"The Matrix" definitely has some (not so hidden) messages, but they are somewhat different from what you may expect. These messages come mostly from
Christianity, Gnosticism, and Buddhism.
As they say, you should hear it "straight from the horse's mouth":
whatisthematrix.warnerbros.com...
One piece of information that is lacking from that page is this - in Gnosticism, the "toll collectors" of this dark world always come in groups of
3. If you pay attention, you will notice that "agents" in "The Matrix" come in groups of 3 as well.
Here's what Gnosticism has to say about it:
The Master said: James, behold, I shall reveal to you the path of your redemption. Whenever you are siezed and you undergo death-pangs (mortal
fear), a multitude of Archons may turn on you, thinking they can capture you. And in particular, three of them will sieze you, those who pose as toll
collectors. Not only do they demand toll, but they take away souls by theft.
( source:
www.metahistory.org... )
Some of this original Gnostic teaching managed to survive in Christian tradition up to this day, even though Gnosticism was persecuted mercilessly by
all the formal Christian churches later on in the history... which should show how any organized religion can be turned into its opposite, if only
enough power is concentrated in the hands of the few.
The part that managed to survive the persecution is this:
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
One can argue that
"the rulers of the darkness of this world" had really been mistranslated, and that it should actually read as
"the
rulers of this dark world", but that's beyond the point right now.
There is much more in "The Matrix" than people usually think, but the only intent I can see behind it all is to educate. It's hard to spread
knowledge of something that people are not even aware of, and I guess that's why subliminal method is used sometimes. It's just a tool, and like any
other tool, it can either help or harm. It all depends on who is using it. The hardest thing, thus, is to recognize who is using the tool, and to what
end. Let me tell you, it can be pretty confusing sometimes.
By the way, "12 monkeys" is yet another good example of a movie with "hidden" messages. Actually, it's the best movie I have ever seen about time
traveling, and
consistent time loops. And, of course, there are also some references there to the Son, the Father, the consumerism of human
society, the games (games, games, games... more games... political, economic, social games) that make vegetables out of all of us... etc, etc...
You have to know what you are looking for before you can recognize it.