The Matrix

: This article is about the film The Matrix. For other usages of the term, see Matrix.

Synopsis

A computer software programmer named Thomas A. Anderson (Keanu Reeves) leads a secret life as an elite hacker under the alias "Neo" in what appears to be an American city in the year 1999. A series of unusual events brings him into contact with a group of people led by Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne). Morpheus, a practitioner of critical pedagogy, offers Neo an opportunity to learn what the rumored Matrix truly is. Neo is pulled from the false reality and into the real world and discovers that the year is not 1999, but closer to 2199 (although not given exactly). Humanity is fighting a war against intelligent machines. In order to deny the machines their power source (solar energy), the humans "scorched the sky", permanently blocking the sun's rays from reaching the Earth. The machines responded by making use of human beings themselves as an energy source. It turns out that the world which Neo has inhabited since birth, the Matrix, is an illusory simulated reality construct of the world of 1999, developed by the machines to keep the human population docile whilst they are connected to generators and their energy is harvested. Morpheus, with the other free humans, works at "unplugging" humans from the Matrix and recruiting them.

Related Topics:
Programmer - Thomas A. Anderson - Keanu Reeves - Hacker - Morpheus - Laurence Fishburne - Critical pedagogy - Matrix - 1999 - 2199 - Intelligent machines - Solar energy - Simulated reality

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Morpheus has rescued Neo from the Matrix because he believes that Neo is "The One," who has been prophesised by the Oracle to "hail the destruction of the Matrix, end the war, bring freedom to our people." Morpheus believes that Neo has the power to free humankind from its enslavement through complete mastery over the Matrix. Neo, along with the other members of Morpheus' group, is initially skeptical, but Morpheus teaches him to bend or break the rules of the Matrix - subvert the operation of the normal laws of physics. Neo also forms a close personal relationship with a female member of the group, Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss). Inside the Matrix, the humans are pursued by a group of self-aware programs, called Agents, who have incredible martial arts skills and capabilities beyond those of the humans.

Related Topics:
Oracle - Physics - Trinity - Carrie-Anne Moss - Agents

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Neo meets with the Oracle (Gloria Foster), who, as in the traditions of Oracles everywhere, presents him with an ambiguously-worded prediction of his future. Shortly afterwards, Morpheus, betrayed by Cypher, who prefers living in ignorance of the Matrix, is captured by the Agents, who attempt to gain from him information regarding the defences of Zion, the last human city of the real world. Based on what the Oracle said to him, Neo decides to rescue Morpheus. Together with Trinity, he returns to the Matrix and executes a successful rescue of their leader in a fight with dozens of soldiers and Agents. Morpheus and Trinity exit the Matrix through a "hard line", a telephone line in the Matrix which may be used to safely exit from the Matrix. However, before Neo can follow, the phone booth being used as an exit is destroyed by Agent Smith, the leader of the Agents. Neo engages in a duel with the program, destroying the agent's current body. He then flees as a new Agent Smith arrives, having possessed a new person.

Related Topics:
Oracle - Gloria Foster - Cypher - Zion - Telephone line - Agent Smith

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Neo is chased through the city by Agents. Upon reaching another exit, Neo is shot in the chest by Agent Smith and slumps over, apparently dead. However, in the real world, Trinity refuses to accept Neo's death, and whispers into his ear that she now believes what the Oracle's prophecy foretold. Neo is seemingly awakened by the power of her love, and fully recognises the fabricated nature of the Matrix. Empowered by this newfound realisation, Neo transcends the limitations of the virtual world and effortlessly defeats Agent Smith, "deleting" him from the Matrix before returning to the real world. A short epilogue shows him back in the Matrix, promising the Agents that he will be leading the fight against them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The story continues in The Matrix Reloaded.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~