Great movie worthy of multiple viewings

Rating: 10/10 (13 December 2010)

The movie The Matrix is a nearly non-stop action ride that also manages to be a deep, thought provoking surprise. I would compare it to Blade Runner but with a lot more action. It was first released in the spring of 1999 and was one of the most visually ground breaking movies of its time. It stars Keanu Reeves as Thomas Anderson (aka Neo), Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus, and Carrie-Ann Moss as Trinity.
The storyline is based on a world where man has created artificial intelligence through massive machines. The very same machines turn on the humans and humans become the slaves. The entire world is in a dream like state unaware that they are simply living the life the machines want them to believe they are living. Not all humans are trapped in the artificial world, some such as Morpheus and Trinity; live outside on the real planet. These free humans live a constant cat and mouse game against the machines. They seek to "free" humans from the rule of the machines and believe Neo to be the savior.
One notable theme that occurs is to push against what is accepted in society and to think freely. Another theme that some people see is more of a religious tone but I see more than that in this movie. At first Neo is unable to open his mind. It leads him to being captured because he is scared to climb across a ledge. He has been "programmed" to believe that he is really on a ledge and taking a risk he should not take. Neo does what is expected of him and cannot except the world as it is after he is initially freed. He even asks the question to whether he can be put back into the dream world. This is a common struggle many of us face at one time or another. Society tells us that something or someway is the right way when our gut tells us that it is wrong. Going against the norm is never an easy task.
Many aspects of the scenes help to reinforce this message of Neo living under a lie. Early on Neo is always in the dark and dim lit areas. It isn't until he goes to work and speaks with Morpheus that the scene is actually well lit. As if he beginning to wake up and realize what is going on around him. After being freed he appears usually in a well lit manor, even when he is aboard Morpheus's ship. The real world may not be a happy place but it comes across more real. The angles of the camera also seem to only view Neo from a distant outside perspective while he is trapped in the dream world. Once he is freed much of the camera work is a close up that draws you into the film. Both of these features only improve the experience. I would recommend watching this movie a few times just to be able to take everything in.