Thomas A. Anderson (Keanu Reeves) leads a seemingly ordinary life. By day he’s an average computer programmer and by night he is a computer hacker that goes by the name Neo. One day he finds himself on the run from the police when he’s targeted by a legendary hacker named Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne). It is from him in which Neo learns the truth about the world which he thought was real and joins the rebellion against “the Matrix.”
Have you ever had a dream, Neo, that you were so sure was real? What if you were unable to wake from that dream? How would you know the difference between the dream world and the real world?
This is the one film on my blind spots list this year that I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t seen fully until now. It’s a film so ingrained in our popular culture; I’m sure there have been times in the past where I might be in some odd situation where I’ll say “I feel like I’m in the Matrix,” knowing that in saying that I’m referring to some alternate reality. Well, at least now I fully understand what is meant by “being in the Matrix” after seeing this movie. Unfortunately, I was a little too young to see it when it first came out, but I do wish I had seen it at least a few years after its release as opposed to 15 years later. It’s evident that The Matrix inspired future action and sci-fi movies, but watching it now after seeing more recent genre movies prior to it, I can’t help but notice some of its age with some of its visual effects. Still, it helms a unique story and shows how far the movie industry has come in almost two decades.
It’s fitting that a milestone film like this came out in the year 1999, almost foreshadowing what’s to come from movies in the 21st century. For better or worse, many movies released today are saturated with CGI, and even outside of the movie business technology has grown exponentially. Now it’s even possible to live out virtual realities…though hopefully, we’re not living it to the extent that the characters were in The Matrix.
The Matrix (1999)
Directed by: Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano
Oscar Nominations: Best Film Editing [WON]; Best Sound [WON]; Best Sound Effects Editing [WON]; Best Visual Effects [WON]
Rating: 4.5/5
This was the first film my brother ever bought on DVD, and now I’m in possession of that DVD, so I guess it’s time for a re-watch. I saw it when it first played in theaters, and remember hardly anything about it. And hey, you have a new avatar!
Did you ever see the two sequels? I’ve heard they don’t live up to the original (as is usually the case), but I’m curious to check them out… I almost want to re-watch this again though just to absorb everything now that I know the story.
And yes it’s a new avatar! Thought it was time for a little change as my old one was from 2011 haha.
I never saw the sequels, so I don’t know if they ‘live up’ or not, but at some point, once I watch the original again, I’ll probably watch the follow-ups. And a nice avatar photo, by the way…mine goes back beyond 2011, so it’s probably due for a change as well!
Pingback: Films in 2015: August | cinema cities
Pingback: Blindsided by BELLE ET LA BÊTE | The Matinee | Cinematic Passion & Perspective