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Elbie Free

Matrix Resurrections Review

1/5/2022

 
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1999 was an interesting year. It was a time when owning a computer was optional. I was in college, but for those teachers who actually asked for typed homework, I borrowed my roommates laptop. My first email address was forced upon me by my mom. (I was super annoyed by this request. What was I going to do with an electronic mailing address?) I had a TV but no cable and certainly no internet. One month to go until the release of The Phantom Menace.

Enter, The Matrix. I had heard about it. It was being dubbed the new Johnny Mnemonic by the media. I had seen that movie and it was not a compliment. So I had no plans to watch The Matrix until. . .

A friend showed up one night and absolutely insisted a bunch of us go see the movie. Based on his enthusiasm alone, several of us begrudgingly agreed to go. Keep in mind, I have not seen a trailer. All I know at this point is that it had Keanu Reeves, is sci-fi, and David thinks it’s awesome. As soon as Trinity did her signature jump kick, my mind was racing. How did she do that? As she ran up and across the wall, my first thought was, she has to be a mutant. Or at least an enhanced human.

Little did I know.

Walking out of that movie, I was absolutely gob smacked. I felt different. The world has changed. I saw the movie five more times in the theater. It caused me to question reality. To reconsider what is possible despite my current experience. Picasso said, “Everything you can imagine is real.” (A statement backed by quantum physics, if I’m understanding the books I’ve read.) After watching The Matrix, I genuinely felt anything was possible. I still think that. The problem is, I’m too entrenched in reality as I know it to break free.
But I digress.

Matrix 1 had my attention from the start and for days afterward. Reloaded and Revolutions were disappointing for various reasons. There were parts I liked about each, but they could not recapture the wonder and possibilities the original had conjured. I suspect the difference between The Matrix and its sequels is that the first movie came out of a deep place from the Wachowskis, whereas the 2nd and 3rd movies exist because the studio wanted them.

Reloaded had too much telling and not enough showing. While Revolutions is a run of the mill sci-fi action movie. Nothing wrong with that, it simply did not have the same impact as the original.

Now we have the Matrix Resurrections.

The disappointment of the prequel trilogy taught to keep my enthusiasm in check, but I had hoped that this new iteration of the Matrix would be as impactful as the original. As a precaution, I didn’t watch any trailers after the first one. I wanted to see the movie with as little information as possible, just like the first time.

Twenty minutes in, I was bored. Nothing grabbed me. Not Neo’s mental distress or who these new people were in the opening scene. The explanations for how he and Trinity were alive or why the Matrix was rebuilt the way it was were not unique or interesting. The insane amount of mirroring to the original did not feel like a fresh take or reinterpretation. Honestly, I wanted the movie to succeed. I hoped the new movie would make me see the original in a new light, but it didn’t. In the end, it just felt like another studio money grab. Which is okay if you keep me entertained (looking at you Jurassic World) but it added nothing to the first movie and that is a bummer.
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Both the original Matrix and Jurassic Park movies were so good and unique I didn’t need any sequels. All the sequels in both franchises diminish their awesomeness. Is Matrix Resurrections a terrible movie? It’s not great. But I know I love some really awful movies, so that is not enough to dismiss it. In the end the movie exists and if anyone likes it, that’s cool but for me, I’ll be watching The Matrix, trying to figure out how to free my mind.

Enjoy the Moment

9/20/2015

 
Last week I was house sitting for a friend in another neighborhood and I took a morning walk. Being Sunday morning none of the businesses were open and only a few people around. As I came up to Haight Street there were bubbles floating in the air.

I stopped to find the source. After a couple of minutes I found that the small orbs originated from a balcony that was above and behind me. A person was up there with a machine churning them out. 

I love bubbles, so this small incident made me smile. It added some much needed wonder to my day so I tried to capture the moment, the result of which is to the right here. As you can see, or not see, as is the case, the bubbles are not visible. 

While disappointing, it serves to remind me that life is best enjoyed as it happens and not after the fact. If I had not been focused on getting the shot I could have enjoyed the moment for a little bit longer. In our age of social media I think sometimes we forget to appreciate what is happening in the here and now for the sake of the perfect picture to post.

I am a big advocate of looking up, turning off , and actually participating in the things going on around us. There is adventure to be had if your're looking for it.
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Recycle/Reuse Rant

9/9/2015

 
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I guess I shouldn't be surprised but of all the new shows on TV this fall, eight of them are based of off movies and at least two others are based off of shows from other countries. People have been saying it for years, Hollywood is out of original ideas. 

As an independent author trying to get my voice heard, I know a lot of amazing writers in the same boat but no one is listening to us, because we don't have a fan base all ready to go. I realize it's an idealist's dream to wish Hollywood was more open to new ideas, they are in this for the money not the art. So their choices match their goals, but I still need to vent about this. 

It's sad to me that producers of movies or TV shows, and large publishing houses for that matter, are unwilling to take risks of any kind. As a writer looking for an agent you have to have a Twitter following and provide website traffic info as part of your submission package. I know it's a new era in the publishing industry but I have read more than one blog to break the news, just because it's good doesn't mean it will get noticed.

ASIDE: For the record, having a fan base doesn't mean it's good. Popularity is not a guarantee of quality. 

But what about Buffy, Bates Motel, or even Highlander? There are a lot, I mean A LOT of shows based off of movies (and yes, movies based off of books) and many of them are awesome, but when I know so many creative people with really awesome ideas, it's a tragedy and a travesty that the powers the be are too cowardly to explore these new worlds and ideas.

Okay, rant over. I write for me, not them, so let's move on shall we.


In case you were wondering which shows, here is the Wiki list.
See Fall TV list from EW.com here.

Tell the FCC What You Think

6/20/2014

 
Normally, I don't get involved in politics or activism of any kind but when President Obama appoints a former cable executive as the new head of the FCC I have to say something.

The internet is the one place that is a level playing field for everyone. If these laws get passed because Comcast, Verizon, and AT&T are throwing millions of dollars into lobbying, those glory days are over.

If you get angry or passionate about one this this week, let it be this.

http://www.fcc.gov/comments

This Blog Is Gluten Free

7/15/2013

 
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Isn’t it nice when companies tell you something obvious? Especially when they get on the current bandwagon of whatever fad we are trying to convince ourselves will make us happier, richer, or at least, reduce our carbon foot print.

Who is putting gluten in the chocolate and ice cream anyways?! Don’t tell me broccoli is fat free- that is half the reason we eat it (except for the butter part.)  If it occurs in nature then you don’t need to mention there is no transfats.

That kind of stuff drives me nuts. It’s insincere to make claims for things that don’t truly pertain to your product. Ugh!

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