Terminator 2 vs the Matrix
The movies Terminator 2 and The Matrix both present separate views of a scientific reality. The idea that in the future our lives could be controlled by machines and not vice versa is readily embraced by both movies, which communicate this idea in different ways. The movie Terminator 2 embraces typical sci-fi topics such as time travel and robotics whilst The Matrix derives its meanings through concepts such as virtual reality. Through these separate entities, the viewer is able to open his or her mind to possibilities that were previously ‘unsung’ before witnessing these movies. In our society, the importance lies in the present and not the future. These films attempt to bridge the gap between the separate ‘realms’ of time and bring the future to the viewer. While both movies muster different meanings, both deal with a single issue, being the uncertainty of the future.The uncertainty of the future is a thought, which crosses the minds of most people during a lifetime. The directors of The Matrix and Terminator 2 both depict their values and attitudes on the subject through the plots of the film. It can be stated that James Cameron, director of Terminator 2, has a different vision of the future than the directors of The Matrix. . . .
The fact that both films intertextually relate to one another further builds upon the issue of the uncertainty of the future. Society has stereotypically cast aside violence and death, yet both of these films depict it as the way in which to solve problems. Maybe it is enforcing the fact that humans are hypocrites or maybe it is just ‘telling it as it is. This is intertextually related to the movie Terminator 2 in the light that the Terminators use violence where as the humans typically avoid danger. ’ The fact that the man-made machine or terminator (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) has the power to destroy legions of police officers without having to worry about pain or being beaten, reinforces this issue. ’ In Terminator 2, individuality is rewarded with life. ’ To be more specific, The Matrix intertextually relates to Terminator 2 because of the theme that ‘technology has the power to rule over humans’ and vice versa. These separate ideas communicate an idea to the viewer that individuality works in some cases but not in others, which work as an alchemy to develop the integrity of the individual watching. A theme of The Matrix, which is seen as important to the plot, is the theme of violence. In this movie, the quote ‘safety in numbers’ rewards the individuals because of the fact that when the humans work as a team, they are at their strongest. In The Matrix, this is quite the opposite. In both movies, the machines are portrayed as being superior and far more dangerous than humans, which further convey to the viewers the idea that technology and the threat of artificial intelligence, is becoming more of a reality and less of a fairy tale. Although we have come to accept violence as a part of our heritage and cultural identity, we still see it as a negative aspect of our society. In the matrix, humans are seen as reluctant to use violence, however, the machines are not, despite the fact that they were crafted in mans image and as such carry mans values. The Matrix values honor amongst men while Terminator 2 values the strength of the individual.
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