The Matrix trilogy is a series of sci-fi action films written and directed by the Wachowski sisters. It comprises The Matrix (1999); The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003), with the fourth installment Matrix Resurrections coming at the end of this year. All the movies were produced by Joel Silver and distributed by Warner Brothers and Village Roadshow Prods. It follows the dystopian future of humanity after a technological apocalypse and takeover by Artificial Intelligence. Keanu Reeves, Carrie Anne-Moss, Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving in pivotal roles.
The Matrix
The Matrix 1999 begins with introducing the alternate reality that the AI have put the humans in, called the Matrix. A group of people, having uncovered this truth of the machines drawing energy from their bodies, begin a community in the reality and revolt against them. Neo, a programmer, is recruited by Morpheus, with the hopes of him being ‘The One’.
Morpheus leads a ship with its crew and takes Neo under his wing to train him. They are constantly going back and forth between the reality and the Matrix to end the war, consult with the Oracle, and train. Their immediate threat in the Matrix are agents, programs whose sole purpose to maintain order by eliminating the real, physical humans. The movie goes around seeking existential and technological solutions, with Neo acting as hope for humanity. We can see the extents to which technology could control our lives.
The Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix Reloaded 2003 begins on a high note, with Neo realizing his true potential and being revered close to God in Zion. Zion is the settlement of the unplugged humans on Earth, close to the core where they harvest heat and food to endure. They are hidden away by the AI sentinels, and constantly fight them to be safe and survive.
This film revolves around the preparation to sustain an attack by the sentinels, who are digging a hole directly into the Zion. Morpheus and a couple of other ships go back to the Matrix to meet with the Oracle and find the source of the matrix program. He fights agents and sentinels on his quest to find the source, and encounters many obstacles from other people inside the Matrix, while also living a life on Zion. Towards the end, we see how Neo has out-worldly abilities of control, even outside of the matrix against the sentinels. This film sets the tone of the revolution in hand, of humanity against technology and reality vs fabrication.
The Matrix Revolutions
The Matrix Revolutions 2003 is the immediate sequel, picking up where Reloaded left. It documents the final stretch of push before the end of the war, where either humanity could be erased forever or win over the machines. Neo takes on the challenge of fighting the mainframe machine on his own, while the people of Zion are faced by the enormous sentinel army. Towards the end he is faced against the agents and has staggering consequences on him personally.
The Matrix is one of the near-perfect sci-fi adventures that cinema can take you on. Its 4 academy awards for VFX and sound editing is standing testament to the technical masterpiece that it is. The action sequences are choreographed immaculately, with the use of panning and rotating cameras. The directors have made this cyberpunk dream of theirs into a reality, and the actors have contributed with the same fervor.
Why the Matrix is a sensation?
This is because the film has the use of some simple concepts in a very systemic way. Their application of video game type animations, bullet-time effects and slow motion to their advantage makes it the movie that it is. Apart from that, reflections have been a constant item of precision throughout the film. It leaves you in awe as to how much attention has gone to detail.
The themes of choice vs fate have been the focus of the series throughout. The red pill vs blue pill point has also been in the meme culture for a while, and has pivoted its growth. Other themes include a cyberpunk setting in the future, true love and friendship and the impact of technology.
Why watch The Matrix series?
It has been a show runner of CGI inflicted action movies for a long time, with revolutionary technical aspects being thoroughly amazing. There is a certain feeling of self-satisfaction and also horror at the plight of technology overtaking humanity, and the movie does a good job in bringing us back to reality in that means. Various items of philosophy, economics and Christianity are also explored by the writers, and hinted at through the movie. For people looking for hardcore visual effects and beautiful action sequences, this is the movie for you. For the thriller-mystery fans out there, we have a review on the movie Searching, and romantic drama with If Beale Street Could Talk.
