As of 0320, I just finished watching this astounding classic again. A few observations, which may have already been made by others, but I'm going to list them anyway.

Since we're all gearing up for Reloaded, I'm also going to try fielding a few speculations based on events and dialog in the this movie that could be construed as foreshadowing what might be to come. But then again, maybe not. Since I haven't seen Reloaded yet, I could be way off base. (Then again, some of this might also be subtly influenced by the recent press comments of Laurence Fishburne and Keanu Reeves, so if you're totally spoiler-phobic even to the point of avoiding speculation, don't read further.)

As a sidenote, certain small bits also take on new meaning when viewed in the context of some of the Animatrix material that has been released recently.

Anyway, on to the nitty gritty. Details and nuances:

• I've noticed this before, but I'll point it out now anyway. The Oracle never tells Neo that he is not the one. The dialog is structured such that she is constantly prompting him for answers to his own questions. Neo believes that he knows what the Oracle is about to say, and fills in the blanks for himself. The exact dialog:

  Oracle: Ok, now I'm supposed to say, 'hmmmmmm, that's interesting', but then you say...

  Neo: But what?

  Oracle: But you already know what I'm going to tell you.

  Neo: I'm not the one.

  Oracle: Sorry kid. You got the gift, but it looks like you're waiting for something.

  It's actually Neo who makes the assessment, but the Oracle allows him to believe that he got the information from her. Know thyself indeed.

• This next idea falls entirely into the realm of theory and interpretation, but this theory could be supported by the story. Perhaps Neo, in and of himself, is not The One.

  I submit the possibility that it is Trinity who makes that determination. Bearing a certain supernatural ability beyond conscious awareness (which would help to explain her handle), she causes Neo to become The One through of her belief in him (which is ultimately derived from love, fulfilling the Oracle's prophesy).

  Trinity doesn't love Neo because he is The One. He is The One because she loves him. The direction of this causality is crucial.

  Repeatedly throughout the film, the question is asked of Trinity. "Does you believe Neo is the one?" Neo's actions and his fate follow her answer each time.

  In the very first scene, the dialog opens with Cypher asking Trinity whether she believes. Her answer: "It doesn't matter what I believe." (If my interpretation is correct, this denial of relevance is ironically untrue.)

  Later, when Cypher is about to kill Neo, he asks Trinity. "Look into his eyes, those big pretty eyes, and tell me. Yes, or no."

  Trinity answers, for the first time. "Yes."

  This answer is immediately followed by the "miracle" Cypher declared would have to happen if Neo were The One, as he turns around to see Tank ready to blow him away. I don't think it's too big of a leap to suggest that Trinity's answer, in some unexplainable way, altered the reality of the situation.

  Of course, the biggest evidence in support of Trinity's power comes in the climactic resurrection of Neo, when he wakes up after Trinity declares her love and kisses him. (Which, if you think about it, is vaguely reminiscent of Snow White being awakened by the prince's kiss, with gender roles reversed.)

  I also noticed that while trinity was giving her speech about what the Oracle had told her, the sentinals briefly stopped tearing the Nebuchadnezzar apart. A character with almighty power to stop time, or a cheap cinematic shortcut? (Or if we really wanted to get nutty, we could say this this was the dramatic dialog equivilant of bullet time, or something.)

  Anyway, food for thought.

• During the interrogation, Agent Smith tells Morpheus that he wants to leave The Matrix (by ceasing to exist?), and the only way he can do that is by accessing the Zion mainframe. Presumably, if the last of the rebels are destroyed, the Agents will no longer be needed, and Smith can rest in peace.

  This next theory is wild, out there, and will probably be proven false when we see the sequels, but I'll throw it out there anyway.

  The expected happy ending for this tale would be that the Zion rebels would be led by Neo to overthow the machines, eventually free the minds from The Matrix, and every human would live happily ever after. Everything in between is just filling the gaps between point A and point B.

  That would be the generic Hollywood formula. But as we all know, the Wachowski Brothers do not have a track record of adhering to the predictable cookie cutter writing standards.

  Even if such a supposably happy ending were to be achieved, there would be unresolved complications brought about by the setting. Supposing the humans are all freed from The Matrix, where is everybody going to live in a world where the sky has been blackened? Vegetation on Earth is now non-existent. Through their attempts at cruelty to the machines, the humans have turned the earth's surface into a place that is only habitable by AI lifeforms.

  Depressing as it may sound, the best solution for both species would be to perpetuate the system of The Matrix, for the Zion rebels to surrender, and for Agent Smith to disappear into the ether of free()'ed RAM.

  Possible Reloaded/Revolutions SPOILER material below based on comments by Laurence Fishburne.

  On the Charlie Rose show, after Laurence Fishburne described the character of Morpheus as a cross between OB Wan Kanobi and Darth Vader, I have to wonder...

  Could it be that Morpheus becomes a villian? What scenario would be likely to bring this about? In thinking about what I mentioned above, it seems obvious. The machines and (some) humans, with the help of Neo, figure out a way to negotiate a peace and live on in a symbiotic relationship. The humans could be in a happier Matrix without Agent Smith, and the machines continue to use people as a power source.

  The only thing that might get in the way of such a peace could be a band of rogue humans, led by a charismatic zealot, who are determined to be free. A group who would only define freedom as the total destruction of the machines' domination, with a mission to reclaim earth for the humans. (Even if it means everybody has to eat goop and live in caves.)

  Obviously, I don't know, and I'm doing a lot of guessing and extrapolating. In any case, it's going to be fun to see how this extraordinary epic proceeds.

Well anyway, that was a lot of fun babbling and musing. I love this movie. It is a wonder to behold. It's almost 5am. Goodnight.