Influences and interpretations The Matrix (franchise)

—lana wachowski, movie city news, october 13, 2012

the matrix films makes numerous references films , literature, , historical myths , philosophy including buddhism, vedanta, advaita hinduism, christianity, messianism, judaism, gnosticism, existentialism, obscurantism, , nihilism. films premise resembles plato s allegory of cave, rené descartes s evil demon, kant s reflections on phenomenon versus ding sich, zhuangzi s zhuangzi dreamed butterfly , marxist social theory , brain in vat thought experiment. many references jean baudrillard s simulacra , simulation appear in first film. baudrillard himself considered misrepresentation, although lana wachowski claims point reference making misunderstood. there similarities cyberpunk works such neuromancer william gibson, has described matrix arguably ultimate cyberpunk artifact.

japanese director mamoru oshii s ghost in shell strong influence. producer joel silver has stated wachowskis first described intentions matrix showing him anime , saying, wanna real. mitsuhisa ishikawa of production i.g, produced ghost in shell, noted anime s high-quality visuals strong source of inspiration wachowskis. commented, ... cyberpunk films difficult describe third person. d imagine matrix kind of film difficult draw written proposal take film studios. stated since ghost in shell had gained recognition in america, wachowskis used promotional tool. similarities 1985 anime film megazone 23 have been noticed, wachowskis claimed have never seen it.

reviewers have commented on similarities between matrix , other late-1990s films such strange days, dark city, , truman show. wachowskis claimed no influence regarding dark city, commented , truman show thought strange australia came have 3 films associated nature of reality. .

comparisons have been made grant morrison s comic series invisibles; morrison believes wachowskis plagiarized work create film. wachowskis have responded enjoy comic weren t inspired it.

in addition, similarity of films central concept device in long-running series doctor has been noted. in film, matrix of series (introduced in 1976 serial deadly assassin) massive computer system 1 enters using device connecting head, allowing users see representations of real world , change laws of physics; if killed there, die in reality. there similar matrix used travellers in paul cornell s 1992 doctor spin-off novel love , war, in socket @ top of spine used plug matrix.

the first matrix film features numerous references white rabbit , rabbit hole , mirrors, referring lewis carroll s alice s adventures in wonderland , through looking-glass.

biblical , historical references found in names of places , vehicles in trilogy, such hovercraft nebuchadnezzar. notable name zion, used synecdoche city of jerusalem or land of israel in abrahamic religious texts , members of church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, or refer promised land or utopia. there significant overtones hinduism , vedanta text. ending credits final part of trilogy include chants directly picked vedas. concept of balance needed in universe core component of hindu philosophy.

there still numerous other influences diverse sources such harlan ellison (i have no mouth, , must scream), , thomas pynchon (the crying of lot 49).

matrixism new religious movement inspired trilogy. sociologist of religion adam possamai describes these types of religions/spiritualities hyper-real religions due eclectic mix of religion/spirituality elements of popular culture , connection fluid social structures of late capitalism. there debate whether followers of matrixism indeed serious practice; however, religion (real or otherwise) has received attention in media.