And yet one thing appears clear: the latest film, intentionally or not, is the most powerful pro-Israel movie since "Cast a Giant Shadow" -- the story of the Independence War -- and "Operation Thunderbolt" -- the story of the Entebbe rescue. Not that Israel itself is even mentioned.

I don't really know what to make of the Matrix 2's pretty obvious allegories to Israel. There is the possiblity that the references are unintentional and merely culled from the masss of pop culture and pseudo-religious homages that permeate the film. There's also the possiblity that Judaism and Zionism are merely two among a multitude of political and philosophical ideas that run through the film. But the references to Zion and its beseiged yet vibrant state are extremely prominent - prominent enough for the Egyptian government to ban the film - so maybe there is something more going on here. Anyone know if the Warchowskis are members of the tribe?