue pill it would wipe the Morpheus connection. Otherwise why have another pill? Just take this pill to wake up or keep on going along with what our doing.
Chad Lewis
2020-01-17 23:53:09 +0000 UTCGreat discussion! Awesome movie and I wish I still had the paper I wrote in college about it. Loads of biblical references. Per Binge Mode Star Wars, Sam Jackson’s character had a purple lightsaber because he wanted to be noticeable in the giant lightsaber battle. Pretty funny it’s all ego!
Nick DeBoer
2020-01-17 17:52:49 +0000 UTCColin, you gotta watch the John Wick movies. They are fucking awesome.
Will Hahn
2020-01-17 06:44:21 +0000 UTCThe song sung by Dagen at the end is titled “The End” by the Doors (Jim Morrison). Great podcast otherwise!
Zach Wishnuff
2020-01-17 04:21:40 +0000 UTCYes, but it was Cash originally, no?
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-17 03:08:47 +0000 UTCNot sure why that is. If you're using an RSS feed, try deleting and then putting it back into your podcast app. If you're using the app, maybe try clearing your cache? Patreon Support may help. =\
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-17 03:07:42 +0000 UTCVery nice. Enjoy!
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-17 03:07:15 +0000 UTCGonna get cold imminently. Finally!
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-17 03:07:06 +0000 UTCIt was pretty good, but I'm not much of a cartoon combat guy. LOL.
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-17 03:06:58 +0000 UTCVery interesting. Still seems somewhat inexact, though. I'm in my mid-30s and I definitely don't get deja vu much anymore, though. This is true. Presque vu? Always.
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-17 03:06:14 +0000 UTCPlease don't laugh at me.
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-17 02:59:32 +0000 UTCWe bring this up in the episodes, CRAIG.
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-17 02:59:24 +0000 UTCI'm really only feeling the first one, but... it's been many years since I saw the others.
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-17 02:59:13 +0000 UTCPlease use the restroom.
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-17 02:59:01 +0000 UTCWhat?!
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-17 02:58:55 +0000 UTCI don't like when audiences make noise. =)
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-17 02:58:42 +0000 UTCGet out.
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-17 02:58:24 +0000 UTCWell stop being a bunch of assholes, and I won't have to call you a bunch of assholes.
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-17 02:58:15 +0000 UTCKung-fuuuu.
Colin Moriarty
2020-01-17 02:58:01 +0000 UTCNiN and chow from the hangover sang hurt as well
Michael Thew
2020-01-17 02:50:36 +0000 UTCMy feed isn't working. I got 37 minutes in and it wont play anymore.
Biv
2020-01-17 01:47:12 +0000 UTCIts my birthday today, so this is a nice gift. I ordered Circle of the moon and Harmony of Dissonance a while back, and they just arrived today too. Knockback and Castlevania....hell yes!
Ryan Murdoch
2020-01-17 00:34:26 +0000 UTCNo kidding about the temperature; it got up to 70 here in the mountains of SC. We usually have a temperature winter season, but this is too much!
Forrest Hunter
2020-01-16 23:11:46 +0000 UTCAvatar will win, Adam!
Caleb Greer
2020-01-16 22:33:43 +0000 UTCJust saying but the final boss fight against Dracula in the Castlevania Netflix show is one of the best animated fight scenes ever, worth watching just for that
Eric Smith
2020-01-16 22:07:35 +0000 UTCI can’t believe that I voted for Avatar just to get it over and done with and it was all for nothing. Now we’re gonna have to go through that shit all over again, forever... #killavatar
Adam Barnes
2020-01-16 20:04:16 +0000 UTCThere is a fascinating video about deja vu that explains it a bit: https://youtu.be/CSf8i8bHIns But I love that Matrix explained it in that way. I always thought about the Matrix everytime I watched it.
Ryan Harvey
2020-01-16 19:32:30 +0000 UTCWe used to call the matrix kids back in jr high the “trench coat mafia”
Craig Carter
2020-01-16 19:02:13 +0000 UTCBWHAHAHA!!!
There’s No I in LLC
2020-01-16 18:56:23 +0000 UTCOne of the greatest trilogies ever imo. Matrix 1 gets the accolades but I always felt Matrix 2 and 3 were essentially live-action anime films. The Animatrix is also sneaky good, too.
Isaac Wastman
2020-01-16 18:49:38 +0000 UTCOH SHIT!
Toren R. (KESA)
2020-01-16 18:13:34 +0000 UTCHey, JP - That's a great outfit. How much do clothes cost in The Matrix?
Jeremy Menear
2020-01-16 17:29:19 +0000 UTCYesssssssssss, this is the best accidental movie I've ever gone to see. I had no idea what the Matrix was (pardon the pun) and had actually walked up to the ticket window to see the inevitable train wreck that was 'Wing Commander' (old video-game)...and the showtime was not going to work out so I just pointed to the large pop-up display of the guy in the trench coat and said gimme a ticket for that. What a fantastically amazing accident. The crowd was INCREDIBLE as well. Perfectly quiet when you're supposed to be, actual literal standing ovations, it was a chill bump inducing experience. It's one of the reasons why I enjoy theater movies to this day. Phenomenal movie. Phenomenal. 👌
Lou & Rei Loper
2020-01-16 17:27:09 +0000 UTCThis episode should have been saved for 101 Dalmatians.
MayorGarbageMan
2020-01-16 17:23:48 +0000 UTCThese 3-4 hour podcasts give me life, gentlemen lol. Keep it up! Edit: Also, bitch, Avatar is like 60 episodes, like 20 minutes each. Waaayy shorter than Breaking Bad lol. “These assholes over on Patreon...” 😂🖕
Caleb Greer
2020-01-16 17:22:11 +0000 UTCShow me.
JD
2020-01-16 17:17:07 +0000 UTC
