The Matrix

The Matrix will probably go down as one of the coolest movies ever made, simply due to its genre-bending and defying action style, as well as its fabulous cinematography and brutal attitude. So many parts of The Matrix blend so effortlessly together. The colours - which are magnificent throughout - and cinematography are dark and mysterious inside the Matrix, to present the uncanny and slightly unnerving vibe that the atmosphere emits. In the real world, it’s presented as dismal, with little-to-no warmth found anywhere. The plot of the film is very unique, and is certainly relevant today, with the advancements of AI looming over us. The action is just unbelievable, as it literally slows down the violence, yet feels like it doubles it at the same time. The standout acting performance for me was Hugo Weaving. He is absolutely magnificent as Agent Smith, he perfectly portrays a terrifying and dangerously powerful character, propped up by the machinery and made both him and the world that the characters must escape from. The true message of The Matrix in my opinion isn’t about defying the system, or believing that there is a system at all - it’s questioning what would happen without a system like the Matrix. There’s a reason why we never see the destruction of the Matrix - in this film at least - it simply doesn’t work. The film wants you to question which life is better - the blue pill, a working society, or the red pill, a breakout with seemingly no successful alternative. It’s a really great topic for debate, and is excellently explored through an action film. On the rewatch of The Matrix, it appears bold and daring, and it seemed to really defy and rework the action genre, switching out generic shooting and punching for a clever plot, mind-bending film-physics, and implications of societal discussions. The Matrix is probably my favourite action film to date, it’s absolutely stunning.