The Matrix was released 20 years ago today - Page 1

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Posted: 3/31/2019 10:09:46 AM EST

This was possibly the defining movie of the pre-9/11, post-Cold War era that was the 90's.

Some decent retrospectives from the press:

The Atlantic: A Movie Like The Matrix Might Never Happen Again

The Hollywood Reporter: Did 'The Matrix' Teach Hollywood the Wrong Lessons?

Posted: 3/31/2019 10:16:29 AM EST

[#1]

Posted: 3/31/2019 10:17:25 AM EST

[#2]

And it's still awesome.

Posted: 3/31/2019 10:23:51 AM EST

[#3]

And to think it was soooo close to going horribly wrong

Will Smith as Neo????????????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm2szuXKgL8

Posted: 3/31/2019 10:23:52 AM EST

[#4]

Posted: 3/31/2019 10:25:14 AM EST

[#5]

I mentioned this in another Matrix thread a few weeks ago: I believe, had he lived, Brandon Lee would have been cast as Neo.

Posted: 3/31/2019 10:26:07 AM EST

[#6]

Just watched it again the other day, hadn't seen it in over a decade I think. Awesome film, the visuals are still excellent. Great sci-fi flick. Keanu Reeves gets a lot of grief as an actor, but this role was perfect for him. Laurence Fishburne was great, Hugo Weaving was great in what I thought was his first really big hit.

Posted: 3/31/2019 10:26:58 AM EST

[#7]

Still my favorite movie.

It blew me away when I saw it. It was the first movie to do that to me. It's never happened since.

I go see movies, still trying to find that feeling the matrix gave me back than.

Posted: 3/31/2019 10:27:23 AM EST

[#8]

Posted: 3/31/2019 10:28:25 AM EST

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
And to think it was soooo close to going horribly wrong

Will Smith as Neo????????????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm2szuXKgL8

View Quote

Can you imagine? He would have ruined it terribly, just like every other film he gives aids to

Posted: 3/31/2019 11:57:55 AM EST

[#10]

I liked Will Smith in the '90s (MIB, ID4), however I'm glad they didn't cast him. Just like I'm glad we got Laurence Fishburne instead of Val Kilmer. They captured lighting in a bottle with the cast they ended up with.

I remember after the movie came out there was some controversy over allegations the the Wachowski brothers stole the script for the movie. Given how terribly the sequels veered from mythology of the first I'd say that was a strong possibility. Either that or they accidentally made a great movie (also a strong possibility).

Posted: 3/31/2019 12:13:40 PM EST

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
I liked Will Smith in the '90s (MIB, ID4), however I'm glad they didn't cast him. Just like I'm glad we got Laurence Fishburne instead of Val Kilmer. They captured lighting in a bottle with the cast they ended up with.

I remember after the movie came out there was some controversy over allegations the the Wachowski brothers stole the script for the movie. Given how terribly the sequels veered from mythology of the first I'd say that was a strong possibility. Either that or they accidentally made a great movie (also a strong possibility).

View Quote

I love the Matrix but there was something to those allegations. Even the visuals of the characters falling came straight from anime movies.

The cool thing is anime stole right back and really used it to expand their creative palette.

Posted: 3/31/2019 12:13:45 PM EST

[#12]

This was super memorable to me because I went to see it having never heard of it. Some friends were going and invited me at the last minute. Was a good mindfuck movie.

Posted: 3/31/2019 12:18:29 PM EST

[#13]

The movie concept was so innovative for its day. He'll, its still light years better than most of the trash coming out of Hollywood.

Posted: 3/31/2019 12:22:38 PM EST

[#14]

Quoted:
https://media.giphy.com/media/ChzfTLSi47FYc/giphy.gif

This was possibly the defining movie of the pre-9/11, post-Cold War era that was the 90's.

Some decent retrospectives from the press:

The Atlantic: A Movie Like The Matrix Might Never Happen Again

The Hollywood Reporter: Did 'The Matrix' Teach Hollywood the Wrong Lessons?

View Quote

My choice is Fight Club, but the Matrix is certainly up there.

Posted: 3/31/2019 12:29:51 PM EST

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
This was super memorable to me because I went to see it having never heard of it. Some friends were going and invited me at the last minute. Was a good mindfuck movie.

View Quote

Yes, this was a pretty daring move by the marketing department to not spoil what the matrix was in the ads and promotions. I walked into the theaters thinking I was going to see a pretty straightforward action film. The reveal/twist was great.

Posted: 3/31/2019 12:46:32 PM EST

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
I believe, had he lived, Brandon Lee would have been cast as Neo.

View Quote

that would have been awesome.

but even though i'm hard on keanu for some of his roles, he was perfect for the matrix.

Posted: 3/31/2019 12:48:49 PM EST

[#17]

Dang!

Posted: 3/31/2019 12:53:59 PM EST

[#18]

First Matrix will always be in my top ten movies of all time.

Posted: 3/31/2019 12:55:11 PM EST

[#19]

They should have never made the other two.

Posted: 3/31/2019 12:57:03 PM EST

[#20]

Quote History

Quoted:
They should have never made the other two.

View Quote

Yeah they blew it.

Posted: 3/31/2019 1:13:51 PM EST

[#21]

Geez I’m getting old

Posted: 3/31/2019 1:17:09 PM EST

[#22]

It was the first movie I saw on DVD. Talk about mind blowing. Going from VHS to DVD was a huge step

Posted: 3/31/2019 1:20:10 PM EST

[#23]

I just watched it again on prime. I think it's the best one. I remember seeing it in the theater with my dad (i was 13) and after the last scene I was shocked how badass and original the movie truly was.

Posted: 3/31/2019 1:25:04 PM EST

[#24]

It's the only movie I went to see multiple times in the theater. Great movie. I mostly just pretend the sequels never happened.

Posted: 3/31/2019 1:26:57 PM EST

[#25]

WHOA

Posted: 3/31/2019 1:30:40 PM EST

[#26]

It does NOT seem like I was only 21 when I saw it. That's insane.

Posted: 3/31/2019 1:34:14 PM EST

[#27]

Between the matrix and bladerunner you have a perfect example of the cyberpunk genre on film

Posted: 3/31/2019 1:36:34 PM EST

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
It does NOT seem like I was only 21 when I saw it. That's insane.

View Quote

I remember waiting 20 mins to download 5 second gifs from that movie.

Yeah, it's old.

Posted: 3/31/2019 1:36:38 PM EST

[#29]

Quote History

Quoted:
I mentioned this in another Matrix thread a few weeks ago: I believe, had he lived, Brandon Lee would have been cast as Neo.

View Quote

That would have definitely been awesome.

I saw him as an upcoming Bruce Willis/Tom Cruise.

Posted: 3/31/2019 1:40:01 PM EST

[#30]

Quote History

Quoted:

I remember after the movie came out there was some controversy over allegations the the Wachowski brothers stole the script for the movie.

View Quote

It is weird that The Matrix , Existenz and 13th Floor all came out in April/May 99 .

Posted: 3/31/2019 1:42:02 PM EST

[#31]

That long already...

Awesome movie, I didn't even mind the other two.

Posted: 3/31/2019 1:42:44 PM EST

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:
That long already...

Awesome movie, I didn't even mind the other two.

View Quote

I liked the 2nd better than the first.

Posted: 3/31/2019 1:43:45 PM EST

[#33]

Quote History

Quoted:
They should have never made the other two.

View Quote

100% this.

It should have been one and done like Fight Club, which was released the same year.

Posted: 3/31/2019 1:58:31 PM EST

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:
I liked Will Smith in the '90s (MIB, ID4), however I'm glad they didn't cast him. Just like I'm glad we got Laurence Fishburne instead of Val Kilmer. They captured lighting in a bottle with the cast they ended up with.

I remember after the movie came out there was some controversy over allegations the the Wachowski brothers stole the script for the movie. Given how terribly the sequels veered from mythology of the first I'd say that was a strong possibility. Either that or they accidentally made a great movie (also a strong possibility).

View Quote

There was only one Matrix movie.

There was only one Godfather movie.

Posted: 3/31/2019 2:04:32 PM EST

[#35]

One of the best movies of all time. The cast was perfect.

Posted: 3/31/2019 2:06:02 PM EST

[#36]

Mandela effect it wasn't a red pill

it was a green saposatory

Posted: 3/31/2019 5:09:12 PM EST

[#37]

Quote History

Quoted:

It is weird that The Matrix , Existenz and 13th Floor all came out in April/May 99 .

View Quote

Yea the Matrix was part of a niche "unseen world" genre that was around in the late 90s but is mostly forgotten (mostly because of the dominance of the Matrix).

An excellent entry to that genre was 1998's "Dark City" featuring the arfcom favorite Jennifer Connelly

Posted: 3/31/2019 5:29:07 PM EST

[#38]

Quote History

Quoted:

It is weird that The Matrix , Existenz and 13th Floor all came out in April/May 99 .

View Quote

some execution fumbles in that movie, but very interesting overall.

Posted: 3/31/2019 5:30:43 PM EST

[#39]

JFC it felt like that movie just came out 8 years ago.

Posted: 3/31/2019 5:31:09 PM EST

[#40]

Quote History

Quoted:
And it's still awesome.

View Quote

FPNI

Posted: 3/31/2019 5:41:26 PM EST

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yes, this was a pretty daring move by the marketing department to not spoil what the matrix was in the ads and promotions. I walked into the theaters thinking I was going to see a pretty straightforward action film. The reveal/twist was great.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
This was super memorable to me because I went to see it having never heard of it. Some friends were going and invited me at the last minute. Was a good mindfuck movie.

Yes, this was a pretty daring move by the marketing department to not spoil what the matrix was in the ads and promotions. I walked into the theaters thinking I was going to see a pretty straightforward action film. The reveal/twist was great.

Yeah it's probably the only movie I ever saw that I thought "holy shit!". Then got on the phone calling friends say OMG you have to go see this thing .

Think I saw it 2-3 times in the following couple weeks . Haven't done that before or since

Posted: 3/31/2019 5:45:45 PM EST

[#42]

I remember when the PS2 came out, they played The Matrix on it to demonstrate it's capabilities as a dvd player in addition to gaming.

Great movie, and I didn't mind Reloaded. Revolutions is one of the worst movies I've ever seen though.

Posted: 3/31/2019 5:47:39 PM EST

[#43]

Have a cookie

Posted: 3/31/2019 5:49:11 PM EST

[#44]

I've seen the first multiple times. The second about twice.
Never even bothered with the third one.

Posted: 3/31/2019 5:59:53 PM EST

[#45]

I'm no huckleberry but that movie blew my mind. Went with a buddy, we were both just stunned walking out of the theater when it was over.

The closest thing I can remember was the original Star Wars when I kid but after that film everyone was gabbing with excitement, leaving after the Matrix on opening day people were stunned silent.

Posted: 3/31/2019 6:04:05 PM EST

[#46]

Posted: 3/31/2019 6:06:05 PM EST

[#47]

The sequels are horrible.

The original was fantastic.

Posted: 3/31/2019 6:06:28 PM EST

[#48]

I remember seeing it in the theater in 1999. I didn't have much of a concept of what it was going to be like.

I came out thinking "HOLY FUCK, THAT WAS THE MOST AWESOME MOVIE EVER!!!" and at the time, it was.