ANALYSIS OF THE MATRIX AND THE TERMINATOR

RYAN QUINN

COSTUMES• In the film ‘The Matrix’, the costumes worn by the characters, are quite dark

and simple. As well as this, in the virtual world of the matrix, the characters wear sun glasses. This gives the characters a sense of differentiation from other characters of different movies, as well as, giving the characters an identity like certain characters are given for their costumes (Darth Vader – Star wars), which could be described as iconography.

• In the terminator, the terminator played by Arnold Schwarzenegger has a similar dark costume to make him self differentiate from the people of earth as he is a robot. Because of the props as well as the costume that the terminator uses e.g.. Guns, the terminator is an example of iconography in the sci-fi genre.

• Because of this, certain characters will be given costumes that relate to the genre, so it relates to other films of the same genre, or costumes that are quite distinct. A typical code and convention of a computer hacker related film we may use in our own film is the dark costuming, to give a sense of identity.

CHARACTERS The characters in The Matrix are all portrayed stereotypically e.g. protagonists and antagonists. At first Neo is a computer programmer, and an illegal Hacker. But is needed to save the world

Propps character types for the matrix

Hero- Neo

Villain- The Agents

Helper- Morpheus

False hero-Trinity

In the terminator, there is only one antagonist in the terminator himself, who is a cyborg assassin. One example of mise en scene is the style that is used to portray the terminator

Because there are different character character types in the matrix, we may have to consider what character types people play.

SETTING• There are two separate worlds in the Matrix, the real world and the virtual

reality the matrix created on a computer that the characters in the movie insert themselves into. The virtual reality the matrix which the film is named after is being controlled by viruses call the agents and is a more futuristic setting than the real world in which we live in. the virtual world in the matrix is an example of a denotation, something people see/usually expect from the sci-fi genre.

• The Terminator is set on a futuristic earth, but there is no virtual reality. • For our film, we will have to take into consideration the setting of the film. We

may record outside of school, to fit the specification to make a film that is revolved around computer hackers. For example, rather than the class room, we may use somewhere completely different.

STORYLINE• ‘The Matrix revolves around computer programmer Neo,

who is contacted by two hackers who escaped from the virtual reality the matrix, who need his assistance to save the world as they feel he is the ‘chosen one’. Saving the world is a typical code and convention in the sci-fi genre.

• In the terminator, the terminator has been sent to kill two people Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese

• Our film will aim to keep the story line simple,

MUSIC AND SPECIAL EFFECTS• One of the main special effects used in the matrix, is the

slow motion dodging of bullets by Neo, which has become a symbol of the sci-fi genre. Another special effect used is the levitating of the characters when fighting, which adds effect as it adds impact/something different to the combat scenes.

• In the terminator, the special effects are not as advanced as the matrix as I was made several years beforehand.

ICONOGRAPHY• One of he main examples of iconography in both films is

the action and combat scenes e.g. explosions and the lighting effects used in these scenes.

• Because this particular example of iconography made the films so popular, we will make sure to have action/combat scenes.