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Did 'The Matrix' Steal a Scene from TLoDM?

posted 12 years ago by AudiSpeed
3 replies | jump to latest

I only saw part of this movie, but the scene where Jackie Chan is fighting the fishmonger in the market had some scene-for-scene choreography that I recognized from The Matrix. Specifically, the scene when Neo is in training with Morpheus, when he composes himself and then beckons Morpheus with his hand (Jackie does the same pose, but no beckoning). Then there was a move where Jackie got blocked and then used his finger or something, and in The Matrix Neo did the same thing and hit Morpheus's esophagus. And if I'm not mistaken there was a jump scene, although less dramatic than the one in The Matrix where his foot goes through the floor of the Dojo.

So was The Matrix paying homage to this film, or did they just straight rip the scene, or was it just coincidental?

[–] jp3183 11 years ago

I believe it was Morpheus who beckons Neo w/ his hand. Neo does the same to Agent Smith at the end though.

The pose that JC was doing is a homage to Jet Li's interpretation of Wong Fei Hung in the Once Upon a Time in China film series. TLODM aka Drunken Master 2 was supposed to be the first OUATIC film starring JC as Wong Fei Hung (from DM1) w/ Sammo Hung & Yuen Biao as Lam Sai-Wing & Leung Foon respectively (from Magnificent Butcher), and would've been their 4th film together barring cameo roles. Scheduling conflicts lead to the re-casting of Jet Li in the lead role w/ Yuen Biao the only one reprising his role. The film was a phenomenon, thanks to Yuen Woo-Ping (fight director of DM1, MB, & TM) stepping in as the choreographer half-way through filming, and JL's fighting pose became a staple of Wong Fei Hung films: http://youtu.be/e_lgWdpR-tU

JL also paid tribute to JC's interpretation of Wong by using the drunken fist (also choreographed by Woo-Ping) in the film Last Hero in China, a parody of the OUATIC series.

The Wachowski's are heavily influenced by Asian cinema. Clearly using the dual wield style of John Woo's movies w/ Chow Yun-Fat in the gun battles (complete w/ slow-motion). Hence TM is a homage to Hong Kong action films.

As for the rest of your post, I believe it was Agent Smith who Neo hit on the esophagus. I don't recall this being used by JC in DM2. Nor do I recall any scene in both films where anyone's foot goes through the floor.

[–] AudiSpeed 10 years ago

You're right, it's near the last fight scene where Agent Smith and Neo have such impeccable fight form that all moves are blocked and Neo resorts to hitting Smith's esophagus with just his fingers causing Smith to choke. Amazing. :)

That's a lot of good info you included. Thanks.

[–] krakkety 9 years ago

The Matrix has stolen scenes and ideas from countless movies.