The Matrix

What if I told you I’m finally doing a review on this movie. The science fiction action movie The Matrix, was released on March 31, 1999. Directed by the Wachowskis, it takes place in both a simulated version of 1999 and the real world version of what might be 2199. Starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, and Carrie-Anne Moss, it is rated R.

A computer programmer named Thomas Anderson is also secretly a computer hacker by the alias of Neo, searching for answers on something mysterious known as the Matrix. After meeting two people named Morpheus and Trinity, he ends up learning the shocking truth. The world he lives in is the Matrix, a false simulated world humans are held prisoner in by artificial intelligence. The real world is a post-apocalyptic place that is many years in the future from the time he knows. The real world has some humans who have managed to be freed from the Matrix and teamed up to free more people. Neo is told he is the One, a prophetic chosen one who will be able to help them gain an advantage over the machines so they can free humanity. As Neo starts to train, a program called Agent Smith seeks to crush their rebellion. Can Neo fulfill his destiny of being the One?

As one of the most famous and critically acclaimed movies of all time, The Matrix has earned its place in popular culture. I myself am quite a fan. In 2003, it got a second and third movie to wrap up the story with The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, as well as an anime anthology film called The Animatrix. 2021 also saw the release of a fourth film with The Matrix Resurrections, though I was not a fan of that. Which is not even including the video games and comic books they made to expand on the franchise, as well as books published by fans talking about the genius of The Matrix. So, having rewatched these movies recently, I figured I could talk about why this film was so respected.

The story is quite deep. Possibly the biggest reason for this film having the impact it does is how much thinking the plot is meant to make you do. They utilized multiple religions and philosophies as a part of the story. The concept is based around the theory that we are in a simulation that multiple people have speculated about over the years. While I personally don’t think there’s any validity to that, the movie makes a very interesting story out of it. They also address the issue of artificial intelligence and our fears about a potential machine uprising. I would argue this has only gotten more relevant, given the advances we’ve made with AI in recent years. And even the plot itself does take some turns despite familiar territory. It’s all around an intriguing premise.

The film also works quite well visually. There’s a contrast that the simulated world looks green and light, representing what computer codes looked like at the time, whereas the real world looks black and dark. This also works for the symbolism in that the simulated world looks nice, disguising its maliciousness, whereas the real world looks harsh, but at least you know it is real. The most famous thing about this movie, which was parodied for years, was the Bullet Time effect. This relates to how the characters move around incredibly fast during fights, particularly when being shot at. This helps make the action scenes stand out more and be more awesome spectacles to behold. The best one in my and many peoples’ opinion is a shootout scene in a lobby that utilizes the best of gunplay, acrobatic stunts, and getting the most out of your location. This is a visually cool movie.

This movie has well casted actors playing the parts. Neo is played by Keanu Reeves, an actor I’m quite a big fan of. Neo is a typical hero’s journey character, going from a normal guy the audience can relate to, to trying to be the One that he’s apparently meant to be. Morpheus is played by Laurence Fishburne. He is the patient, experienced mentor who delivers on some of the more epic moments. Trinity is played by Carrie-Anne Moss. She also had guidance for Neo and delivered some cool moments, like the opening scene. All three of these performances are generally stoic, as they don’t show much emotion, but this is intentional to get a vibe for how they operate compared to the machines. Speaking of which, Agent Smith is played by Hugo Weaving. He is a memorable villain delivering entertaining quotes that make him stand out from others in the Matrix, while still making him an intimidating threat. The other actors do their jobs effectively too.

Overall, this is a classic movie. It delivered on thought provoking ideas, while also being a groundbreaking movie for its visuals, action, and actors. While it’s not perfect, as there are some flaws with things being underdeveloped, it is still well worth the watch. I recommend the other two original movies in the trilogy and the anime too. Watch it and I’m going to show you a world without missing The Matrix.

Before people in-universe are freed from the Matrix, they mainly spend time on their computers at home. While they did have lives outside of that, unfortunately in real life many people are shut-ins who don’t want to ever leave their house or interact with people, spending time with technology instead. Nothing wrong with technology, but too much of it is not healthy mentally. Usually it’s the result of things like trauma, anxiety, or depression that makes them want to live like this. When it comes to encouraging people to stop being shut-ins, there are important things to focus on. Like taking small steps, seeking therapy, making a daily routine, doing things you used to like to do, slowly but surely interact with more people, relieve stress, and get help from friends and family. If you want to help shut-ins, spread the message about this issue so more people will think about making a change. Try to make people know they are not alone. We can help people hiding from the world if we all band together as a community.