Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
Two words that sum up the Agents' view of humanity: soft, breakable, slow. Delivered with contempt over a wounded Neo, they set up the film's turn, since Neo is human and is about to become something more. Fans quote it when something supposedly superhuman (a machine, a boss, an AI) is about to be beaten by a flesh-and-blood underdog, and it lands harder because the Agent who says it is killed a second later.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for The MatrixShow the scene
In The Matrix (1999), during the rescue of Morpheus, Neo and Trinity are caught on a building roof by an Agent. Neo twists between the Agent's bullets in slow motion but is hit in the shoulder and thigh, and Agent Jones's gun runs empty. A kick lands Neo on the roof, and Jones takes the pistol and levels it at him. This is when he drily says the line. Trinity, who has slipped behind him, puts a .45 to his head and fires; the body that drops turns out to be a helicopter pilot's.
Sources (3)
- Script: The Matrix (IMSDb)Rooftop gunfight after the bullet-time dodgeReference checked
- Wikiquote: The Matrix (film)Agent Jones sectionReference checked
- Wikipedia: The MatrixCast: Robert Taylor as Agent JonesReference checked
Context reviewed
