Movies
‘The Matrix’ Was Awesome Because of Jet Li?! Say What?!
A new video was brought to my attention that shows a handful of films that inspired were lifted in The Wachowski Brothers’ The Matrix.
Clearly, the concept behind the Keanu Reeves sci-fi thriller is a wonderful and fresh take on an age-old conspiracy theory, but that’s not the only thing that made it so revolutionary.
While the story arc and shocking finale (that’s on par with Planet of the Apes) created the icing on the cake, the incredible action put on display is what cemented it as an instant classic.
But, who knew that most of the action was lifted from the great Jet Li‘s catalogue? Fist of Legend is one of my all-time favorite action films, and yet I failed to notice the similarities between the fights in that and Matrix. That’s just the tip of the rip-off iceberg as Culturegraphy breaks down some of the biggest offenders – from scenes lifted from Total Recall all the way to Once Upon a Time in China!
Does this take away from The Matrix‘s legendary status in sci-fi cinema? I don’t think it’s that big of a deal; if anything, it shows that the Wachowski’s are huge fans of some of the best films ever made, and felt inspired to create the same kind of impact in their film. What do you guys think? It’s interesting food for thought, that’s for sure…
Movies
‘Backrooms’ Director Kane Parsons Is No Fan of Generative AI: “Defeats the Purpose Entirely for Me”
There has been a lot of talk recently about filmmakers embracing generative AI as part of the filmmaking process, from Darren Aronofsky to Martin Scorsese. But what about filmmakers that are against the use of Gen AI for creative pursuits? You can count 20-year-old Backrooms director Kane Parsons among that group, which should give you some hope for the future.
In a new chat with The Australian, the self-taught young filmmaker makes it crystal clear that he won’t be using generative AI in any of his upcoming filmmaking projects.
“I think I’m in the same boat as most well-adjusted people,” Parsons tells the outlet. “If I could snap my fingers and make generative AI disappear forever, I probably would. Creatively, I get no enjoyment from using those tools. It defeats the purpose entirely for me.”
“What interests me more is interrogating it artistically,” Parsons notes. “We already live in a world where you walk outside and there are billboards and signs that are obvious AI slop. That’s become part of our visual reality. To me, generative AI feels less like innovation than a symptom of a broader cultural and economic rot.”
He explains, “I’m interested in using that iconography in art – not using AI to make the art itself, but examining what it represents. I definitely want to explore it further in future projects.”
Kane Parsons also notes during the interview with The Australian, “… there’s so much at stake and so many genuinely harmful consequences already happening.”
Backrooms marks young prodigy Kane Parsons’ feature directorial debut, and it’s based on his own series of YouTube videos that were brought to life using Blender, the open-source 3D computer graphics software suite. So it’s no surprise that Parsons, who has hand-made his filmmaking career up to this point, isn’t buying into the hoopla around Generative AI.
His debut feature is the #1 movie in the world, so perhaps he’s onto something.
What’s next from Kane Parsons, you ask? Stay tuned…
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