This is part of a series of reviews on the Matrix franchise, so look out for more to come!

Warning, this may spoil it for you, apparently explaining what the matrix is will spoil the movie. However, I would disagree because the storyline is a little more than what the matrix is and most people, now, understand the concept of it. I was merely explaining. But to all who don't want to know, skip past the "what is the matrix?" bit

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Memories
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So I was in Milton Keynes (my effective home town) one day with my mum and gran. Being the bored people we were, we thought we'd go out to the cinema, have a look at what’s on and see something.

I saw a poster for a little known movie called "The Matrix". I'll go see that, I thought, it looks kinda like my sorta movie.

Boy was I right! I loved it, I still do love it!

From here on in it was to spark the philosopher in all of us. Everyone suddenly had a theory and everyone suddenly speculated "actually, that could be true,".

Alas, it was one of the most influential movies of it's time and it was a fantastic movie at that. Now it's gained an almost cult status and started a huge franchise.

It won Oscars for it's visual effects, editing and sound. It also smashed records for DVD sales and box office after a fairly failed opening weekend.

It was one of the first DVD's to include so many special features, to be so.... good!

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What is the matrix?
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Nobody can be told what the matrix is, you have to see it for yourself. Morpheus says this about 20 minutes prior to explaining to neo exactly what the matrix is. So it can be explained then?!

Sometime after the year 1999 humans developed artificial intelligence to a point whereby it could think for itself. But then it started to realise that it no longer needed humans. So, as in many films like this, it went and tried to kill us all.

We defended ourselves as much as we could. The machines needed sunlight to recharge their batteries so we scorched the skies. It was then that the AI realised they could get energy from another source - humans.

So they managed to take humans and put us into kind of cocoons. Of course all this is nonsense. The energy required to power the machines to make the pods and feed us would be more than the heat we give off (the form of energy they use) in my opinion. But lets give it some artistic license.

In order to stop us from jumping out of the cocoons (as any respectable person would probably do in that situation) but keep us active enough to generate heat, they developed the matrix. A form of control.

While we lay in a cocoon, completely motionless, we actually think we're living our lives normally. This is because the machines have us hooked into a computer simulation of the world as it was in 1999. As far as we are aware we are not in any kind of cocoon.

Now some people managed to survive in a city deep underground called Zion. The machines don't quite know where Zion is or the plans for it.

Something that was lost in the plot a little bit was the agents trying to get plans and passwords for Zion. I think they didn't play this up enough.

Anyway, teams of the survivors go out in ships. They can hack into the matrix and bring other people out with them. One such ship is the Nebacanezar, which is run by a crew including morpheus, switch, trinity, dozer.

Everyone outside the matrix has silly hacker type names. They all have sockets in the back of their necks from where they hook into the Matrix.

With me so far? (Wait till I get onto the next 2 films in my other reviews)

Inside the Matrix there are agents. These are people who can effectively infect anyone else’s body. They know what's going on in the matrix most the time. They are patrolling it.

They move faster than anyone and can dodge bullets better than anyone.

Now, Morpheus believes in a prophecy. You see there's a woman called the Oracle who can predict things. She told him about this prophecy and he believes that he has found "the one" who will set Zion free forever.

This "one", he thinks is Mr Anderson (Neo). Notice that Neo rearranged gives "one". So Morpheus goes in and tries to bring Neo out.

This is where the story begins.

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The Plot
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This film is very much about explaining what the Matrix is. It's a bit about discovery and there is a little plot in there as well. We see Neo learning about the Matrix and the real world.

Compared to it's sequels, this film is very simple and easy to understand. Real world is onboard the ship, matrix is everything else.

There's a lot of fighting and action to be had as martial arts are employed by both agents and the good guys. There's lots of chasing, lots of shooting, lots of action.

However, there isn't too much action. Much of the storyline is explaining things and conversation.

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Special Effects
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The Matrix pioneered bullet time. This is an effect where the action slows down and the camera moves in and out while the action is still going forward, backward and at varying speeds. It's done through use of still cameras, motion cameras, green screens and a lot of rigging!

This special effect is fantastic and really shows off the beauty of this film. It's used perfectly to demonstrate the quick thinking and motion of both Neo and the agents.

There are also lots of computer effects and lots of explosions. Everything looks great.

Of course there is the token cheesy bluescreen moment when the helicopter is in the background. You can tell it's done in a studio. Every film seems to have a tacky blue screen moment, it's like they do it on purpose.

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Sound / Score
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Again, sound effects are amazing. You really get a feel for bullet time when the sound for it comes on. You feel like time is slowing down.

The music is also very well implemented. There's a good mix of classical style music and electro-dance music which sets off the action superbly.

In fact, "Clubbed To Death" by Rob D is one of my favourite tracks that combines dance music and classical piano style. It's part of the soundtrack to the Matrix.

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Acting
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This film took a bunch of fairly unknown and not particularly stunning actors and shot them up to fame. Keano Reeves puts in his usual single expression and stone cold acting. But somehow, it suits the character and it does work. I can't imagine anyone else as Neo.

Carrie Anne Moss puts in an alright performance with Laurence Fishbourne and other actors. However, I don't think the acting is particularly amazing. But it's an action movie!

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Extras
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This was the first DVD to incorporate proper extras. You have lots of hidden extra's as well.

There's documentaries and a "take the red pill" where you're taken to trailers and more documentaries. There's also a "Follow the white rabbit" bit.

This is where you watch the film and every time a little white rabbit pops up in the bottom right, you click it. This takes you to a little documentary about how that bit was made etc. Great idea.

By today’s standards the extra's aren't that great. But for 1999 they are fantastic!

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Conclusion
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This is one of my favourite DVD's. I just love the matrix because I love films that make you think.

This film (unlike the sequels) makes you wonder if perhaps this is possible. It puts that thought in your mind "actually, this could happen".

It's both inspirational and a good watch. The last 30 minutes especially just blows me away every time. Perfectly choreographed, perfectly filmed, perfect effects. Perfect.

It is just unfortunate that their bullet time is now used everywhere. From Charlies Angels through to commercials for Centre Parks. It's unfair that everyone jumped on the bandwagon as if they had any idea before the Matrix that the effect could be done in a good manner.

Thanks For Reading

Dean