“How would you know the difference between the dream world and the real world if  you didn’t wake up from the dream?”

The Matrix is a sci-fi adventure film that has wowed audiences past for its stunning visuals. The characters move through the story with intelligence and grace. Its audience is always on edge, leaving them wondering what other events will take place next. 

The story concerns a man living two lives (Keanu Reeves). During the day he works as a computer programmer. At night he’s a skilled hacker by the name of Neo. He is contacted by the wanted criminal Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne).

The Matrix is concerned with the nature of reality. As Neo realizes that the world he had always known is a lie, he’s recruited by rebels who want to save humanity from the human-enslaving “system.” This theme of reality is exemplified through Neo having the option of going back to his simple life or joining Morpheus to liberate the world.

The Matrix has a confusing plot that was hard to follow as the rebels and Neo continue to switch between different realities. The gravity-defying fighting scenes are repetitive and dramatic. It was hard to follow where all the characters were because they always happen to be in different areas. 

The performance is delivered by several renowned actors and was directed by the Wachowski sisters, who have the earlier award winning movie Bound. The graphics and CGI are impressive for its time, and go above and beyond the norm. Unfortunately, the movie was cliche and predictable which overshadowed its good qualities. I would rate this movie a 8/10 and would recommend it to those who appreciate a thoughtful action film.