The Matrix

Warner Bros.
R

(Note to the Leader: Although The Matrix is rated R, it’s quite likely that many high schoolers have seen it. We encourage you to alert parents of participants prior to viewing. Although it has an R rating, viewing The Matrix (and other thought provoking R-rated movies) in a church setting can be helpful. Guide viewers in an honest discussion of the themes, urge them to raise questions, and explore their faith in the context of popular culture. Watch the movie closely before showing it to a group in order to tailor the discussion most appropriately to the needs of the group that will be watching it.)

Movie background
Thomas Anderson is a program writer for a software company by day, a computer hacker by the name Neo the rest of the time. As the movie begins, Neo has discovered a thing called the Matrix. and is spending a good deal of time trying to figure out exactly what it is. First, he is contacted via his computer by the mythical character, Morpheus. Then he is contacted in person by one of Morpheus’ cadre, Trinity. After some extraordinary, unbelievable events, Neo meets Morpheus, and then learns what the Matrix really is.

Basically, the world Neo had been living in was computer generated fiction. He learns that it’s not the 20th century, but sometime during the 22nd Century. There is a war on between humans and machines of artificial intelligence. In short, Neo turns out to be the chosen one who saves humans from the computers.

The movie is interesting to watch and discuss with young people because of it’s startling parallels to the life of Christ. Jesus calls us to spread the good news of the kingdom of God. In the movie, Neo is left wondering how to spread the news that the computers were defeated and the people are free.

Viewed cinema-graphically, this is a good movie. The story line, photography, screenplay and production are all worthy of praise. Also, this is probably the first to use modern computer abilities in service to the story line instead of in service to the computer abilities.

Discussion questions

• Begin by asking young people to list some of the parallels between Neo and Jesus Christ. (For instance, both come to save the world. Even Neo’s name, which mean s "new" or "new person" has a parallel to God coming to us as person in Jesus Christ. And when Morpheus explains to Neo the nature of the real world, Morpheus tells Neo, "You’re a slave; you were born into bondage." In the liturgy, we confess "… we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves.")

• In the movie, there are two realties--the one that is real, and the one that everyone thinks is real. We as Christians believe that we are "in the world but not of the world," and that we are called to announce the coming of the Kingdom of God. How can we live in society (at school, on sports teams, in performance groups, at dances, games, or other gatherings–even out with friends on the weekends) while at the same time knowing that there is another reality that we as Christians are a part of?

• The movie ends with Neo having saved all of the people, but with the people not knowing it. Earlier in the story, Morpheus indicated that most people are not ready to accept the reality of their situation. How is that similar to our situation–namely that God through Christ has saved us once and for all, but we so often don’t seem to notice or care? Are we ready to move beyond our matrix and accept God’s reality? (Remind young people that God’s promise of salvation, and Christ’s sacrifice for us, are not dependant on us. They are a free gift from God, no strings attached.)

• Neo’s problem, at the end of the movie, is that no one would believe him if he told them the truth. So he will have to move slowly, telling people about the matrix when they’re ready. How can we as Christians spread the Gospel message while at the same time giving people time and space they need to be ready to hear the good news?

• Cipher, one of Morpheus’ group, decides that he would have rather taken the blue pill instead of the red one. He believes that it’s easier and more comfortable to live in the Matrix and not know the truth. What if Christians decided that God’s good news was not for them? Do you think Christians sometimes feel like Cipher, like they would rather not know what God did for them so they wouldn’t have such a high standard to live up to? Do you sometimes feel like Cipher?

• There’s some major violence in the movie, especially when Neo and Trinity are on their way to rescue Morpheus. How does Hollywood, and the makers of this movie in particular, use violence to try to get people to see the movie? Is their use of violence necessary? Would this movie have been the same without that scene? How does violence in the media (TV, movies, video games, etc.) contribute to violence in the real world? Do you feel different just after you’ve watched a movie with a lot of violence than you did before the movie started? What responsibility does Hollywood have in policing itself when it comes to issues of violence, sexuality and appropriate language.

• Explore the meanings of the names of the main characters, including Neo (new person), Morpheus (relating to form), Trinity, Cipher (non-entity or to encode), Zion (city of God or heaven), Nebuchadnezzar (O Nabu, preserve the offspring/ boundaries). It would be interesting to look at how these names are used in the movie based on the history of the words and on the biblical references that are implied.

Scripture references
Use these scripture references when discussing our place and role in the world as Christians:

• Romans 12:1-2 (transforming ourselves within this world to work toward the next)
• 1 John 2:15-17 (the ending of the world as we know it, in favor of the new world)
• 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (relating to God’s salvation of humankind through Christ)
• 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (how we have lived, and how we are now to live)
• John 17:13-19 (Jesus asking God for protection for his disciples who are still living in the world, spreading the good news)

As with anything, feel free to adapt this guide to your own situation. Enjoy the film, enjoy the discussion and enjoy one another. And remember, the first word and the last word is always, “God Loves You.”

Permission to reproduce for local use. Copyright © 2005 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. ELCA Youth Ministries. 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2447. To offer your comments or responses, e-mail:  rod.boriack@elca.org.