VFX Spotlight : The Matrix

 

There are movies that just exist to be, and then there are those that push the envelope of what is  possible within their respective genres. Most of the movies I have reviewed here fall under this cutting edge of VFX category. One such movie is the Wachowski sister's The Matrix. And it so happens that this flick also stars Keanu Reeves as hacker Thomas Anderson, or Neo. We are also introduced to Carrie Anne Moss as Trinity, Lawrence Fishburn as Morpheus and finally Australian Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith. While the success of the first movie would go on to spawn three more movies, Matrix Reloaded, Matrix Revolutions, and the 2021 Matrix Resurrections, I personally feel that the first was still the best in terms of originality, storytelling, visual effects, and wire fu, the perfect blend of East meets West action and stunt choreography. While the other movies did expand on the story, everything else felt like a retread of the first installment.

This movie introduced the world to slow motion bullet time technology, where scenes involving agents of the matrix  would defy the rules of gravity by dodging bullets. We also get the ripples in the wake of the bullets. We get another first, the extensive use of wire fu in a Hollywood production thanks to the Wachowskis enlisting the help of legendary stunt and gong fu choreographer Yuen Wo Ping. Wire fu has been a staple of Hong Kong cinema for many years. The trick here was to make it look grounded , but fantastical at the same time, which Yuen accomplished easily. The movie was also stylistically very slick and perfectly juxtaposed the grim muted palette of the real world with the impeccable stylistics of the leather clad and trenchcoat matrix world. Even the premise of the whole story was intriguing, one that is still pertinent till today. It questions the very fundamentals of life. What if our entire existence was in reality a simulation? Could you tell the difference between dreams and reality? These are deep philosophical questions that the story brings up, elevating the movie over others.

The story follows Thomas Anderson, who faces the same question, is there more to life than this. He is always questioning the fine line between dreams and reality. Then one day he is contacted by another hacker, known only by her handle, Trinity. He is intrigued when she offers to show him that there is more to his mundane existence. Once he starts to believe, he is targeted by the agents who serve as gatekeepers for the system. They zero in on rouge elements. Morpheus leads a team to extract Thomas or Neo's actual body from a human battery farm the machines have built to enslave the human race after Neo chooses to learn the truth from Morpheus. He discovers that his whole life is a lie. He also learns something else about himself. Morpheus believes that Neo is the chosen one who can destroy the matrix. He trains Neo and imparts what he knows about the agents and how Neo can overcome them. Neo is skeptical and seeks out the oracle. She tells him otherwise.

On a mission in the matrix, they are betrayed by Cipher, who rats them out and gets out of the matrix and kills his crew on the Nebuccanazzer, Morpheus's ship. This causes Morpheus to be captured by the leader of the agents, Smith. He is tortured, forcing Neo's hand. Neo starts believing in himself and is able to move as fast as the agents and dodge bullets. He and Trinity storm the building and rescue Morpheus. Both Trinity and Morpheus escape. Neo, who has been buying time for Trinity and Morpheus is pursued by Agent Smith. He fights valiantly and even gains the upper hand. Just as he is about to be extracted, Agent Smith shoots him. Thinking he has finally killed Mr Anderson, he starts to walk away. Neo seemingly rising from the dead sees everything in code. He truly is the one. All he needed was self believe. With this knowledge he is now able to manipulate the code from within. He destroys the agents easily and gets back to his crew.