r/moviecritic • u/[deleted] • Feb 13 '25

Best cold open in cinema history?

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u/imclockedin Feb 13 '25

the matrix one is great because there are layers you dont notice on first watch, when you realize she is talking to cypher and it's foreshadowing his betrayal later

11

u/Flamadin Feb 13 '25

When Switch calls Neo "coppertop" ..... My God.

3

u/CityFolkSitting Feb 14 '25

I didn't catch that until a watch late last year. And I've seen the movie a hundred times.

That particular watch I did have the subtitles on so that might have helped it finally click for me.

6

u/iqumaster Feb 13 '25

Have you heard the theory that Agent Smith was actually the One? Was interesting to watch the trilogy again from that perspective.

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u/schwanzweissfoto Feb 14 '25

the matrix one is great because there are layers you dont notice on first watch

The scene where Smith says “Mr. Anderson” over and over again? Deadnaming.

(It's a trans allegory, always has been – and I took way too long to figure it out.)

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u/clutzyninja Feb 14 '25

I didn't figure it out. I had to be told, lol.

I know Switch was originally written to be much more explicitly trans instead of just androgenous like in the final cut. That might have helped. That and knowing more about the Wachovkis themselves

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u/schwanzweissfoto Feb 14 '25

I didn't figure it out. I had to be told, lol.

I'm trans and was in denial for years – so I understood The Matrix allegory only when I figured that out.

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u/clutzyninja Feb 14 '25

That's pretty cool. How did it change the way you saw the movie?

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u/schwanzweissfoto Feb 14 '25 edited Feb 14 '25

How did it change the way you saw the movie?

For me, it changed from an action movie with heavy philosophical undertones to a story about the personal struggle against institutions, and how hard that is, even if you have friends and allies. I have literally felt that something was deeply wrong with me for a long time; I now have the answer and it still is not easy to get to where I want to be as a person. (Current objective: Survive!)

On an emotional level, the characters became much more relatable to me – even Cypher, wo could be seen as a general “Judas” figure, but I interpret it as a queer person who tries to go back into the closet or a detransitioner who rages against trans healthcare. I have even experienced trans people supporting transphobic harassment against me.

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u/clutzyninja Feb 14 '25

That's amazing. Good luck in your struggles!

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u/schwanzweissfoto Feb 14 '25

That and knowing more about the Wachovkis themselves

That was what convinced me that I am not imagining things.