Why the Island is more profound/better than the Matrix

kevin — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 09:08:27 -0500

The matrix was one of the most popular movies of all time, while the Island didn’t even get very good reviews. They share the similarity of a “virtual world” that people awaken from, which may have caused the bad reviews. Truly, though, people have been making movies and books about awakening since the beginning of time.

Why is the Island so much better than the Matrix?

1) It’s more realistic.

Neo in the Matrix transcended both virtual and actual realities, and that distances the viewers from identifying with the film. While the Matrix is a future world that might happen if we start battling with sentient computers, the Island is just one short medical breakthrough away. The society of the “real world” presented in the Island is very similar to our own.

2) The bad guys are badder.

The matrix’s computers were content to let us live out our little lives in a virtual existence. They even went to a lot of trouble to make sure we were happy in our environment (in that utopia didn’t work).

The Island is the only thing I’ve seen that justifies the horror of the death camps of World War 2. The incinerator scene still echoes in my head.

3) It’s easier to identify with the Island, because I’m not an evil computer program trying to use people as batteries. But if I could pay money to guarantee an organ transplant, I would. I can see myself as both product and sponsor, and the only person I struggle to identify with is the evil doctor leading the organization. If they’d thrown in just a little bit more medical excitement about the dreams-of-sponsor somehow being in the transfer, and that being intentional research and benefiting the world, then “justifying” the cruelty would have been a lot easier.

To me, the big paradigm of the Island is the justification of the horror. The only horror equal to it was the death camps of World War 2, and I (and most people) have never understood their justification or how they ever happened. It’s been nearly a month since I first watched the Island, and I still think of it often or dream about it. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend it.

Technorati Tags: movies, awakening, the island, the matrix

"Why the Island is more profound/better than the Matrix" by Fearoflove

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:00:59 -0500

Personally, I think more people liked The Matrix because they thought it was..."cooler". The good guys wore black and ran around with guns shooting the bad guys. It was very unrealistic, but still something someone could picture as really happening. I personally agree with you, The Island outshone The Matrix easily. However, my brother thought The Island was boring and loved The Matrix. I suppose our response to the movies depends on our own personalities.

Inspire Creativity: Why the Island is more profound/better than the Matrix

Why the Island is more profound/better than the Matrix

"Why the Island is more profound/better than the Matrix" by Fearoflove