The Matrix Movie Review

A mind-bending fusion of action & ideology, The Matrix redefined sci-fi cinema. Groundbreaking in vision & rich in meaning, it still electrifies with every frame.

Genre: Action / Sci-Fi

Director: The Wachowskis

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano, Marcus Chong, Matt Doran, Belinda McClory, Julian Arahanga & Gloria Foster. 

Run Time: 136 min.

US Release: 31 March 1999

UK Release: 11 June 1999

German Release: 17 June 1999

If there ever was a picture that influenced my love for cinema more than Star Wars, it must be the Wachowskis’ sci-fi spectacle! Released in 1999, my parents decided that I was too young to watch it in cinemas, a torture as everyone around me in school was talking about it, philosophising about what the deeper meaning behind it could be.

I was first allowed to see this cyberpunk epic a year later, when my parents bought the VHS. Since then, The Matrix has been a constant companion throughout my adolescent years. It was a must-watch for me, showing it to all my friends, who hadn’t seen it until then. I popped the DVD in it at least once a month, without ever getting bored of it! So, come with me down the rabbit hole to Wonderland, and take the red pill if you dare read my review for… The Matrix!

----  WARNING!!! THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!!! ----

When an intriguing stranger leads computer hacker Neo to a forbidden underworld, Neo finds the shocking truth to the question - “What is the Matrix?” Enslaved for thousands of years, he discovers that what he perceived as his life is nothing more than an elaborate deception of an ancient cyber-intelligence. With the help of his saviours, Morpheus, Trinity, plus Tank, Neo fights to wake up the rest of humanity to defeat the machines forever.

First and foremost, I need to give props to the marketing team, because the trailers, including their associated website - www.whatisthematrix.com - created intrigue, without spoiling one bit of the narrative. That is already fantastic writing on behalf of the advertisement department alone! The film, however, took it a step further.  

The plot itself is as contemporary as it was twenty years ago, maybe even more today if we watch how attached people are to their smartphones, social media profiles, as well as other online platforms. I am no exception in this case. While the story is nothing new, as a lot of the cyberpunk style inspiration came from previous sources, such as Ghost in the Shell or the novel “The Neuromancer” by author William Gibson, which gave the movie its title. Yet it managed to be something of its own by injecting it with mythos and philosophy.

A perfect example of this is how the main character’s path echoes that of messianic figures in religions, especially Christianity and Buddhism. The path itself is a parable of French sociologist Jean Baudrillard’s “Simulacres et Simulation”, combined with Greek philosopher Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave”. The martial arts are the top layer, visually stylish, cool, to draw a wider audience, but at its core, it is a masterfully crafted, ambitious piece of art that forces viewers to question their own existence. 

Conversations between characters are always rich, expressing dense thematics; however, it never feels like talking down to its viewers. On the contrary, dialogues are presented clearly, never losing accessibility. 

Keanu Reeves, in the lead role, gave a stoic performance that suited the persona of Thomas Anderson, aka Neo. He is relatable, even though the path of “The Chosen One” is otherworldly. Reeves gave an incredibly physical portrayal. Playing Neo’s love interest as Trinity, the name yet another Christian reference, is Carrie-Anne Moss. Equally as impressive physically, Moss gave a strong, commanding presence that balanced persistence with tenderness. Their romance was subtle, but suiting the tone of the blockbuster perfectly.

Laurence Fishburne drew a lot of inspiration from mythical mentors, just like religious leaders, for his part as Morpheus. The character is technically a version of the Panchen Lama, as well as John the Baptist, tasked to find, then guide the One. Fishburne gave Morpheus gravitas, charisma. His faith in Neo, anchored the plot emotionally. 

Hugo Weaving as the villain Agent Smith, gave an inhuman recital by crafting specific speech patterns and movements that felt slightly robotic. Weaving focused on the soul fact that Smith is a computer program, turning him into a fantastic villain. Pure reason, no emotion. 

Most of the film’s originality was constructed through its visuals. The directing brothers, together with DP Bill Pope, merged practical effects with groundbreaking digital technology, adding the spectacle of Hong Kong martial arts choreography to it. The actors were trained in wire-fu techniques that gave fighting segments a dance-like energy unseen in Hollywood as of that time. The world of the Matrix was doused in a green tint, while the “real world” was covered in a blue-ish/grey hue to symbolise the dystopian world. The camera made use of fluid tracking movements, adding a sense of impossibility to the action. 

Most prominent is the use of the groundbreaking “bullet time effect”. It was created by mounting a rig of still cameras around the actor to create the contradictory frozen-yet-moving effect. That scene became the flick’s visual signature, turning it into a pop-cultural phenomenon to date.

The score, composed by Don Davis, used a mixture of traditional symphonic scoring with more experimental techniques to match the movie’s balance of action plus philosophy. The sound effects became as iconic as the effects themselves, especially the rippling “swoosh” sounds of the bullet time effect. 

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Verdict: The Wachowskis created a phenomenon! Not only did it change filmmaking overall, but it was a landmark that was way ahead of its time. It managed to fuse thought-provoking thematics, philosophical, spiritual context, and existential meaning with ass-kicking martial arts action. The younger audience had something to “wow” about, as the older onlookers could enjoy a deeper meaning in the dialogue. The story, though not new, feels unique and is more relevant than ever. The dialogue scenes are clear and understandable, even with the heavy subjects it discusses. The groundbreaking effects are still jaw-droppingly magnificent, while the cinematography adds a layer of impossibility to the whole picture. The actors are magnificent, even though they restrain their emotions. Of course, The Matrix deserves a 10 out of 10.

This is one of my personal top ten movies & an absolute recommendation of mine. I probably shouldn’t even bother to ask, but if you haven’t seen it yet, what are you waiting for? Buy it on Blu-ray, or stream it, but for the love of god, watch it!