The Matrix

To Thomas “Neo” Anderson, the world is fine.  He has a steady 9-5 day job and cracks the most unhackable codes by night.  The world, however, is not fine.  In fact, the world Neo lives in isn’t even real.  Freed from a false reality by a freedom fighter named Morpheus, Neo learns the truth: That Machines have long enslaved humanity in a virtual prison and will do whatever it takes to keep them there.  But Neo is special, a long awaited messiah who will be able to turn the tide against the Machines.  The door to a new kind of possibility has opened but only Neo can choose to cross it and become the champion humanity sorely needs.

In 1999, while many of us were anxiously waiting for the return of Star Wars, one simple question took the world by storm, “What is The Matrix?”  And when that question was answered, man did we not expect what we saw.  Like Star Wars before it, The Matrix changed the way we looked at science fiction and movie making forever.  Much like the characters in the film, we were seeing a brand new world of possibility unfold and it was one of the final definitive game changers in cinema in the 20^th century.  All that being said…does it still hold up today?

It’s impossible to start talking about The Matrix without highlighting both its stellar plot and the mind blowing visual effects that made us all echo Keanu Reeves’ infamous “whoa”.  The Wachowkskis found new ways to practically bend gravity to their will to make their character perform above average, nigh Anime level feats of epic awesome.  Often parodied and cloned but never perfectly copied, the visual effects of The Matrix still dazzle.  From the opening rooftop chase sequence to Neo and Morpheus’ training session to the lobby shootout, there’s a plethora of classic action scenes to enjoy.  Best of all, the action goes hand in hand with a classic but stylishly enhanced tale of fantasy vs. reality.  When faced with two worlds: one near pristine and perfect (with a massive amount of green tint) and the other a nightmarish dystopia, who’s to say which is the proper reality to accept.  Other themes of choice and free will and the meaning of life are added to great effect and none of the dialogue is ever boring.  This is a smartly written movie, showing that while the action may be front and center, story has not been sacrificed as a result, unlike other modern day blockbusters.

The Matrix sports some career defining performances from a stellar cast.  Keanu Reeves has some of the most quotable lines and delivers them in a zen but bewildered way (“I know Kung Fu.).  Laurence Fishburne brings mystery and coolness to Morpheus, the teacher who can preach and kick your ass at the same time.  Hugo Weaving is delightfully menacing as main antagonist Agent Smith.  He knows he’s in charge and has more wit about his character than an emotionless program would ever let on.  Joe Pantoliano is probably the most entertaining and over the top of the cast as the shifty Cipher.  Not the be left out, Carrie Anne Moss definitely brings the Anime Girl Power to Trinity.  She can kick ass in leather but also remind you that she has a key role on the ship and takes no sass.  Gloria Foster also turns a sweet performance as they mysterious, cookie loving, chain smoking Oracle, giving the film both a nice dose of humor and added fantastical wisdom.  Special shoutou to Marcus Chong who plays Tank, Morpheus’ operator who has the coolest online handle ever.

Im really trying to rack my brain to think of anything that might be a negative thought about The Matrix.  It isn’t perfect.  Some of the acting can be a little stiff from some of the supporting staff and there is a lull in the action in favor of an interrogation scene that goes on a bit longer than needed.  Otherwise, this film is a classic and is a close to near perfect live action Anime as we’ve gotten in the last couple of decades.  The Matrix has inspired so much in the genre of scifi and action cinema and the same has translated back to the Anime which it was likewise inspired by (and we’ll get to that in greater detail when we review The Animatrix).  The action kicks ass, the story still has an aura of mystery and wonder even after the key question “What is The Matrix” has ben answered, and it still reminds us that when you get behind the lens of a camera to film a movie…you can make a world where anything is possible.

9.5/10

Thus the legacy that is The Matrix Franchise was launched.  So how do you follow up such a game changing epic?  Wellllll…you roll out two sequels back to back in the same year…maybe not a great plan?  What do I mean by that, well just check back tomorrow for my review of The Matrix Reloaded to find out.