05-19-2003, 01:47 AM
Hi,
Solar energy, of course, is unavailable.
Not at all. Above the atmosphere, solar energy is exactly what it was all along. The atmosphere *must* be transparent to some wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation or the surface of the Earth would be way too hot for people to live (think Venus on a warm day :) ). Solar energy could be collected in space and beamed down on one of the bands that the atmosphere does not absorb. That technology would be infinitely easier than extracting energy from humans, even if humans were, overall, exothermic.
Also, the humans are *not* being used to generate energy, but rather to generate *electrical* energy. Now all "generating" systems are really converters of energy from one type to a more easily usable type and none of them are 100% efficient. There are always loses. So the inefficiency argument does not apply. What does apply is that there are a *lot* of better sources (as you pointed out). I agree that that is one of the two major flaws in the concept.
These last two are the most critical. If he can disregard gravitational attraction at will, it's hard to say what other physical laws of reality could bind him. And if "killing" his persona in the Matrix is not permanent, then he is literally unstoppable within the Matrix.
This is totally off the mark.
First, *THERE IS NO SPOON*. The Matrix is a construct, a programmed model. There is no gravitational attraction, just a "subroutine" that tries to model gravity. And Neo's ability is to override that subroutine, to change its parameters or completely negate the "function call". Which makes any argument based on Neo's "powers" in the Matrix moot. He cannot *control* the Matrix, but neither can the Matrix control him.
That he is unstoppable within the Matrix does not matter, for the fight is not just within the Matrix. Within the Matrix, he has limitations on how much he can do at once, limitations of where he can be and how much he can influence. So, while the Matrix cannot stop him, neither can he stop the Matrix. And, if even he could stop it, then what of the humans that are suddenly "liberated"? Remember Neo's physical reaction at being dumped out of it. And he had been at least partially emotionally and mentally prepared. So, just because he can control some aspects, it doesn't make him totally in control.
But the fight is not just within the Matrix. And outside the Matrix, Neo has (until the very end of the second movie) almost no powers. Greatly outnumbered and out gunned, supported by one *small* city (I've seen bigger frat parties). In the level of reality of Zion, he is even weaker than he ever was in the level of the Matrix.
So, no. The story wasn't complete, isn't complete. Whether all the loose ends and all the inconsistencies are worked out or not will show whether this is a real piece of science fiction or just a first rate of SciFi. Either way, the effects, the cinematography and the story are still excellent.
Oh, and the second major flaw? I can understand why they would need a land line to get *into* the Matrix (think of it as a dial up connection). But I can't even imagine what a "real" land line in a construct where nothing is real even means, much less why they need it to get out.
--Pete
Solar energy, of course, is unavailable.
Not at all. Above the atmosphere, solar energy is exactly what it was all along. The atmosphere *must* be transparent to some wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation or the surface of the Earth would be way too hot for people to live (think Venus on a warm day :) ). Solar energy could be collected in space and beamed down on one of the bands that the atmosphere does not absorb. That technology would be infinitely easier than extracting energy from humans, even if humans were, overall, exothermic.
Also, the humans are *not* being used to generate energy, but rather to generate *electrical* energy. Now all "generating" systems are really converters of energy from one type to a more easily usable type and none of them are 100% efficient. There are always loses. So the inefficiency argument does not apply. What does apply is that there are a *lot* of better sources (as you pointed out). I agree that that is one of the two major flaws in the concept.
These last two are the most critical. If he can disregard gravitational attraction at will, it's hard to say what other physical laws of reality could bind him. And if "killing" his persona in the Matrix is not permanent, then he is literally unstoppable within the Matrix.
This is totally off the mark.
First, *THERE IS NO SPOON*. The Matrix is a construct, a programmed model. There is no gravitational attraction, just a "subroutine" that tries to model gravity. And Neo's ability is to override that subroutine, to change its parameters or completely negate the "function call". Which makes any argument based on Neo's "powers" in the Matrix moot. He cannot *control* the Matrix, but neither can the Matrix control him.
That he is unstoppable within the Matrix does not matter, for the fight is not just within the Matrix. Within the Matrix, he has limitations on how much he can do at once, limitations of where he can be and how much he can influence. So, while the Matrix cannot stop him, neither can he stop the Matrix. And, if even he could stop it, then what of the humans that are suddenly "liberated"? Remember Neo's physical reaction at being dumped out of it. And he had been at least partially emotionally and mentally prepared. So, just because he can control some aspects, it doesn't make him totally in control.
But the fight is not just within the Matrix. And outside the Matrix, Neo has (until the very end of the second movie) almost no powers. Greatly outnumbered and out gunned, supported by one *small* city (I've seen bigger frat parties). In the level of reality of Zion, he is even weaker than he ever was in the level of the Matrix.
So, no. The story wasn't complete, isn't complete. Whether all the loose ends and all the inconsistencies are worked out or not will show whether this is a real piece of science fiction or just a first rate of SciFi. Either way, the effects, the cinematography and the story are still excellent.
Oh, and the second major flaw? I can understand why they would need a land line to get *into* the Matrix (think of it as a dial up connection). But I can't even imagine what a "real" land line in a construct where nothing is real even means, much less why they need it to get out.
--Pete
How big was the aquarium in Noah's ark?