Review of The Matrix (1999) by Mike D — 29 May 2016

Long before there were mind-bending sci-fi films like 'Inception' and 'Interstellar,' there was the world created by the Wachowskis - 'The Matrix.' The film revolutionized how moviegoers expected to be entertained, and pushed the limits of what they could buy into seeing on the big screen. As a result of its widespread success, the film permeated popular culture for years and is still viewed as one of the redefining moments in recent cinema.

Set in the distant post-apocalyptic future, 'The Matrix' follows a band of humans as they try to find "the One" who will deliver those who remain from a world run by machines. In this world, there exists a superficial "fourth dimension" - a computer-generated society in which people are tricked into living out their lives in fiction. Enter Neo (Keanu Reeves - a computer hacker who's bored with his life and gets dragged into the middle of the campaign against the agents who represent the computers. With help from leader Morpheus (played by Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), Neo takes on the system in an effort to save the human race.

Looking at 'The Matrix' in isolation, it's easy to see why the film has stood the test of time. From the top-notch cinematography to the the CGI (which is pretty advanced for the time of its filming), 'The Matrix' is was ahead of its time. In terms of its plot, the film follows a typical hero archetype that's designed to stretch over the course of a trilogy, so in this respect, it sets things up for the rest of the series very well. Still, it feels complete enough on its own (minus the cliffhanger ending).

While it definitely feels like 'The Matrix' is a blockbuster from the past, it still feels current and relevant enough to stand the test of time.