The atonality in the voices is more than just unsettling. There is the divine aspect of employing a choir, like you mention, but it's also used in Davis' score as a (literal) stand-in for humanity and their hope. Humans are also represented in the score with strong diatonicism vs. the machines, who are represented with chromaticism/atonality/dissonant clusters. Put together, having the 'voices' of humanity and their hope sing in the atonality of the machines parallels how the humans are subjugated and exploited by the machines. There's a great dissertation by a CJ Heckman that dives into acute detail on all this, and much, much more for the curious!
@@brianbuchanan57something I think about also is how the choir later in the film becomes more tonally centered, less dissonant. To me, this not only makes general emotional sense (things are more mysterious, desperate, etc. in the earlier film and more triumphant later, so the music helps us feel that), but it also fits as a more direct indication of the stakes. We hear hints/teases of the choir in the subway fight scene in the instrumentation that is used -- to me, it sounds very choral in places, almost as though instruments were used as stand-ins for human voices -- with the amount of coherence mirroring an upward trend in the confidence or hope that humanity has as Neo begins believing in himself (e.g. the bit when he gets back up and "flexes off" the dirt before taunting Smith to come at him again). Again, I don't believe there any voices here yet, almost as though humanity isn't *quite* ready to start breaking free, so they're still shackled by the machines, but the sound becomes increasingly similar to an actual choir as if collective human voices are pushing through to push Neo on or to let out a sort of rallying cry. Then, the voices finally come back properly -- and fully consonant, with a full-throated sense of victory -- during the hallway scene after Neo's rebirth. Humanity has finally shown in unambiguous fashion that it can free itself from and surpass the machines, and the use of human voices once again supports this. In fact, I *think* the choral parts are brought forward in the mix compared to in the pod scene; in the earlier scene, it's as though the voices were just supporting the other mechanical instrumentation that was being used (e.g. heavy brass), while the choir is louder and overwhelms the instruments in the hallway scene, effectively flipping the situation and relegating the non-human elements to more of a supporting role. These are thoughts I'm having as I check a couple of clips from my phone, anyway. Perhaps I'm reading into it too much, but I wouldn't put it past a composer of Davis' caliber to consider these things.
This scene lives in my head rent free. I remember when I first watched The Matrix, I was either 11 or 12, and I was screaming and crying with horror, but ENTHRALLED. It was so compelling, and I wanted to see more like it (just not right that minute, lol! My parents had to reassure me that there weren't going to be any more of the machines for a little while). I love how visceral everything in this scene is, from the slime to the tubes to the disgusting water at the end of the disposal chute. It all highlights humanity's utter smallness in this world, and it is masterfully done.
I particularly love how you highlight the connections between visual techniques and score. That scene cuts emphasised by score are the staple of horror was a new realisation for me. Thank you 🙏🏻
I just took a break from watching "The Matrix" for the first time in Years. And now i see this Video released 7h ago😮 At first i thought they are spying on me but i am subscribed to this channel for some time already. What a crazy coincidence...
I remember seeing that in the theater for the first time and I INSTANTLY knew what the Matrix was from this scene and was horrified. It's so well done, and I think you nailed all the points on it. Great vid! You deserve way more views!
It's kind funny how much the film switches genres if you think about it. You've got the whole noir mystery, then this horror scene, then sci-fi, then kung-fu! And yet it all feels coherent.
Really great production quality, man! Really enjoyed the analysis. It is also my favorite scene in the movie. Any other scenes from the trilogy that you may think are worth analyzing? I think the reveal of what the Matrix is would make for a good analysis video.
I hope you touch on more of the original Matrix Trilogy. They have so SO much to dive into! I watch them at least yearly and always find more subtle things spelling the plot out to the viewer, or some kind of background element that does an amazing job of visual storytelling.
Wow! Watching you gave me the vibes of the Every Frame a Painting channel. So sad that he stopped making videos. And so good that i found you!!! Love your content! Keep em comin'
There are some films that just can't be compared to anything else, and The Matrix is definitely one. Another favourite in that category would be Tarkovsky's Andrei Rublev - I've been looking and looking but some films are unmatched!
You touched on it, but I think everyone going All In was a big part of why it works so well, even 25 years later. They didn't half ass *anything* in this scene, but it's not over the top. A very fine line expertly navigated.
Agreed. It's clear from the BTS footage that everyone believed in the film. Makes me wonder at what point did they know it was going to be a hit, and did they rally because they all knew it was gonna be big, like LOTR?
I came across the older fillm Johnny Mnemonic and was surprised at the parallels that could be drawn to the matrix. And how it could of laid the foundation for keanu's similiar role. the matrix came out of nowhere for me, completely different perspective than anything i had seen before.
One detail I noticed: Neo in this scene is completely hairless - even his eyebrows are not there. I'm not sure what to make of that! I also recall reading somewhere that the goo in the pod was designed specifically by a guy whose whole job is goo design. The religious imagery of birth and ascension are things I'd never noticed myself, fascinating
People style their hair and facial hair, you can read expression from our eyebrows. It strips people in pods from part of their humanity, it's a step to reverting us to an animalistic form.
The first reveal of the row of pods is the one that traumatized me. Still remember seeing it in 1999. Opening night. It literally changed my perspective on life lol. I wasn't the same when I went to school on Monday. The crazy thing about that shot is that, in a weird way, THAT is the true moment of realization. Even before you see the huge towers with millions of pods. Some part of your mind snaps it all into place - "oh, I'M in one of those pods". Still gives me chills.
I remember reading that the original idea for the Machines building and maintaining the Human population was for biological processors rather than for a bio-electric power source. As we're not really an ideal source for that kind of electricity. We're great at processing loads of information for a very low voltage. Around enough to power a low-wattage light bulb. They only changed it to being a power source because they realized that might go over the heads of the average person at the time. Which is fair, considering the technology at the time! I could be wrong though. If that was the case, they would have genetically modified us to such an extent as to make our bodies outside of the Pods to be unrecognizable. I.E. Just being heads in jars. As they would have no reason for us to have any limbs outside of what we'd need to sustain us, and reproduce. Still, quite the horrifying scene. An excellent example of how to convey meaning without saying a word. I didn't know it was a practical set. That answers why it looked so real compared to other efforts at the time!
Need to work on your cadence. Still too monotone and your edits exacerbate it by removing ALL the pauses. Try to be more organic and varied in your delivery.
There's a LOT to interpret in this scene. What did I miss?
The atonality in the voices is more than just unsettling. There is the divine aspect of employing a choir, like you mention, but it's also used in Davis' score as a (literal) stand-in for humanity and their hope. Humans are also represented in the score with strong diatonicism vs. the machines, who are represented with chromaticism/atonality/dissonant clusters.
Put together, having the 'voices' of humanity and their hope sing in the atonality of the machines parallels how the humans are subjugated and exploited by the machines. There's a great dissertation by a CJ Heckman that dives into acute detail on all this, and much, much more for the curious!
@@brianbuchanan57something I think about also is how the choir later in the film becomes more tonally centered, less dissonant. To me, this not only makes general emotional sense (things are more mysterious, desperate, etc. in the earlier film and more triumphant later, so the music helps us feel that), but it also fits as a more direct indication of the stakes.
We hear hints/teases of the choir in the subway fight scene in the instrumentation that is used -- to me, it sounds very choral in places, almost as though instruments were used as stand-ins for human voices -- with the amount of coherence mirroring an upward trend in the confidence or hope that humanity has as Neo begins believing in himself (e.g. the bit when he gets back up and "flexes off" the dirt before taunting Smith to come at him again). Again, I don't believe there any voices here yet, almost as though humanity isn't *quite* ready to start breaking free, so they're still shackled by the machines, but the sound becomes increasingly similar to an actual choir as if collective human voices are pushing through to push Neo on or to let out a sort of rallying cry.
Then, the voices finally come back properly -- and fully consonant, with a full-throated sense of victory -- during the hallway scene after Neo's rebirth. Humanity has finally shown in unambiguous fashion that it can free itself from and surpass the machines, and the use of human voices once again supports this.
In fact, I *think* the choral parts are brought forward in the mix compared to in the pod scene; in the earlier scene, it's as though the voices were just supporting the other mechanical instrumentation that was being used (e.g. heavy brass), while the choir is louder and overwhelms the instruments in the hallway scene, effectively flipping the situation and relegating the non-human elements to more of a supporting role.
These are thoughts I'm having as I check a couple of clips from my phone, anyway. Perhaps I'm reading into it too much, but I wouldn't put it past a composer of Davis' caliber to consider these things.
Never stop making these!
Thanks! The channel is starting to pick up so no plans of stopping!
This scene lives in my head rent free. I remember when I first watched The Matrix, I was either 11 or 12, and I was screaming and crying with horror, but ENTHRALLED. It was so compelling, and I wanted to see more like it (just not right that minute, lol! My parents had to reassure me that there weren't going to be any more of the machines for a little while). I love how visceral everything in this scene is, from the slime to the tubes to the disgusting water at the end of the disposal chute. It all highlights humanity's utter smallness in this world, and it is masterfully done.
I particularly love how you highlight the connections between visual techniques and score. That scene cuts emphasised by score are the staple of horror was a new realisation for me. Thank you 🙏🏻
I just took a break from watching "The Matrix" for the first time in Years. And now i see this Video released 7h ago😮 At first i thought they are spying on me but i am subscribed to this channel for some time already. What a crazy coincidence...
The Matrix has you.
Best essay channel on TH-cam right now. Love the analysis!
I remember seeing that in the theater for the first time and I INSTANTLY knew what the Matrix was from this scene and was horrified. It's so well done, and I think you nailed all the points on it. Great vid! You deserve way more views!
I remember when I saw this scene in theatres. I was horrified and mesmerized at the same time.
Now that you mention it, the Matrix really was made with a lot of horror movie techniques.
It's kind funny how much the film switches genres if you think about it. You've got the whole noir mystery, then this horror scene, then sci-fi, then kung-fu! And yet it all feels coherent.
I'm loving your videos. The Beatles, Lord of the Rings, The Matrix! Great topic choices too!
Your content is top tier. I love your analysis.
Thanks friend! Glad you're enjoying the channel.
by the end of video I was so absorbed I was like 'but w8 that's not where movie ends pls continue don't just cut us off' - fantastic video
NOTHING can beat practical effects. Keanu actually shaved his head and eyebrows for this scene, that's not make up!
Brilliant! Informative, insightful and succinct.👍
Really great production quality, man! Really enjoyed the analysis. It is also my favorite scene in the movie. Any other scenes from the trilogy that you may think are worth analyzing? I think the reveal of what the Matrix is would make for a good analysis video.
I hope you touch on more of the original Matrix Trilogy. They have so SO much to dive into! I watch them at least yearly and always find more subtle things spelling the plot out to the viewer, or some kind of background element that does an amazing job of visual storytelling.
Wow! Watching you gave me the vibes of the Every Frame a Painting channel. So sad that he stopped making videos. And so good that i found you!!! Love your content! Keep em comin'
Thats a big compliment! That guys channel is so good. Thanks for watching.
That was great! Superb analysis.
Second vid after subscribing after the first vid. Glad I did. Good stuff! 👍
There are some films that just can't be compared to anything else, and The Matrix is definitely one. Another favourite in that category would be Tarkovsky's Andrei Rublev - I've been looking and looking but some films are unmatched!
You touched on it, but I think everyone going All In was a big part of why it works so well, even 25 years later. They didn't half ass *anything* in this scene, but it's not over the top. A very fine line expertly navigated.
Agreed. It's clear from the BTS footage that everyone believed in the film. Makes me wonder at what point did they know it was going to be a hit, and did they rally because they all knew it was gonna be big, like LOTR?
I came across the older fillm Johnny Mnemonic and was surprised at the parallels that could be drawn to the matrix. And how it could of laid the foundation for keanu's similiar role. the matrix came out of nowhere for me, completely different perspective than anything i had seen before.
This movie really was lightning in a bottle. Truly a product of masterful creativity and artistry.
Beautiful ! Thank you so much ❤
I really enjoyed this analysis.
One detail I noticed: Neo in this scene is completely hairless - even his eyebrows are not there. I'm not sure what to make of that!
I also recall reading somewhere that the goo in the pod was designed specifically by a guy whose whole job is goo design.
The religious imagery of birth and ascension are things I'd never noticed myself, fascinating
People style their hair and facial hair, you can read expression from our eyebrows.
It strips people in pods from part of their humanity, it's a step to reverting us to an animalistic form.
GOO DESIGN!? Gotta wonder what that IMDB page looks like. Not gonna lie I might make a whole video about goo design now. Not even kidding.
@@theartofstorytelling1 Please fact check it!! This is very much "I feel like I read it somewhere"
@@quinterbeck I'm immediately reminded of the "Warm Liquid Goo Phase" from Austin Powers. Maybe they had the same goo guy.
Another great video - thanks and keep em coming 👍🏻
Thanks for the encouragement! Got a few more in the pipeline. :)
How could somebody dislike a video like this?
Some people just want to watch the world burn.
Definitely one of the top 10 horror scenes that are not from horror movies. Also, Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween! Hope you have a spooktacular evening my friend.
The textures and lighting are great in this scene. The goo womb is visceral and that score timed with the reveal shakes me.
The first reveal of the row of pods is the one that traumatized me. Still remember seeing it in 1999. Opening night. It literally changed my perspective on life lol. I wasn't the same when I went to school on Monday. The crazy thing about that shot is that, in a weird way, THAT is the true moment of realization. Even before you see the huge towers with millions of pods. Some part of your mind snaps it all into place - "oh, I'M in one of those pods". Still gives me chills.
I remember reading that the original idea for the Machines building and maintaining the Human population was for biological processors rather than for a bio-electric power source. As we're not really an ideal source for that kind of electricity. We're great at processing loads of information for a very low voltage. Around enough to power a low-wattage light bulb.
They only changed it to being a power source because they realized that might go over the heads of the average person at the time. Which is fair, considering the technology at the time! I could be wrong though.
If that was the case, they would have genetically modified us to such an extent as to make our bodies outside of the Pods to be unrecognizable. I.E. Just being heads in jars. As they would have no reason for us to have any limbs outside of what we'd need to sustain us, and reproduce.
Still, quite the horrifying scene. An excellent example of how to convey meaning without saying a word.
I didn't know it was a practical set. That answers why it looked so real compared to other efforts at the time!
Some of those images were burned into my brain at 13 years of age. Never have I ever wanted to be part of some big machine.
Need to work on your cadence. Still too monotone and your edits exacerbate it by removing ALL the pauses. Try to be more organic and varied in your delivery.
But why did the robot release him??
Because he was a deffective battery cell