Musings on the Matrix

I just finished watching the 3rd installment of the Matrix.

My initial assessment: I don't get it.

Now, I understand the basics, at least enough to follow the movie. But if this series allows itself to be thought of as a modern-day Myth... I just wonder what Joseph Campbell would say?

First, why do the most capable "programs" seem to want peace? It has been suggested to me that these are the programs more able to mimic humanity. I guess that the idea is humanity = empathy, and they do not wish to see our race destroyed. Hmm. Guess the computers are a bit more forgiving than we.

Second, if Keanu is our savior, why is he unable to leave the train station? Actually, this was my favorite part of the movie. I kept imagining heavy beads of sweat pool at his brow as he tries to figure out the situation. The moviegoer can smell the kerosene burning.

Third, how are they able to save Keanu from the train station? If the train-master is God, at least in this purgatory, he could have stopped them. I thought of the Atari 2600 Pitfall! where you run too far underground and end up at the same place. Notice that the Frenchman never makes another appearance.

Why is the machine God willing to trade peace for eliminating Agent Smith? If I were a machine, I would have allowed the "savior" to defeat the threat, then rescind my promise and continue to destroy humanity. It's only logical. That is, I bet there aren't too many "Three's company" misunderstandings in the robot world.

Fourth, what thread am I following with Neo being blinded? Am I thinking Rutger Hauer as the Blind samurai, or Oedipus?

I understand that the movie preaches free will over determinism, or even calvanism. Even at the expense of the calvanists among them. I would argue that this is the main issue. The world is dictated not by divine will, or even cause and effect. What's left.. chaos theory? Somehow those damn dinosaurs are gunna breed. Somehow the unlikely paring of a distraught savior and an all-powerful machine is going to end in momentary bliss.

And what about the human batteries that are still atrophying away in pods? Did Smith overtake them all? If so, did they all die when he was "deleted"? If not, does peace include taking back the human survivors?

God dammit! This was Helm's Deep meets Crouching Tiger meets Star Wars meets Spinoza. I ask you, what the hell was I supposed to take away from this?

I'm off to read Finnegan's Wake. I'm sure it will make more sense.