Intro
The best movie and pizza pairings are one of subjective opinion and choice but, for me, there is nothing that can beat the pairing of The Matrix Trilogy with the Gourmet 'half 'n half' that is Blue Cheese and Poached Pear / Classic Margherita.
A complex, multi-layered, multi-faceted film deserves an equally astute Pizza to accompany it!
The Movie
The Matrix Trilogy
The Synopsis
The Matrix is a fantastic sci-fi adventure, set in a dystopian future, ablaze with stunning special effects, about a hacker who must dig deep within his own character to uncover the reality of his state of existence. He must make the ultimate choice to continue to live in blissful ignorance, unaware of the machines that dominate every facet of his life, controlling his every action and thought, or he must open his eyes to the truth of who he really is and what needs to be done to put things right. It is a story of a man who chooses the unknown path that takes him on a life-altering journey to lead the human rebellion in a war for freedom against the machines and the artificial intelligence that controls mankind within the unconscious "simulated reality" source of the world of The Matrix. Along the way, it also gifts us with an incredible love story between the film's two protagonists, Neo and Trinity.
The Review
This is a film trilogy that I have watched many times over and no doubt will watch many more times again. The first in the series, simply titled 'The Matrix' is 21 years old this year and has truly come of age. It was followed in 2003 by both 'The Matrix Reloaded' and 'Matrix Revolutions'.
The film series has a star-studded cast comprising Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantoliano.
It is on the face of it the story of a hacker as laid out in my synopsis above. It is that, but it is also a whole lot more! In order to understand its layered complexity, you have to go deeper. You have to go "down the rabbit hole".
Neo, a computer hacker is searching for the truth. He has heard of the Matrix, he has heard of the rebellion, but he doesn't know enough about it to do anything. He doesn't know that there is a way out until he is confronted with Morpheus who offers him a choice between the blue pill and the red pill.
" "You take the blue pill...the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill...you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes."source
The Alice in Wonderland reference is to the dream-like state of the simulated reality or even 'unreality' within which human beings exist within the Matrix.
Neo chooses the red pill and with that sets in motion a sequence of events from which there is no return. He becomes the de facto leader of the human rebellion who must guide his people in an uprising against the machines to free humanity from the clutches of artificial intelligence that has entrapped them all.
At a deeper level, there lies an analogy of government control, manipulation, and exploitation through the use of AI metaphors, computer technology, programs, and viruses. Parallels are drawn between the machines and government, between the Matrix and our subservient unquestioning existence as citizens of societies ruled by world governments.
Then there are the religious connotations which can be derived from the name of the Main Character (MC), Neo, being an anagram of "one" as in "The one". He is referred to as the saviour of humanity, the one who was prophesied to return to save the human race.
And finally, even deeper beneath the surface, lies a myriad of transgender references and the oppression of gender rights in society. The Wachowskis themselves have said that transgenderism and the desire for transformation in a closeted world is the key underlying theme of the film and they use the character of Switch who is a man in the real world and a woman in the matrix as just one of the many illustrations of their point.
The trilogy is an exceptional exploration of a multitude of thought-provoking themes; layers of complexity presented in all their glory. The audience has a treasure trove of artistic creativity and talent to absorb and on which to reflect, more than enough to wet the appetite and tantalise the tastebuds. The multi-layered approach used by the Wachowskis is designed to appeal to a wide audience, and regardless of one's perspective on life or usual choice in film genre, we are all certain to get something from it. What counts in the end is that we each receive what we personally need from the creative experience and are able to reflect on which pill we individually might choose.
And now for some fabulous news... In 2022, Lana Wachowski will bring us 'The Matrix Resurrections', the long-awaited 4th film in the series. The trailer is out and I for one await the film's release with great anticipation and excitement.
I recently wrote a piece on The Art of Ownership in which, amongst other things, I discuss the film, The Matrix, in light of its layered themes and complexity. I have drawn on that for part of the review element of this article, although I have expanded somewhat on the content of that article.
The Pizza
Gourmet 'half 'n half' - Blue Cheese and Poached Pear / Classic Margherita.
Abel and Cole - pear and blue cheese pizza
Why does this 'half 'n half' Pizza pair so well with the film?
This Pizza is a fantastic offering of simplicity v complexity.
You choose the red half with lashings of tomato sauce, topped off with mozzarella and fresh basil and you remain content, happy in the knowledge that you have stuck with the comfortable, the familiar, the tried and trusted Margherita pizza. You will enjoy your pizza, no doubt about that, it is a classic after all! But, a prisoner of the archetypal pizza world, you will remain forever oblivious to what could have been. Your tastebuds will never experience the layered complexity or the intensity of flavour combinations that comes when one opens oneself up to the possibility of the unusual, the interesting, and the outrageous.
You choose the blue side, the rather less familiar, untrodden Pizza path of gourmet blue cheese and poached pear, and you experience a complexity of flavour quite unlike anything the Margherita can possibly offer. The interesting but perfect pairing of poached pear and Gorgonzola make for a magnificent re-awakening of the tastebuds. A light switches on inside your brain and you become alive once more to culinary potential and a renewed hope for the future of all things Pizza. It's a taste of Christmas tempering the pungency of cheese. Like the rebellion led by Neo tempering acrimony with thoughtful and intelligent resistance. It too wets the appetite and tantalises the tastebuds. The layers of flavour, a mirror to the layered themes of the film you are engrossed in watching."It's sweet. It's savoury. It's the best of both worlds" source
When you at once appreciate that the blue-green veins running through the delectable cheese you are consuming were made by the insertion of stainless steel rods which allow oxygen to circulate and encourage the growth of penicillin mould spores source, you smile. You can't help but see the irony: Just as the Matrix sustains and powers itself by connecting humans via tubes to the simulated reality of its unconscious world, so the stainless steel 'tubes' carry the lifeblood that is oxygen into the cheese to keep the mould alive and encourage its growth and sustainability, making even the obnoxious appear palatable.
And so between pizza and film choice, and beyond to all things that life has to offer, we realise that when we choose to open our eyes to understanding and knowledge, we choose the path that ultimately takes us to true freedom.
Finale
I hope that you take the opportunity to try out my wonderful combination of movie and pizza and that they provide you with an incredible evening of enjoyment and discovery.
And when 4 1/4 hours later you find yourself heading into the final installment of the trilogy, somewhat tired but still determined to push through to the end, and you gaze into the depths of the empty box in front of you, a few scattered crusts the only remains, I hope the only thought on your mind is ...
This CINETV thing rules ... let's order another !PIZZA.
This post was written for the Hive Pizza and CineTV contest
References:
Pizza Flavors
Pear and Blue Cheese Pizza
The cheese market blog
How blue cheese is made
The Art of Ownership - samsmith1971
Red Pill and Blue Pill
Photo credits:
Septimiu on Pixabay - Human hands
Anni Roenkae on Pexels - Abstract
Madartgraphics on Pixabay - Cybersecurity
Prodigalson on Pixabay - Falling
Kinkate on Pixabay - Wonderland Dream
Sharon McCutcheon on Pexels - Transgender