Beyond the Action: Why Lana and Lilly Wachowski’s 1999 The Matrix Is Still One of a Kind

Directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski, The Matrix (1999) is still considered one of the best action films of all time. At the time of its release, people were even comparing it to Star Wars and wondering if it would become the next major sci-fi epic to take the world by storm. Almost 30 years later, it has definitely endured in mainstream culture, and for good reason. The Matrix is a fantastic movie that undoubtedly still holds up today. The film stars Keanu Reeves as Neo, a man who discovers that the world he has been living in is not what it seems.

One of my favorite things about The Matrix is how the film effectively fuses together two different genres in very creative ways: It is equally a science-fiction film, an action movie, a martial arts movie, and even a philosophical story. I cannot think of many other films that attempt to do so much at once. What is even more impressive is that none of these elements feel randomly thrown together. They all work with each other and make the world of the film feel completely authentic and original.

The fact that someone even thought to bring together all of these seemingly unrelated elements into one work is a true display of creative genius. 

This allows the viewer to create connections in their mind, asking philosophical questions about scientific ideas such as the robotic machines have taken control of humanity and use human beings as an energy source. I also love the designs of the machines themselves from an aesthetic perspective. They look strange and almost disturbing, rather than like the more traditional robots you see in a lot of science fiction movies. 

I also feel that the philosophical and religious aspects are frequently underpraised. Some of these ideas are similar to themes that have appeared in other movies and stories, but I think the angle The Matrix takes is really interesting. The film constantly questions what is real, whether people actually have free will, and what it means to discover that everything you believed about your life was false. Neo's journey also has obvious religious elements, especially the idea that he may be a chosen figure who can save others. These ideas could have easily made the movie feel overly complicated, but instead they add another layer to the story. 

Next, I have to talk about the action. The action in this film is some of the best I have ever seen. There is a great variety, from huge set pieces and shootouts to hand-to-hand martial arts fights. The way the film uses slow motion and its famous "bullet time" effect makes these sequences feel completely different from a typical action movie. Even though these effects have now been copied and parodied countless times, they still look incredibly cool in the actual film. 

Finally, the cast is incredible. The two standouts for me are Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne. Although Reeves is fantastic as Neo, Fishburne might actually be the highlight of the film as Morpheus. He is amazing as Neo's mentor, and the two play off each other very well. Hugo Weaving is also outstanding as the villain, Agent Smith. He appears in many of these types of action movies and is always terrific. Carrie-Anne Moss is also great in the role of Trinity and especially stands out during the action scenes.

If I have one critique of the film, it is the relationship between Neo and Trinity. I like the idea of their relationship and how it eventually plays into the story, but I think the romantic side of it feels slightly rushed. There is definitely a connection between them early in the film, but it never feels developed enough to completely justify how important their relationship suddenly becomes near the end. It did not take away from the movie for me, but I think giving their relationship a little more time to develop would have made those later moments more effective.