Also Smith headbutts Morpheus 1 - 2 - 3 times, with this action being repeated 2 more times in the movie. (rule of threes) The second time Smith tries the same move on Neo getting 1 - 2 - fails to land 3rd headbutt. (Neo is quicker than Morpheus) Then later in the same fight Neo performs 1 - 2 - but then crucially switches it up for the 3rd move. (this shows that Neo is able to improvise, whereas Smith is just a machine and will follow his programmed routines; this is why Neo wins the fight.)

The reason of the headbutt: Elrond has a ridiculously wide forehead, it'd be a waste not to use it.

a point you missed i think is that smith seems to be taken by surprise by morpheus' headbutt. as if it was a cheap tactic, almost as if it was something a human would do, but not an agent... so when he then headbutts morpheus a bunch of times, and then does the same to neo, it shows how he wishes he was more like a human, i.e. free, than an agent. he's almost trying to learn how to be human, by imitating morpheus. and then of course neo is like fuck you that hurt, im gonna do it back to you. great find though.

"When I first saw The Matrix, I was 11 years old." Cut to text stating: This video is making me feel ancient... Really? When I first saw The Matrix, I was 27 years old. It baffles me how people in their upper 20's think of themselves as "ancient". When you hit your mid-40's then you can say you feel ancient. Actually, no, you can't. Because someone in their 60's will make the same comment that I just made. Perspective is everything. All that aside, great video. I love a good movie essay, and you delivered.

One of the things I loved about this film is how well they utilized their fight/action scenes to convey exposition. Sometimes implicitly like with Morpheus/Neo, and others more subtley, like with Trinity running from the Agents at the start. The opening fight not only explains what the rules of what Trinity and her allies can do, but it also establishes, via her fear, how much more dangerous the Agents are. We see Trinity casually drop an entire room of cops, panic when she hears the word Agent, and then runs. She precision dives through a building ACROSS a huge gap, lands in a tumbling roll down a flight of stairs...and what's the first thing she does? She instantly flips around, faces the way she just came from, and pulls out both her guns. Panic breathing, and shaking hands, FULLY expecting the Agent to come tearing through right after her. She is THAT amazing and powerful...and she's still frozen with fear. And then Morpheus, conveying how the Matrix works off, essentially personal belief about your reality. That shaping your reality, shapes the Matrix. "Do you think me being stronger, has anything to do.....with my MUSCLES....in this place?" *Neo, panting and exhausted, shakes his head* "Do you think that is air you are breating?" Calmly smiling at Neo, waiting for him to figure it out. Neo, then realizing "wait...why am I winded? I'm not actually using lungs.....oh shit, I can just make myself not winded!" Morpheus smiles, and stands up, pleased that the ACTUAL lesson has been learned by the student. "AGAIN!" He calls out, basically "ok the tutorial is over, you've learned the basic mechanics, now show me what you can actually do!" Just such BRILLIANT use of a scene, to pack it with awesome action, AND convey information to the audience in a way that is relevant to the scene, and understandable.

You never mentioned why the headbutt was banned. I sure would like to know.

FLOL. I never thought I'd watch a video analyzing a movie's 3 headbutt scenes.

The head butting represents domination over the pineal gland.

This video is awesome. I've literally seen The Matrix over 200 times. 3 of those times were everyday opening weekend. I, like you, though a little older, could watch it multiple times a week. I have for that matter. You've simplified some of my favorite elements from the film. All the while putting into words things that I couldn't express. Thank you.

Very well made video. But i waited for you to mention the underlying theme of "heabutting" in both scenarios. The reincorporation as a means to reinforce Neos progress in comparisson to Morpheus and his victory over smith is one part of the motif, but that could've been accomplished through a myriad of different ways. The headbutts are so interesting because it symbolizes the clash of ideas. Our ideas and ideals reside in our head, where the brain is located. So instead of a long dialogue between Morpheus and Smith about how the Matrix is wrong and unethical or machines are superior and bla bla bla, they use a shorthand. Just smashing your jead into the opponents head. Your idea vs my idea. And the fact that Smith comes out on Top opens another layer of discussion. Morpheus has strict moral guidelines while Smith has very strict and morally detatched rational guidelines. Morpheus is the one who first smashes his head against Smiths, a shorthand for "i disagree with your worldview", and Smith responses and easily subdues Morpheus. Considering that Morpheus himself taught Neo that strengh in the Matrix does not come from physical abilities but rather a "mastering of the mind", you would think someone as wise and collected as him could hold his own against Smith. But even if the fight goes on for a while, the audience knows that Morpheus has no chance the second Smith "answers" his headbutt with one of his own with a brute strengh that makes him already tumble after just 3 hits. It's a very subtle way in which the movie tells us that Morpheus, despite all his wisdom, is no mental match for Smith, which is why he fails in combat against him. Going further to the reincorporation in the fight Neo vs Smith, our Agent is the one to first bump heads to show that he has the upper hand, both physically and in terms of ideology. But Neo learned a lot on his journey up the point where his "mastering of the mind" allows him to surpass Morpheus and go toe to toe against Smith, and he shows that they are far more on a level playing field when he crashes his head into Smiths far more successfully than Morpheus did - because he now possesses a superior mindset to his former Sensei. But even though he is able to "defeat" Smith, the Agent is quickly back on his feet and chasing Neo again. A short term victory, but not enough to win the war. That comes when Neo supposedly dies and is reborn as the chosen one. Again, it's the mindset that enables him to do all his "chosen one" feats, and now he is mentally (as well as physically because the physics in the matrix ARE determined by the mind) way above Smith and easily subdues him. If the headbutts were only an indicator for who is stronger, the movie could easily have included another devestating headbutt, but considering the headbutt represents the clash of ideas and a battle of the minds, Neo doesn't even feel the need to compare himself (and his ideas) to Smith(s), because it is very clear that Smith is no longer a match. Those were my initial thoughts on the headbutt motif.

Man, I haven't seen these movies in ages. About time I give them a re-watch. On a side note: little details like this aren't simply indicators of exceptional craftsmanship from the makers, but their presence also makes the movie better precisely because they mostly go unnoticed. In my experience, discovering details like this makes rewatching the movie much more enjoyable. And the reason is simple: That movie is awesome, but you can't exactly put your finger on why that is, what exactly it is that makes it so good. And when you discover part of that reason, it doubles the fun of the experience again.

i was just watching fight scenes independently and figured it out. you did it over 2 years ago. bless you man, real OG

I always loved The Matrix and it blows my mind how every year it passes people who pay close attention/are educated in the subject of film keep pointing out more and more reasons why it's so well crafted, reasons that are really easy to gloss over but that just make the movie wholesome in ways generic action blockbusters aren't.

European here, I've never heard or seen the censored version.

One thing all this fine detail illustrates (once again) is how much attention went into the fight scenes. They certainly weren't farmed out to a fight co-ordinator. The headbutt is savage, visceral, and a bit undignified and scrappy. Smith pulls it out when he's personally invested and under at least a little bit of pressure, when his pose of cynical ease and detachment has been disrupted: he's quite literally no longer at arm's length from his opponents. It's not a coincidence that he first uses it at the same time that he gives away his name.

the wachowski brothers did a movie awhile back called 'ninja assassins' that is turning into a cult classic - definitely worth a watch

I just want to say how much I love this fight after the headbutts..remembering the scene with the woman in the red dress and how Morpheus explains to him that everybody that had fought an agent DIED..its so real and desperate

You need to keep this up. I'm a die-hard fan of the trillogy and your showing me things I have missed. I'm sharing this as well.

"Nobody wins in a headbutt" - Paul Blart

That was awesome! I'm in the UK and have never seen those headbutts. Makes the Agents that much more menacing...

Great work! Thanks for doing another one on the Matrix! Have loved this film since I was 11 as well. Tough to say if it or Seven Samurai is my fav' of all time.

Dispite the controversy of the story telling and confusion surrounding the matrix series I love this series. Matrix will always be one of my favorite stories.

I ferl you missed something about the headbutts. The agents are designed to intimidate, to chase, expel, and if they face continued resistance, to kill. Smith is different from the other agents. He is angry. When headbutted once by Morpheus Smith counters by headbutting him back even more. He is ruthlessly punishing him when there were other options available (like in the cut version). And the respect you think Smith has by going easy on Neo is no doubt based on his agent programming, even if he isn't aware of it.

My favorite move (oddly) is when Smith blocks a punch, Neo extends his hand to strike Smith at the throat.

The portrayal of the hero's journey is perfectly represented in the Triskelion. a symbol for the circle of life: failure, trying again, and success.

Wow excellent work man. Didn't realize those details.. solid work!

Nice done! I didn't notice that level of detail before in the movie :) thx for sharing

when smith stops neos punch and he throat fingers him is such an awesome moment

This video never loads. Would love to watch it, based on the comments I read. I also see Im not the only person that can't watch.

bro GREAT video. Thank you for making this!

I don't know if I would call it respect or sportsmanship so much as I would consider that he has taken it personally that Neo saved Morpheus and denied his chance to escape the Matrix. So he wants to finish him off himself, one on one, and take satisfaction in every moment of it. I also wouldn't say he seemed desperate. He knew he had won and expected to finally kill Neo with a somewhat ironic means. You see the grin on his face right before he throws Neo onto the tracks? He sees a way to end it with cruel irony, and in a way that would provide him with the most satisfaction.

Thank you lord baby Satan. I have been looking for a channel like this for a while, can't wait to watch everything. Great content, Keep it up!

Excellent video, I believe that Hugo Weaving said in an interview that the Fight Coordinator put in certain moves because he could only believably punch using his right hand.

I like the "True" show of physical strength, Smith is laying on the bathroom floor and by simply hitting/pounding the floor.. the force "lifts" him up to his feet.. Strong..!!!

The human mind is beautiful.

I don't know why, but Cypher looks like he'd feel really comfortable to be sat on by. Anyone else feel the same way?

I'll come back after I watch this amazing film again. Thanks.

Very well done. Excellent explanations, good editing. Do not change a thing :) Thank you for your very well crafted explanation. You followed the "tell you what I am going to tell you.... explain why it matters... tell you what I said I was going to tell you.... tell you what I just told you" theory. Yes... I am pretty sure I said that wrong, but you probably know what I mean. Simply put, excellent structure to the video.

The matrix is hands down my favorite movie series I remember doing the same thing with the vhs we had lol

you should do a video on your explanation of how neo was able to stop the machines outside of the matrix (reloaded)

Ur On Fire🔥🔥💯 my guy!!! Keep it up Bruh!

I like how you pointed out narrative coherence! This comes from a big fan of The Matrix, I'm happy that you also like this film so much :) P.S. They also removed fists hitting each other in the bathroom fight.

saw it for the first time when i was 12 and its been my favorite movie ever since! i watched it 4 times in one day when i first saw it.

Excellent video. I never knew they edited the movie for other lands.

Wow amazing Seamus thanks for letting me know about this! So good, will pour more details later (its my birthday gotta go out!). But I will say I have seen the Matrix hundreds of times... but I too being from the UK have this sensored version and never realised! Its so disconcerting seeing those headbutts its like outtakes... its like, seconds of footage of something that I've seen hundreds of times not included and its a really bizarre feeling that I haven't seen the full thing! Are there other cutaways cut? I need to get my hands on a US copy now to compare. I have so much to say philosophically and cinematically but I got to go. Thank you so much for making another matrix video! :D

Little thing about that Fingers to the Throat move. I'm pretty sure it was inspired by an old Jet Li film... Fist of Legend? It's the exact same move.

Good analysis, Séamus. Have to say, I'm a huge Matrix fan myself. Beat for beat it does everything at the right moment in terms of narrative pacing and structure and you made some great observations there. (Have to say, I can't get enough of the woman in the red dress scene. Proof that all it takes is words to establish a threat before you see it first-hand). I'd love to see you analyse more films like this. Ever given a thought to character placement? Some films are rich in how they place different players in the story. I'd love to hear your two cents on something like that, although I can't suggest and particular film off the top of my head!

The Matrix reveals some truths about the illusory nature of our reality.

the headbutt was most likely taken out because a headbutt is considered assault with a weapon in the uk

It's hilarious to see someone watch something happen and call it "impossible". Haha.

tested on 2 computers, this video doesn't play , whats up with youtube ?

If only they had applied the same thought process to the sequels.

Well put together....i like

This vid will not play for some reason.

Ok now it's time to watch the matrix

Brilliant!

I didnt even knew it was censored.

I rather thought the Head Butts are a sign of how violent Smith is...PARTICUALLY ever time he heads butts some one messed with the man's shades. Did anyone else notice that?

You deserve way more subscribers.

Damn man ancient, I was 15 when the Matrix was released

Loved it

10:03 This capacity, to bend the environment around the force of his Inner Qi, was said to have been accomplished by Dong Hai Chuan.

for some reason the video won't load at all for me on any of my devices: phone, laptop, ps3, or tablet.

I read the video title as "The butt head motif"

I've clearly watched too much YTP and cannot watch this video seriously lol

Would have been neat if neo purged Smith with the throat poke like the agents corrupt with the chest impale

Makers of matrix just took Plato allegory + Ghost in shell = matrix

I didn't even know the headbutts were removed for some versions. Themoreyouknow...

I´m tryin to watch these vid since i discovered the channel...2 weeks ago. It doesnt play, ever.

Pfffft I do this shit every day and hear faint "that's impossible....." outbursts from awe inspired onlookers as I launch myself 50ft off a wall, into a dagger spin B-) **I NEVER READ REPLIES**

I wonder how they handle in matrix natural deaths, do the people die in the pods and they stop using them as batteries. Or do they go into a "coma" like state and they are still used as batteries?

Why Don't They Like Head-Butts?

what does the helicopter crash with Trinity symbolize? What exactly did Neo, do? That Morpheus wanted Trinity to finally see and admit..?

Very interesting perspective

love the movie all 1,2,3

Nice video ^_^ you got a new sub

watch the fights in Final Fantasy Advent Children - they have the same sort of "Ladder" that the Matrix (and other great fighting movies) has.

headbutts are too violent for me

I wonder why they took the headbutting out in those specific versions of the film.

Well put together.. One of favourite movies.. Like to see one on the 2014 movie Lucy...

Video is broken.

fractals.

I love this movie. :)

Its crazy cause this world is the matrix.

I like how you broke down the film, and your passion for the Matrix is intense, but it took you 9 minutes to start talking about the headbutt motif, and of those few minutes spent covering it you got the point across fairly quickly but became redundant. Good effort though

Yooooooo, 10:46 I had no idea Morpheus used this move on Neo. The same move Neo used on Smith during his first triumphant moment. and well... we know Smith won't be giving his feedback in the comment section.

It isn't good vs evil. The machines need to put people in the matrix for energy and computing power. The only reason the humans fight is because their is no consent and the machines attack them.

great video, but I thought this was gonna explain why the headbutting was removed. like if it was too violent of an action somehow

Great vid

Why does not the vid play?

Anyone else having problems with the video loading, cuz on both my devices this just don't work.

The typo in your title lends to an entirely different kind of video ... xD

Another good one! I tend to watch movies the same way. A lot! Do the Force Awakens! then do IV V & VI yo. Oh and Terminator 2!

Any one every have premonitions/clairvoyance dreams? Where every detail down to the color of the finger nails are of what you envisioned? I've had a few of these years before I ever visited a place or met a certain person. I'm not religious nor do I believe in this sort of thing until it happened 3 times.

keep grinding on matrix, do nothing but videos about the matrix

I feel like you have been living in a matrix yourself. A set of rules that prohibited you from watching the real movie. even though you've seen this movie for years you never knew of the truth.

Subbed

I wanna know why the headbutts were removed from your country's version. 🤔

So why exactly were the headbutts censored in the UK?

Smith was a virus. Neo was a virus blocker... According to the next couple films.