If you have any awareness of pop culture you know the Matrix. When it came in 1999 it was a surprise hit. It spawned two bigger budget sequels that made oodles of money but seemed to get progressively worse. It instantly changed sci-fi and action movies, though it seemed that it was used more for parody than inspiration.
The Set-Up
Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) is a computer programmer who leads a boring life during the day. But at night he is Neo, a notorious hacker. His hacking brings him to the attention of the authorities. Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), another well known hacker, also notices Neo. Morpheus is considered a dangerous terrorist by the authorities.
Morpheus and his crew help Neo escape the authorities and then Morpheus and Neo meet face to face. Morpheus tells Neo the truth – the world as we know it a computer program known as the Matrix. What Neo thinks is real is just the program he is experiencing. Humans are slaves to machines who have plugged the humans into the Matrix and are using their bodies for energy. Morpheus offers to show Neo the real world; Neo accepts. Neo is unplugged from the Matrix and awakes in a post apocalyptic world.
Morpheus believes that Neo is the One who can free the rest of humanity and destroy the machines. He trains Neo and shows him the secrets of the Matrix. The rest of the film follows whether or not Neo becomes humanity’s savior.
Why It’s Great
The idea is so cool. The first time you watch this movie it’s something you’ve never considered. But the more you think about it seems possible.
The movie is a perfect mix of allegory, philosophy, sci-fi, and action. It has arguably the best fight scenes of all time. It’s an efficient re-telling of the monomyth. It updates the Jesus story with enough sci-fi twists to keep it entertaining despite how predictable it is.
If you like action or sci-fi movies at all you should have already watched this movies. It’s the best sci-fi of the past 25 years.