The Matrix

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Looking back, 1999 was actually a pretty solid year for movies. It brought us some disappointments (I'm looking at you, 'Episode I'), but we also got things like 'The Sixth Sense', 'Fight Club', 'Office Space', 'The Iron Giant', 'The Green Mile', the list goes on.

Some of these were also revolutionary films, paving the way for more films like them, and some of them did this to a fault. The best example is probably 'The Matrix'. Although 'The Blair Witch Project' comes close, with the concept of "found footage", 'The Matrix' launched the whole "bullet time" thing which has become a primary action movie cliche since (especially with Zack Snyder on the job).

However, to this day, one of the most fun bullet time movies out there is the one that got the ball rolling. It has since become iconic in cinematic history, also giving us the stereotypical black leather of the early 00's, and the one and only Keanu Reeves as an action hero. We just thank God that he has since graduated to being John Wick, because as awesome as this movie is, it's hard to say the same about the ever-confusing and almost too deep sequels. The first one just gives us the core concept, leaves the ending open, and I can honestly say from the get-go that I never actually expected a sequel. For my money, the best of what follows is 'The Animatrix', because in retrospect, the sequels kinda go off the rails. But it's all worth at least one watch-through.

We are introduced to Tom Anderson (Keanu Reeves), an average, everyday computer programmer by day, but hacker by night, doing things under his alias, "Neo". Getting straight to the point, since about 90% of everyone has probably seen this, he eventually meets Morpheus who gives him the option to return to his reality, or go deep down a rabbit hole. Choosing the latter, Neo finds himself "awoken", in a dull, dark, nasty looking world that has been taken over by machines. The Matrix was the false reality that Neo was plugged into.

After some further explanation, a team of freedom fighters consisting of Morpheus, Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), Cypher (Joe Pantoliano), and a variety of others start to wonder if Neo could possibly be "The One" - someone with uncanny abilities within The Matrix - which they all have, but this "one" is extra special, and will be able to take on the Agent Smiths (Hugo Weaving) of the Matrix - computer programs built for the purpose of crushing the rebellion.

I think the most appealing thing about this movie is the idea of making the impossible completely possible. This is scene in cool scenes like the building-to-building jump scene, and perhaps best portrayed with the film's bullet-time. But my favourite bit is actually when Neo just plugs into something and learns Kung-Fu in about 3 seconds. Imagine being able to do something that. You'd never have to look for work again! But I digress.

I'm happy to say that 'The Matrix' is actually still a ton of fun to watch. You get Keanu, a lot of cool concepts, a lot of great effects besides bullet-time, a cool, dark, sci-fi atmosphere, and I'd even say a film that really makes you think. I mean, it triggered a whole theory that this whole idea of being plugged into a sort of extreme virtual reality could actually be a thing, and upon death, that's where we find out. Take that with a grain of salt though, it's not quite what I believe. But you have to admit, it's interesting to think about!

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