“No one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.”
Every few years there’s a production that breaks new technical ground. More than story or performance, beyond the high-level quality of the sets, costumes and lighting. Those elements work together to transport the viewer somewhere new and show us things we’ve never seen, and the 90’s brought a spate of these films like Dark City, The 5th Element and Baz Lurhman’s take on Romeo + Juliet. Many of these films are so cutting edge, they instantly date themselves. While bullet time was done to death post-Matrix, the effect still holds up here. In fact, except for the final cheesy flying shot, The Matrix has aged very little. It’s survived the hype, the ripoffs and the sequels, and still rocks as one of the coolest films ever made.
I remember how confusing the opening scenes were the first time I saw this. People behave in strange ways and the question on everyone’s lips is “What is The Matrix?” Happily, The Wachowskis don’t tease this question into a twist finale. You learn very early on, and while there’s a lot of dialogue to come, the immediate revelation comes in an awesome visual set piece. The explanation is done in a visually interesting way. While The Matrix isn’t based on a graphic novel, it does a better job than every other comic book adaptation at making you think you’re looking at art panels come to life.
3 Great Shots From The Matrix
1. Starting on a fetus, pulling back to reveal the Harvester Fields
2. Bullet casings rain down from the helicopter
3. An explosion causes the elevator door to dance
The fist fights are sensational, possibly the best seen in an American film. They are often filmed in long camera takes, and it’s very obvious that Keanu Reeves, Lawrence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss and the others are actually doing it themselves. Even during the action, the imagery is so damn cool, filled with beautiful shots that enhance rather than distract from the excitement.
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