QWhat is the wall of TV screens seen when Neo gets arrested?
AAt first it looks just like a screen wall that you would expect in a police station's guard room, to monitor several areas at the same time, but that does not explain why Neo is displayed on every screen. Actually, the sequel The Matrix Reloaded later revealed this wall to be located in The Source, which is actually the origin of the signal that constitutes the entire Matrix. In the Source, the Architect resides, a Machine program who created the Matrix. The Architect apparently keeps a close watch on Neo, and the reason for this is that Neo is a complex and intricate part in the Machines' ploy to keep the humans subdued.
QWhy does Agent Smith remove his earphone when talking to Morpheus?
AHe doesn't want the other Agents to know what he's saying to Morpheus. The Agents seem to operate collectively, finishing each others' sentences at times and certainly knowing what each is thinking. Smith's actions may largely be symbolic to show that he's able to turn this collective consciousness off and, in this case, has a reason to. His discussion with Morpheus implies that he is much more "human" than his colleagues/ He shows frustration, exhaustion, impatience, and hatred of the Matrix itself and his place in it.
QAny recommendations for other films like "The Matrix"?
AOne movie often compared to The Matrix is Inception (2010). Movies about memories or altered reality (whether distorted or artificial) include Total Recall (1990) (or its remake Total Recall (2012)), Twelve Monkeys (1995), The Truman Show (1998), Mr. Nobody (2009), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Dark City (1998), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) and Abre los ojos (1997) (or Vanilla Sky (2001), which is a remake of the previous one). For movies that deal with population control, check out Dark City (1998), Gattaca (1997), Equilibrium (2002) and The Island (2005). Movies about double lives in cyberspace include eXistenZ (1999) and The Thirteenth Floor (1999). Like The Matrix, the actors in Charlie's Angels (2000) also studied martial arts solely for the film and did their own fight scenes. If cyberpunk is of interest, check out Johnny Mnemonic (1995).
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