Reality: That world is a hoax, an elaborate deception spun by all-powerful machines of artificial intelligence that control us.

Mind-warp stunts, techno-slammin' visuals, mega-kick action. Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne lead the flight to free humankind in The Matrix, the see-and-see-again cyberthriller written and directed by The Wachowski Brothers (Bound). The story sears, the special effects stake out new moviemaking territory -- the movie flat-out rocks.
 
"...some of the most unrivaled and imaginative sci-fi in years."  Christopher Brandon, TNT RoughCut
"This wildly imaginative thriller is a futuristic head trip you most definitely want to take."  Cody Clark, Mr. Showbiz
"...a furious special-effects tornado..."  Janet Maslin, The New York Times
"...intelligible, intelligent, and suspenseful..."  Keith Phipps, The Onion A.V. Club
"...combines traditional science-fiction premises with spanking new visual technology in a way that almost defies description."  Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
"...a great soundtrack and the best fight choreography this side of Hong Kong...very cool s***."  Manohla Dargis, L.A. Weekly
"...slams you back in your chair, pops open your eyes and leaves your jaw hanging slack in amazement."  Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian
 


Editor's Note

With THE MATRIX, the Wachowskis have established themselves as innovative filmmakers who push the boundaries of live-action films. Like the groundbreaking STAR WARS, THE MATRIX (also the first film of a trilogy) showcases a unique visual style, one the Wachowskis achieved through an array of techniques and digital effects, some never before seen in mainstream Hollywood films. Although computer morphing technology had been used before in films such as THE ABYSS and TERMINATOR 2, the Wachowskis were the first to use "bullet time," a time-bending digital effect that utilizes both computer-generated imagery and still photography.

The film itself is a complex story that aspires to mythology, focusing on a computer hacker named Neo (Keanu Reeves) who searches for the truth behind the mysterious force known as the Matrix. He finds his answer with a group of strangers led by the charismatic Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne). What they encounter in confronting that truth makes for a lightning-paced, eye-popping thrill ride of a movie. Packed with stunning fight scenes (choreographed by accomplished Hong Kong director Yuen Wo-Ping), astonishing visual effects, quotable lines, and a terrific supporting cast (led by Carrie-Anne Moss, in her first major Hollywood film), THE MATRIX is a bold triumph that raises the bar for all science fiction films.


Plot Summary

An imaginative hybrid of action, kung fu, and science fiction, THE MATRIX is a hyperkinetic, mind-bending, and visionary spectacle. Keanu Reeves stars as Neo, a disaffected computer hacker seeking the answer to the question, "What is the Matrix?" His search leads him to the elusive Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), who begins to enlighten Neo about the illusions of his so-called reality. In accepting the answer Morpheus provides, Neo is hurled into a futuristic world where old realities are shattered, and he must fight for his life, and the future of humanity, against a dangerous group of inhuman government agents.