<div style='font: 14pt "Sans Serif"; text-align: justify; padding: 0% 15% 0% 15%; '>I posted this somewhere else and decided I'd post this here.
I'm not going to explain every facet here as that would take a ton of time I don't have right now. But I'll answer the following and in the process, answer a bunch of other stuff:
<h1><i>WTF happened at the end?</i> </h1>
Before we can explain the end, you have to remember what's happened
previously in the movie. Note how earlier in the movie, after Neo
lost his sight, he opened a sort of third "inner eye". FYI, this is based
partly on Jungian philosophy (read "Inner Eye" by Jung and Cayce), but
it's not necessary to understand this deeply because the movie tells you
everything you need to know.
After Neo forcefully has this third eye opened, you are supposed to notice how he's able
to still see all the machines in the so-called "Machine World" as gold and still
see everything in the Matrix just as always (as green code). (NOTE: This has
interestng implications for Seraph who appears golden in the Matrix). BUT, he still can't
see Trinity, his ship, or anything else that's not in the Matrix or not part of the
Machine World. This is *incredibly* important!
Now, note during Neo's fight with Bane, Neo is able to see Bane's true form...that is,
Bane was really Agent Smith. And Agent Smith appears golden to Neo, just as if Smith were
a machine..which he is, in the Machine World.
NOW, remember an important line from the Oracle (it was during one of those boring "talky talk" parts
of the movie :) ). The Oracle tells Neo his power comes from the Source and extends into the machine
world. The Source is a connection between the Machine World and the Matrix, and so Neo is able to gain a measure
of control over BOTH! *This* is why Neo is able to throw up a hand a blow up robots whenever he feels
like it.
Now understanding of THESE things are important to understand the question
originally posed -- what in the flying #### happened in the end?
Simply put -- Neo becomes a machine ( and thus directly tapped into the source ) when Agent Smith
"takes over" his body. REMEMBER, when Smith takes over someone's body, parts of that person hangs around
(remember the Oracle's words coming from Smith's mouth as Neo's beaten body lay in that crator) AND
that person becomes a machine in the Machine World (ie, like Bane was). So Neo becomes a machine in the
Machine World (note Neo's golden form at the end of the film when the camera is looking at the world in "machine
view") and uses Smith's connection to all the programs/people/etc that he took over in the Matrix to subsequently free those people (from Smith, NOT the Matrix).
When you see the movie again, it's important to carefully look at what's been shown an listen to what's being
said at all times. I did that and I'm still seeing new stuff after watching the movie 3 times. There's *tons*
of other stuff to discuss really, but I'm tired and I gotta get up tomorrow. ;)
I need a drink. I'd be happy to discuss other explanations and views also.</div>
I'm not going to explain every facet here as that would take a ton of time I don't have right now. But I'll answer the following and in the process, answer a bunch of other stuff:
<h1><i>WTF happened at the end?</i> </h1>
Before we can explain the end, you have to remember what's happened
previously in the movie. Note how earlier in the movie, after Neo
lost his sight, he opened a sort of third "inner eye". FYI, this is based
partly on Jungian philosophy (read "Inner Eye" by Jung and Cayce), but
it's not necessary to understand this deeply because the movie tells you
everything you need to know.
After Neo forcefully has this third eye opened, you are supposed to notice how he's able
to still see all the machines in the so-called "Machine World" as gold and still
see everything in the Matrix just as always (as green code). (NOTE: This has
interestng implications for Seraph who appears golden in the Matrix). BUT, he still can't
see Trinity, his ship, or anything else that's not in the Matrix or not part of the
Machine World. This is *incredibly* important!
Now, note during Neo's fight with Bane, Neo is able to see Bane's true form...that is,
Bane was really Agent Smith. And Agent Smith appears golden to Neo, just as if Smith were
a machine..which he is, in the Machine World.
NOW, remember an important line from the Oracle (it was during one of those boring "talky talk" parts
of the movie :) ). The Oracle tells Neo his power comes from the Source and extends into the machine
world. The Source is a connection between the Machine World and the Matrix, and so Neo is able to gain a measure
of control over BOTH! *This* is why Neo is able to throw up a hand a blow up robots whenever he feels
like it.
Now understanding of THESE things are important to understand the question
originally posed -- what in the flying #### happened in the end?
Simply put -- Neo becomes a machine ( and thus directly tapped into the source ) when Agent Smith
"takes over" his body. REMEMBER, when Smith takes over someone's body, parts of that person hangs around
(remember the Oracle's words coming from Smith's mouth as Neo's beaten body lay in that crator) AND
that person becomes a machine in the Machine World (ie, like Bane was). So Neo becomes a machine in the
Machine World (note Neo's golden form at the end of the film when the camera is looking at the world in "machine
view") and uses Smith's connection to all the programs/people/etc that he took over in the Matrix to subsequently free those people (from Smith, NOT the Matrix).
When you see the movie again, it's important to carefully look at what's been shown an listen to what's being
said at all times. I did that and I'm still seeing new stuff after watching the movie 3 times. There's *tons*
of other stuff to discuss really, but I'm tired and I gotta get up tomorrow. ;)
I need a drink. I'd be happy to discuss other explanations and views also.</div>