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In the Matrix, why didn't the agent "Dodge This" bullet?


In the Matrix movie, Neo shoots several rounds at an agent, only to see the agent flex and twist to dodge every bullet. When Neo runs out of bullets, the agent tries to shoot him, only to be stopped when Trinity points a gun at his head and says, "Dodge this."






By estimating the distance the bullets travel when Neo tries to shoot him (about 40 to 50 feet), and knowing the speed of the bullets (A typical 9mm projectile moves near 1400 feet per second.), and the number of bullets fired (I counted 20 shots from Neo's 2 handguns.), you can calculate the agent's reaction time at around 0.028 to .035 seconds.


The math to calculate his reaction time is simple. (50 feet / 1400 fps = .0357 seconds) The bullet took .0357 seconds to cross the distance between Neo and the agent, so the agent's reaction time must be even faster. That reaction time must include the time to perceive bullet coming, time to make a decision on how to dodge, and then actually move. If he dodged just one bullet, you can call that lucky or maybe just fast enough. He dodges 20 in rapid succession, so he must have a really fast reaction time.


The math to calculate how much time he did have is simple too. Let's say half a second for Trinity to say the "D" in "Dodge this." .500 seconds / .035 seconds is 14.3. He could have dodged her bullet 14 times before she even finished the letter "D". If you consider the entire sentence as two seconds, then he could have dodged 30 to 40 bullets in that time.


He could have waltzed around the rooftop, killed her with a single hand chop to her neck, killed Neo the same way, and still have time left over to ponder the meaning of life as the bullet left the barrel.


The agent didn't dodge Trinity's bullet. He doesn't do a thing except stand there and take a single bullet.


Why didn't the agent "dodge this"?


Edit to add sources of information.





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