One of the greatest and most memorable movies ever made celebrates its 10th anniversary today. That movie is The Matrix.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been ten full years since The Matrix opened on the big screen on March 31, 1999 to great reviews, a plethora of film awards and an incredibly strong fan base. The movie sits at #29 on IMDB’s top 250 movies as voted by users with over three-hundred thousand votes and it has 86% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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The movie, written and directed by Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski, set new standards in special effects for action and gunplay, martial arts choreography, sound and music style all the way to cinematography and editing. On top of that, they took a geeky concept and made it insanely popular and cool amongst mainstream moviegoers. It was an action movie that was both intelligent and stylistic and it did pretty much everything right.
Winner of four Oscars including Best Visual Effects, the movie went on to earn two follow-up films. Unfortunately, this is where all the praise and glory starts to plunder.
The two sequels, titled The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions were filmed back-to-back with theatrical openings in the May and November of 2003 but they weren’t nearly as good as the original.
The Matrix Reloaded received rather good reviews and managed to perform far better than the first in theaters and on DVD. Revolutions however, was not so fortunate. The third movie in the franchise was shot down by most critics and fans and it’s earnings dropped significantly to just over half as much as Reloaded took in at the box office suffering through negative word-of-mouth.
For me, Reloaded was good but not perfect. It had some of the best action sequences in the trilogy and one of the coolest car chase scenes ever. Combined with a stellar soundtrack and some cool new characters (before they lost their cool in the third flick), these aspects of the movie helped overcome some of the negatives and it still was plenty enjoyable.
Revolutions, I thoroughly disliked in pretty much every way. They took the green theme way too far, to the point where every single item, person and background was literally different shades of that one color. The fight scenes which should of been so meaningful and epic became boring and the insane special effects were all for naught. The forced philosophical ideas discussed throughout the movie failed to accomplish what the first film did naturally and it came off as cheesy and unnecessary dialogue. To top off the mess, the much-hyped battle of Zion came off as a poorly setup skirmish with extremely counter-intuitive designs of city, the robots, weapons and strategy – it looked flashy but I wanted it to end.
Enough dwelling on the negative – let’s look at something positive!
For you collectors out there and for those who may not own The Matrix on DVD, a brand new special Blu-Ray anniversary edition is now available (as of today). It includes a book, photos as well as a pile of new special features among other added goodies.
What’s in store for The Matrix franchise now? Unfortunately, there’s no movement currently underway for another Matrix project. There has been speculation over the years that a fourth movie could be made but the Wachowski Brothers have kept busy with other projects.
What memories do you have of The Matrix Trilogy and does another installment in the franchise interest you?
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36 Comments
Another installment does not interest me at all, leave it be
I didn’t think the sequels were that bad, revolution isn’t as bad as people made it out to be, it still flows well with the previous films.
With regards to another movie I have to say leave it alone, 3 was enough.
as much as i like the idea of another i say leave it alone because the first was great. the second was ok and the third was bad at best. so id hate to see another that could be horrible
the first was great, but the sequels just showed us that the wachowski brothers really had no idea what they are doing and as far as making another….well your joking right?
It was all about Agent Smith baby.
Yeah, 10nth year anniversary of how the Wachowski’s stole ideas from a hapless college student and an old black lady.
lol
My memories of watching the matrix was like for people when they saw 2001 or Star Wars for the first time, it was just out of this world. As much as I liked Matrix I would say the sequels failed because of the poor script. I have read the manuscript written by Sophia Stewart which the Wachowskis had used most of it (even if she didn’t win the lawsuit) for the first movie so they had plenty of background writing whilst the last 2 films they had to come up with it them selves and really showed. I still enjoyed the sequels but Revolutions really did drop the ball. I think there could be a million avenues to produce sequels or prequels, but give it to somebody else to make.
First one was great, second one was good, third one was ok. Of course though the two sequels were graded hard because everyone tried to match them to the original when that type of task is always tough, but that is the risk you take with making sequels. I do think that Reloaded had the better fight scenes though, and Revolutions final battle scene with Smith vs. Neo wasn’t too bad, not great, but a little better than ok so it wasn’t a complete fail.
Man, has it been 10 years? The first film was a classic, after that the films fell off a little bit but they were still ok. I think I agree with most here and say that they shouldn’t make another addition to the Matrix. Oh yeah, and don’t even think about pulling a Star Wars and doing some sort of prequel.
I never understood the insane fanboy love for the Matrix. As far as I am concerned it’s just another one of those insanely over hyped fanboy issues. I thought the first was had a cool idea-ish and was a pretty decent movie depsite being written with terrible acting, but while I thought it was cool to watch I don’t see the intelligence behind it. I think all the intelligence lost it’s self to the action and it just barely came out better than Transformers. I’ll give them credit thought for taking a bunch of ideas that were not their and for using things that have been done before and being called original, innovative and every other compliment in the world because some people didn’t realize they had seen everything in it before.
The Matrix was the first movie to open my eyes to the filmmaking process and now here I am writing about movies because I love them.
The Matrix is and will always be my favorite movie for this reason and I have done everything to learn more about the continuing story by playing the games and reading the comics based off this franchise.
Sadly it has died off in the recent years because of the sequels, but the first film is still a landmark in filmmaking.
By the way, there are other great films out there, but seeing how I was 10 when I first saw this movie is what blew my mind.
Can’t believe it really is 10 years since the first came out. I’ve seen it in theatre and damn that is one of those expierences you’ll never forget! The Matrix was great. After reviewing, the only part I dit not like was when – at the end – Neo jumps into Agent Smith and he becomes this green exploding thing, no that was a bit … . For the rest, that film was just perfect for me.
Reloaded was good also, the car chase was very good, and there are other scenes that are good to remember. Revolutions I have to see again to fit it with a fair judgment, I know that I didn’t really liked it the first time so…
Another sequel? let it be!
There are sequels? Oh yeah, I vaguely remember watching them once and quickly deemed them as unworthy – hence they no longer exist.
For the Matrix franchise there truly is only one and that is the first film.
I remember first watching the matrix with my brother when we were about 12 on VHS. we re wound and watched the lobby shoot out again in slow motion and again backwards in slow motion. I definitely didnt understand the genius storyline back then. About three years later, when i was begining to write my own scripts, i watched it again and thought. “Oh so that’s how you tell a story, i’ll just give up now.” lol. i didnt. The Matrix in my opinion is the most definitive action movie of my generation. Superb action, characters, plot all in one. Wow! i’m gonna go watch it brb.
Nice look back – I remember seeing the first in the cinema and being blown away.
None of us could believe what we’d just seen and as 17/18 year olds at the time it was a great experience.
Wow, Ten years!!! I still have my VHS copy of the original (sure that would be a collector’s item pretty soon). The thing about the sequels is that it is really just 1 sequel, there isn’t a trilogy. Reloaded and Revolutions is one film just broken into 2 parts.
What I did not like was the Final Fantasy like Neo & Smith when they fought. You can notice when they switch from CGI characters to the real actors. I understand why they did it but it is a bit distracting.
I would welcome another Matrix film, but only if it was an Anime because that is what these films are. Live Action Animes. They hit all the notes that Animes do with the Cyber-Punk genre. So if they do get the idea for another film it should be an Anime AND, it should tell about the “first” One who freed Morpheus and first batch from their slumber. Morpheus tells that story to Neo and it has always fascinated me.
I remember sitting in the Century 25 theaters at the end of Phantom Menace with about a dozen of my friends that had waited all afternoon on opening day to see it..
And being so disappointed with it we all went down to Mission Viejo and saw the Matrix again to get the bad taste out.
What a difference!
One of the best sci-fi movies ever made! (Too bad the sequels were bad enough to almost ruin it.)
I thought the second one was great. It set up so many things, and then in the third one, it seemed as though they just forgot what they were doing with the story. Themes were set up that were never carried over. The most glaring is that Neo found a way to control machines in the real world at the end of the second film. They never even discussed that in Revolutions.
I loved the first Matrix film, a true classic that contained a great story and fantastic action. It was also the first film I ever purchased on DVD. The sequels were OK, with Reloaded being superior to Revolutions, but both paled in comparison to the original. I’d love for them to re-release The Matrix in theaters for a limited run to commemorate the 10th anniversary.
I didn’t see the first one in theatres
I remember my mom renting me The Mummy then the next day at school, everyone was telling me about The Matrix and to get that.
It sounded so strange from their descriptions but I managed to convince my mom get that movie that night – I had the whole house to myself with the lights all off to watch it… and the movie blew my mind. I can’t really think of too many movies that were so impactful as The Matrix was on first viewing.
Rerelease this baby in IMAX! The Matrix was the first movie that almost made my bladder explode; I didn’t want to miss a second. After the movie, the bathroom was filled.
The 2nd had a lot more action but was not a good as the first. I had to watch it a couple of times to figure out what the architect was saying.
Number 3 made me mad the first viewing, but after thinking about it, it made sense. How else would they solve the problem? I thought blinding Neo was unnecessary and yes, they could have explored how Neo was able to stop the Sentinels more.
If they do another, it should be a prequel either showing how it all started or how the first “One” came about.
Matrix 1 was one of the best movies ever.
Matrix 2 & 3 I WISH I COULD GET THOSE HOURS OF MY LIFE BACK.
Bluray is just going to bring out the green Rob,,,
I loved all 3 films.
Matrix: had the soul.
Reloaded: had the blaze of glory.
Revolutions: had the infection and the cure,,,
One reason (among others) the 3rd film is dark and green is because the Smith Virus is taking over,,,
Cool article Rob.
How timely! I just was introduced to the trilogy this weekend and this week! The first one was the best. The second was good – but I agree with the others that certain key themes were not fully explored – like the balance between Neo and Smith; the Oracle and the Architect, and how does Neo develop the power to stop the machines? A prequel would be cool to see the previous other Zions and the choices made by the One.
of course there will not be another one but I wouldn’t mind if there was. I love the Matrix.
@ 790
I’ve tried this argument with Rob before over the inherent greatness in these films but he doesn’t want to see it..Were the sequels as good as the original..definitely not[impossible act to follow really as they set a new level of greatness for Sci-Fi and the sequels could in no way match that achievment, nor should they have had to] but they were great films with great acumen into the human condition..But from reading Rob’s articles on the upcoming Transformers film I guess he likes things to go bang and lack any depth in storytelling
and not have a film trilogy end with an ending I thought was unavoidable…The self(NEO) over comes the ego(Smith) and brings peace to a fractured mind(machine world, Matirx and Zion)…This is not pretentiousness, it is simple Buddhist philosophy told in the most amazing way I have ever seen on film…Brilliant I say BRILLIANT!!!
Are you talking bout Rob Keyes? He doesn’t like parts 2 and 3,,,?
Well, I get the religious connections. I’m not sure your comment is asking a question, but one film that sheds more light through the murky black skies on the Matrix trilogy is
“The Animatrix”
Came out between Matrix and Reloaded(Prt2).
I’m sure you’ve seen this 333, but for those that haven’t…
The Animatrix explains how and why the machines turned on the humans. After watching “The Second Renaissance parts 1-2″ you will have a better perspective and actually feel bad for the robots. I was completely blown away with the brutal liberties they took the animation on that one. Wow,!!
For mature viewers only !!!
The first feature, “Final Flight of the Osirus” is a mini-film that takes place between Matrix and Reloaded. Its action packed.
I’m getting in the mood to watch this now as I’ve had a heavy day of bs. I could go for some Sentinel destruction!
Anyway after watching those two mini-films the trilogy makes more sense.
About the final ending,, the final ending in Revolutions with Neo and Zion went through a major rewrites as the studio didn’t like the Wachowskies ending. So the studio changed it.
The ending in Zion was a reshoot and it showed,,,
I know what you are saying 790…the ANimatrix was a great tie-in as well as the game ENter the MAtrix. The game actually filled in a lot more of the plot holes as well with regards to Naobi’s and Ghost’s storylines and well as other key threads from the movies…I loved the Animatrix!!
I’m watching Reloaded now,,,
Damn the fights scenes still hold up after all these year,,,
You see he’s only a man,,,
10years huh? I saw the first one-was not impressed-not original at all,doesn’t even acknowledge its a Rip off of other more interesting films.
Like the over hyped Dark Knight and Titanic-This sucker will be but a footnote in Cinema.Keanu was better in Point Break and Speed
Surely you jest SHirley?
@ 790 Only a man who stops a sword with the side of his hand..wax on wax off..
I love them all even part 3 ! They were great and raised the bar for all action films!!!!!!
a film with all you look for in any film, i love all 3 of the films well done. educational and mind blowing etc
There seems to be some confusion about why Neo can stop the machines outside of the Matrix. I watched all three films last night, and came up with a theory of my own. One of the characters (think it was Morpheus, not sure), says something about Neo separating his a part of his mind from his body, so at the end of the second film, he is in both the Matrix and the real world simultaneously (this is why he wakes up in Mobil Ave, or “Limbo”, in the third film, despite his body laying unconnected to the Matrix in the infirmary aboard the Hammer.) Perhaps he was able to somehow affect the sentinels through whatever mainframe the machines share?
‘Reloaded’ and ‘Revolutions’ are misunderstood masterpieces far ahead of their time.
Narratively, they need to be viewed as a single film. It’s a giant 4-hour movie, to which the first film serves as an “origin story”.
The theme of the trilogy is about unity and balance. The idea that all is ONE. That enlightenment doesn’t come through the exercise of divine force, but through submission to the idea that we are all part of the cosmic dance within which we all play our part.
That’s probably why people didn’t like ‘Revolutions’ as much. It’s message was much more mature than that of the first film alone.
Revolutions resolved the Matrix storyline in a pretty neat way.
Of course I agree with most posts here that the first Matrix film is the best one. The narrative style and the suspense building up is just great along with a surprising end-twist.
However, something irritated me.
You cannot use humans to generate physical energy – it doesn’t work because you will always at best get back what you’ve invested in growing them.
The third Matrix film now made clear that it is the soul of humans that the machines are after.
The bright yellow colour represents the soul of a being in the Matrix movies and the machines are unwilling to continue their existence without some kind of “soul-energy” which they acquire from humans. The Architect explains indirectly this in Reeloaded.
Well, there are other dominant colour codes (green and blue) and you will surely find out what they are standing for.
Alternatively, you can also read my review of Revolutions on imdb.com – its title is “Amazing movie in my opinion – hated and not understood by many” and you should find it on the second page of comments (standard sorting order of imdb.com).
In Revolutions I especially liked the role of the Oracle. She plays a risky and at first glance wierd game.
There is so much in Revolutions which I cannot explain in a blog post.
Have a read of my aforementioned review and if you like it you might also rate it
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