The Matrix Review

The Matrix

Release Date: 8th April 1999 – Australia

Production Companies

Warner Bros. Pictures (presents)
Village Roadshow Pictures
(in association with)
Groucho II Film Partnership (in association with)
Silver Pictures

Distribution
Roadshow Films

Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

Rating: M

Runtime: 136 minutes


Budget: $63,000,000

Box Office Gross: $467,845,851 (Worldwide)

Plot Summary
Neo is a computer hacker

living two separate

lives who encounters

Morpheus, a man the

the government has

labelled a terrorist but one

of the few who know the

truth about the Matrix.

Believing Neo to be "The

One," Morpheus offers

Neo a choice: either

continue his mundane life

in a fake reality or discover

the truth that the machines

have enslaved humanity.

With Trinity's help, Neo

embarks on this new

journey and must

relentlessly battle Agent

Smith, a computer

program that can bend

reality.

 

Cast

Keanu Reeves – Thomas A. Anderson/Neo
Laurence Fishburne – Morpheus
Carrie-Anne Moss – Trinity
Hugo Weaving – Agent Smith
Joe Pantoliano – Cypher
Julian Arahanga – Apoc
Anthony Ray Parker – Dozer
Marcus Chong – Tank
Matt Doran – Mouse
Gloria Foster – The Oracle
Belinda McClory – Switch
Paul Goddard – Agent Brown
Robert Taylor – Agent Jones
David Aston – Rhineheart

Marc Aden Gray – Choi
Ada Nicodemou – Dujour (White Rabbit Girl)
Rowan Witt – Spoon Boy
Fiona Johnson – Woman in Red

Martin Grelis – Helicopter Pilot

Crew
Executive Producers/
Writers/Directors – Andy &
Larry Wachowski

Associate Producer – Richard Mirisch
Executive Producers – Bruce

Berman, Andrew Mason,

Barrie M. Osborne and Erwin Stoff

Producer – Joel Silver
Co-Producer – Dan Cracchiolo

Casting Directors – Mali Finn

and Shauna Wolifson

Production Designer – Owen Paterson

Conceptual Designer – Geoffrey Darrow
Art Directors – Hugh Bateup and

Michelle McGahey

Assistant Art Directors – Jules Cook,

Fiona Scott and Tony Williams
Set Decorators – Lisa Brennan,
Tim Ferrier and Marta McElroy

Key Armorer – John Bowring

Costume Designer – Kym Barrett

Makeup Special Effects Designer and

Creator – Bob McCarron

Key Makeup Artist – Nikki Gooley
Director of Photography – Bill Pope

Director of Photography: Second Unit –

Ross Emery

Camera Operator – David Williamson

Camera/Steadicam Operator – Robert Agganis

First Assistant Directors – Colin Fletcher

and James McTiegue

Second Assistant Directors – Tom Read and

Noni Roy

Third Assistant Director – Paul Sullivan

Second Unit Director – Bruce Hunt
Kung Fu Choreographer – Woo-Ping Yuen
Kung Fu Coordinator: Hong Kong – Carol Kim
Stunt Coordinator – Glenn Boswell
Special Effects Supervisors – Steve Courtley
and Brian Cox

Special Effects Coordinator – Robina Osborne

Animatronic Prosthetics – Paul Katte

and Nick Nicolaou
Visual Effects Supervisor – John Gaeta
Visual Effects Supervisor: Animal Logic –

Lynne Cartwright

Associate Visual Effects Supervisor: Manex

Visual Effects – Janek Sirrs

Digital Effects Supervisor: Manex Visual

Effects – Rodney Iwashina

Digital Effects Producer: Manex Visual

Effects – Diana Giorgiutti

Digital Effects Supervisor: DFilm Services –

Jon Thum

Executive Producer: DFilm Services –

Peter Doyle

Conceptual Artist: Manex Visual Effects –

Steve Burg

Matte Painting: Manex Visual Effects –

Charles Darby

R&D/Tech Supervisor: Bullet Time –

George Borshukov

Digital Composite Supervisors: DFilm

Services – Tim Crosbie and Mark Nettleton

Editor – Zach Staenberg

Assistant Editors – Tom Costain,

Jenny Hicks, John Lee and Basia Ozerski

Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor –

Dane A. Davis

Sound Recordist – David Lee

Re-Recording Mixers – David E. Campbell,

John T. Reitz and Gregg Rudloff

Foley Artists – Hilda Hodges and

John Roesch

Music – Don Davis

Music Supervisor – Jason Bentley

Awards

2000 Academy Awards
Best Film Editing – Zach Staenberg (Won)
Best Sound – John T. Reitz, Gregg Rudloff,
David E. Campbell and David Lee (Won)
Best Sound Editing – Dane A. Davis (Won)
Best Visual Effects – John Gaeta, Janek Sirrs,
Steve Courtley and Jon Thum (Won)

Review

THE MATRIX is an extraordinary science-fiction action film that pushes the boundaries of your imagination and is unlike anything you've ever experienced. It blends sci-fi, Hong Kong action movies, spaghetti westerns, anime, and post-apocalyptic fiction into an exhilarating genre fusion.

This movie boasts a complex, woven storyline, incredible action scenes, groundbreaking visual effects, unique camera angles, and amazing stunts. Besides its innovative visuals, it revolutionised sci-fi with its "bullet time" scenes and has left a lasting impression on cinema with its look and design. The film delves into philosophical concepts, such as reality and free will, exploring them in depth and offering a thought-provoking viewing experience.

I praise everything about the film, including the performances of Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, and Hugo Weaving, as well as two impressive scenes: the famous lobby action sequence where Neo and Trinity take on the near-invincible Agents, and the slow-motion bullet-dodging scene.

THE MATRIX is one of my favourite movies. Neither sequel matched the original's impact, and it remains a cultural touchstone today. The original still delivers the magic I felt the first time I saw it. I imagine other viewers would feel the same, as it is a must-see film.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

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