Weekly Movie Review: The Matrix

This has to be one of my all time favorite films. You've probably seen it by now, so I won't bother with a plot review. I'd rather touch on one of the best examples of belief and truth I've ever seen on film.

Right after Morpheus has shown Neo the history of the machines and man, Neo begins to lose it inside of the computer simulation. He starts backing up, yelling "Let me out! Let me out!" We flash back to the hovercraft and Neo is unhooked from the "interface" chair. He keeps repeating, "I don't believe it. I don't believe it." He vomits and then collapses. How is this a great statement on belief? We all know (because we watched the end of the film) that Morpheus was telling Neo the truth. His life, in fact all human lives, were simply a computer generated simulation. Did it matter that Neo did not believe it at first? Did that change the absolute, cold reality of his existence? The answer is obvious. No. Which brings me to my point. Aren't you glad? Belief is nothing without truth.

We can believe in all kinds of things, but unless they have a basis in truth, we're just wasting our time. Now we can get into a big discussion of what is true and what's not, but let's leave that alone for now. A lot of people put faith, and hope, and belief in many different things; religion aside. Without the concrete foundation of truth, the structure of faith and hope sadly crumble despite our fervor or fanaticism. This begs the question: What do I believe in? And why? I know for a fact, the things which I put my belief in are true. Arrogant? Naive? Not at all. I simply have the absolute confidence of knowing the truth. And a great man once said, "The truth will make you free." There is no spoon. The word of the day is "ponder".