This scene is amazing not only because of the fight itself, but also because of how much Matrix lore is explored here without telling the audience anything, perfectly implementing "show, don't tell". Merovingian is a program from an older version of the Matrix, who lives by collecting other outdated programs and giving them shelter from agents who look for abnormalities to delete. All of his "men" who are fighting here are actually programs, not people. They all exist in human folklore as legendary creatures, because some people actually have seen them, before agents got to them or they flet to Merovingian. We learn Merovingian collects them because "they are hard to kill". And we actually see this, visualized:

1. The twins are the "ghost" programs, the most powerful ones, because it's almost impossible to kill them due to their phasing ability. During the chase scene we see they are even more talented in chasing Zionians than agents.

2. In the 3rd film we learn Seraph, who is an angel program (very powerful programs, capable of beating agents 1 on 1), was also once a property of Merovingian. We see another angel program here, it's the asian guy in white clothes and black glasses - similar attire to that of Seraph. He also dies last, which proves he really is hardest to kill of all programs Neo fought. Neo can kill any agent with just a few hits, which he displayed before.

3. Next in the hierarchy of being "hard to kill" are vampires. There are 3 vampire programs in this fight. All are dressed the same, in black clothes, with black sunglasses. If you played the canon Matrix game, you'll know that the only way to kill them is to impale them, like the actual vampires from the folklore. This is why they get up no matter how many times Neo hits them. Eventually, Neo figures this out, or just impales them by accident and they all die. First guy is impaled with a sword. Next with a trident, and the last one is hit with a spike from the large morning star by the angel guy.

4. Least powerful are the werewolves programs. They have no sunglasses, and they're dressed kind of randomly, that's how you can tell them apart from the other programs. Perhaps they do not wear fancy clothes and glasses because they'd be destroyed when they change anyway? Regardless, they are supposed to be more durable than humans, but clearly aren't that tough. Persephone kills Kain, one of them with a silver bullet, which is probably a way to bypass their durability completely, the other two go down when Neo hits them a single time, (one is kicked thru a statue and never gets back up, the other is hit with a mace) indicating they are even less durable than the agents.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5642812&forum_id=2#48400844)

"I've changed."

"I'm unplugged."

"A new man!"

"So to speak."

"Like."

"You."

"Apparently..."

"Free."

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5642812&forum_id=2#48879039)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gzl0dYq5-SY&t=133

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5642812&forum_id=2#48879126)

2 years ago

The choreography in this scene is INSANE.. I like how the people that aren't directly fighting Neo aren't just standing around or looking the fight.. the "engaging, falling back and re-engaging" sequence is so smoothly done considering that are a lot of people in the scene

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5642812&forum_id=2#48400847)

@dslims1

3 years ago

I love how Neo doesnt sweat or look like he is even breathing, everything he does just looks effortless, really locks down the fantasy of the world they created.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5642812&forum_id=2#48400848)

@agentonyx

10 months ago

Twenty years later, I’m still looking up and watching this scene on a regular basis. Brilliant.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5642812&forum_id=2#48400849)

3 years ago

One thing I love the most about the Matrix movies is how stable the camera is during the fight scenes. Nowadays we get camera's shaking like the cameraman is having a seizure

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5642812&forum_id=2#48400850)

*Neo blocks a wall of bullets like they're spitwads*

"Okay... you have some skill...

Keel him."

*cue Rob Dougan - Chateau (Instrumental).mp3*

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5642812&forum_id=2#48534539)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5642812&forum_id=2#48534557)

"You see, he's just MAN"

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5642812&forum_id=2#48534561)