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The Matrix (1999)
Followed by: The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
The internet age had only just begun, AI was still merely a concept in fiction and theory, and the arguably strongest ever decade for Hollywood was coming to a close when the Wachowskis followed up their successful debut Bound (1996) with the big-budget sci-fi fest The Matrix. The film picked up on the vibe of the times expertly – in everything from costume and production design to the super-hip soundtrack – and became an instant hit with audiences and, to a large degree, also critics. But what made it outlast the initial hype over its groundbreaking visual effects and stylish action sequences was the cerebral, integral nature of the script. Borrowing and reinterpreting far more than stealing, the Wachowskis created a film that deconstructed both the Messiah concept and the entire science fiction canon, and then rebuilt it all creatively and faithfully within its own framework and rules. Keanu Reeves' transition from being Thomas Anderson to fully embracing his newfound identity as Neo is realised through a carefully choreographed overload of martial arts and flying bullets – all of which somehow adhere to and complement the film's overriding concept, a feat few action films with this level of frenzy achieve. And even after a quarter of a century, The Matrix still looks futuristic and conveys a version of reality that encompasses much of humanity's eternal conjectures and almost the entire allure of religion, which is a remarkable testament to the film's well-deserved position as one of the very best of its kind.
Re-reviewed:
Copyright © 29.06.2025 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang |
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