Letter to Fellow Movie Watcher

Dear Parent(s),

I want to thank you for bringing a new perspective to my viewing of The Matrix Reloaded. Although I had seen this film once before, I had not yet been able to watch it along with a room full of children. That was until last night. Hearing your babe coo, cry, yell, and laugh at the most inappropriate times throughout the movie definitely brought new meaning to Agent Smith's relentless pursuit of Neo. Hearing your young one's voice and seeing her scurry around the theater distracted me from a movie that requires so much concentration that in fact I think I understood it better this time. Let's see- causality, reality, choice.

What caused you to think it was OK to take your two-year-old to see The Matrix-- maybe it was the intense violence, the adult themes, the references to various eastern religions, or maybe it was just a way to share some good quality time as a family on a limited budget? Whatever the cause, I know the effect was bringing you and your children closer together, as noticed by the way you kept telling her to be quiet.

Did you really think that this would be OK with everyone else in the theater? I guess in your world (reality) loud crying and seat kicking make the movie more realistic.

And I am sure I now understand the oracle's description of free choice, because we had none. We did not get to choose whether or not to watch this movie in a peaceful theater; that choice was made for us. We are now only left to decide why we chose to stay for the whole movie.

But I guess I can't blame you. You weren't the only one who chose The Matrix for your children's movie experience. I heard and/or saw at least five other pre-school children in the theater with us. Seriously, what are you people thinking? R does not stand for Romper Room. But, I must accept the possibility that I am way behind the times. Maybe this is just something I haven't caught on to yet. Maybe I should have brought my four-year-old, or even my six-month-old to see Neo, Trinity and Morpheus fight it out against those evil machines. Hey, maybe our kids could all meet up at Starbucks after opening night of Matix Revolutions and discuss the prolific use of metaphor and allegory to present idealistic philosophies and deconstruct fundamentalist presuppositions about the universe over a venti chocolate milk. Or maybe not.
Well, anyway thanks again for the enlighting experience. I can only hope that it was as enjoyable for you.

p.s. -I thought you'd like to know that there is a blog site called The Matrix Essays where your daughter could post her thoughts on how the Wachowsky brothers have altered her view of preschool. That is, if she's not too busy watching South Park.