Despite the concept of the simulacrum existing for eons before the Wachowski siblings made it into a religion, the age of reality and simulation blended into one shortly after the premiere of The Matrix. However, this concept was nothing close to the simulacrum that the Athenian philosopher Plato spoke of or the more modern Simulacra and Simulation which introduced the notion of hyperreality in the 1981 philosophical treatise published by French cultural theorist, Jean Baudrillard.
Instead, it was Keanu Reevesʼs Neo, Carrie-Anne Mossʼ Trinity, and Laurence Fishburneʼs Morpheus who made the planet tilt on its axis by teaching us about the simulation we live in, the dark truth behind déjà vu, and the rabbit hole that awaits us if only we wished to accept the red pill.
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The Matrix Fans Find Oddities Decades After Filmʼs Launch
It has been a solid 24 years since the release of Keanu Reevesʼ The Matrix. The film which introduced the world of fiction, reality, and a whole lot of gravity-defying martial arts moves in Hong Kong action movie style also implemented a heavy use of computer graphics and special effects in its post-production process. In doing so, the motion capture dots which were affixed on Reevesʼs face for the purpose of post-production editing were left untouched in some of the scenes, one of which includes the mirror sequence shortly after Neo takes the red pill.
Also read: The Matrix Trilogy: Brilliant Details You Only Realize On A Rewatch
When Neo chooses the red pill from Morpheus, the simulation around him begins to alter the more he believes it to be a prison. At one point, when he touches a mirror, the substance moves like molten silver, wrapping itself around Neoʼs arm before completely engulfing him, causing him to wake up in the true reality. The entire sequence required the use of visual effects and considering the infantile stages of advanced CGI being used during the production of the 1999 film, it is quite possible that the special effects crew missed a few spots on Keanu Reevesʼs face, which was later detected by some eagle-eyed fans of the movie.
A Reddit user later outed the error by pointing out the 6 small red dots that look almost negligible to the naked eye and wouldnʼt have been caught unless one were to exclusively look for it.
The Unreal Legacy of the Wachowskiʼs Matrix Series
The unsettling reality that was first introduced to us in the eleventh hour of the 20th century with The Matrix stayed with the audience long after its premiere and eventual recognition as a cult classic by modern standards. For some among the crowd of moviegoers, the concept of a simulation became so real that it became the grounds for disturbing, appalling crimes based on the premise that one only existed within The Matrix and no criminal actions of theirs could be deemed as final or worthy of judgment. It soon birthed a legal term in courts of law known as “The Matrix defense” for the criminally insane.
Besides upsetting the balance of rationality and the understanding of our social purposes and daily lives, the aftermath of The Matrix premiere birthed one of the biggest stars of the 21st century: Keanu Reeves. His contribution and enduring legacy redefined the genre of science fiction in Hollywood and combined with the irrefutable brilliance of the Wachowski sisters gave us some of the greatest pieces of fiction to have ever been witnessed on the reels of a film.
The Matrix is available for streaming on MAX.
Source: Reddit
