Sarah Millard
The
Matrix textual Analysis
Soundtrack
The soundtrack is immediately exhilarating gripping the
audience from the outset, the soundtrack includes lots of mechanical noises
when the main character in the scene is superhuman for example when Trinity is
jumping from one building to the other there is a lot of echo to the sound
used. It makes the viewer’s believe they are jumping with her, as well as
building up tension in the scenes.
There is a fantastic use of automated high level sounds
as the camera work focuses in on the coded numbers, the music used varies
between orchestral and choral. As the tension mounts the music both from a
speed and a volume perspective increase adding tension and suspense to those
viewing.
Editing
Before
any of the characters become apparent to the viewer the editing begins, using
vfx editing a series of codes supported by computer sounds is shown until the
title of the film is displayed. The audience is left in no doubt that this film
will be driven by a high level of intelligence and include advanced technology.
Editing pace alters throughout the film from a slower
pace during the scenes that involve conversations between the agents and
lieutenants to a much faster pace when focusing on the fight scenes and the
scene where Trinity is running around the walls. The contrast of speed in the
editing of the scenes is obvious during the scene where Trinity runs up to jump
off the building, at first this scene starts quickly and the speed builds to
the point where she jumps and at that point it is rapidly slowed down to build
a sense of suspense and question whether Trinity is going to make the jump.
Mise-en-scene
The aim of any opening scene is to capture the audience’s
attention immediately, this is where Mise-en-scene is pivotal. The dim and dark
lighting sets the scene as it creates shadows and doesn’t allow the audience to
have sight of what is going on in the corners of the room, this leaves it to
their imagination, as well as there being a focus on Trinity using lighting
which gives her a sense of importance for the audience but also allows the
director to make the audience jump.
Trinity comes across as a strong, individual women her
costume support the feeling of her strength as she is dressed in an all in one
leather cat suit. Two agents in contrast are dressed plainly but identically
which gives the audience an impression that they come as a pair and need to be
conquered as a pair.
Camerawork
The cameraman rotates around the focus actor while the
actor is also moving in slow motion, it is used four times during the film but
is startling in its effect. One of the shots that is remarkable is the POV shot
of the door as the policemen walks up to it and kicks it down, the audience are
made to feel like they are walking down the corridor in the same footsteps as
the policemen, and it adds suspense and highlights the 
aggression
of the kick to break down the door.
aggression
of the kick to break down the door.
There is a fantastic crane shot in the opening scene, it
is used as the agents arrive in their cars which gives the actors more power.
And intensifies the agent’s purpose. The scene where Trinity is confronted by
the police officers is magnificent and this is a direct result of the camera
work, the camera sweeps around her slowing down which accentuates her kick and
implies she has superhuman powers. It makes the audience supportive of her and
it makes them will her to win.
