Cinematography:
Bill PopeComposer:
Don DavisCast:
Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster, Joe Pantoliano, Belinda McClory, Robert Taylor, Anthony Ray Parker (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
In the near future, a computer hacker named Neo discovers that all life on Earth may be nothing more than an elaborate facade created by a malevolent cyber-intelligence, for the purpose of placating us while our life essence is "farmed" to fuel the Matrix's campaign of domination in the "real" world. He joins like-minded Rebel warriors Morpheus and Trinity in their struggle to overthrow the Matrix. (Warner Bros. US)
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Reviews (12)
I kept The Matrix in the cool of my closet for a really long time (a decade, actually) and on the one hand it's good that I waited, because I might not have even understood it at the time, but on the other hand I was depriving myself of a perfect piece of filmmaking in terms of script and execution that is undoubtedly worth watching. I enjoyed all the visual and sound effects immensely, as well as the Matrix problem itself, which definitely had something going for it. Of the cast, I liked the badass Carrie-Anne Moss and the extra sleazy Hugo Weaving the most. In short, a film that didn't knock me off my feet like other films, but as far as quality goes, it has it in every way.
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An unassuming film that changed sci-fi, changed action, and changed all of pop culture. A cult that I always enjoy watching again and that will always amaze me how everything fit together for Lana and Lilly Wachowski: characters you care about from the first encounter, a story that is not one hundred percent original but combined in a way that leaves you speechless, and special effects that will blow your mind: the helicopter, dodging bullets, and the final chase. A unique film, not a trilogy. There can only be one Matrix.
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A masterpiece that indirectly established a new wave of action movies for the new millennium. Since 1999, countless directors have tried to copy the action from The Matrix, some were more successful, others less so. But I dare say that no one has been able to replicate the magic of this film. The action itself is excellent (perhaps occasionally overly effects-driven for my taste) and I truly enjoy certain parts of it. The excellent music, the cool costumes, and the overall style of the film suit me quite well. Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne overflow with charisma, and the Wachowski siblings' inventiveness is miles ahead. I wouldn't dare to say which part of the trilogy is the best, but the first one is undoubtedly the best-written and most original – and not just because it was the first...
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I remember that during the premiere of The Matrix, a friend came with his eyes wide open and declared that he had seen the best film of his life. In the late 90s, The Matrix brought about a revival of the dying sci-fi genre, not so much in terms of content, but rather visually, in editing, and overall style that appealed to the young generation influenced by the phenomenon of computers and video games. It brought dynamism, action, and cyberpunk elements to the genre, which had long dominated the literary field of sci-fi. I would not classify The Matrix as a cyberpunk film, as it lacks the sophistication and depth of thought, which it replaces with flashy shootouts and martial arts fights, as well as bombastic special effects. However, I agree with the idea that it is a groundbreaking and style-defining film that has greatly influenced the genre, brought in many new fans, and led to many imitators. Unfortunately, the next two sequels did not confirm the creative ambitions, as they had a lazy script and terrible dialogues, and damaged the promisingly constructed alternative world. For me, The Matrix is a film that visually impressed me at first glance, but even then, I disliked the shallow elements of cheap action movies, and its image has faded over the years. Nevertheless, I will still give it a weak four-star rating. However, I must say that I would prefer if the Wachowskis took a less easy path and made a film based on a purely cyberpunk and biotechnological style, combining the views of H. R. Giger and William Gibson. There are a few scenes like that in the film, such as Neo's awakening in the power plant cell, but unfortunately, there are too few of them compared to the video game shootouts. Overall impression: 70%.
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In my opinion, this film has started something... Its impressive visual rendering and stylistic polishing are still copied by many action films today, and (unfortunately) few take the time to invent an elaborate plot that would have a fairly solid philosophical footing (I don't mean the spawn that the flock of furious interpreters of every little thing have created around the film). The Matrix worked as an action film (the fights are simply a treat!), as science fiction and as a film with a deeper idea. It's certainly not cyberpunk, as many unlearned people claim, and it's certainly nothing original – most of The Matrix's "source" files are not commonly known to our culture, although all you have to do is go through the relevant sections of Japanese cinema. The Matrix is one of the first messengers of the "new hi-tech" film with everything that it encompasses, the messenger of a new futuristic conception of the action element in the story. At the same time, I won't be far from the truth when I say that it will always be a cult film – just as it's hard to take it out of the family of classic sci-fi films.
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Gallery (124)
Photo © 1999 Warner Bros.
![The Matrix - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/168/759/168759167_5nqce6.jpg)
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