The Matrix (1999)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1999
Running Times: 131 mins (Germany - DVD)     136 mins (USA)
Format: Technicolor     Super 35     VistaVision (effects shots)     35mm (anamorphic)
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: DTS     Dolby Digital     SDDS

(Full Credits)

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Groucho II Film Partnership / Silver Pictures / Village Roadshow Productions
Executive Producers: Bruce Berman, Andrew Mason, Barrie M. Osborne, Erwin Stoff, Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Producer: Joel Silver
Co-Producer: Dan Cracchiolo
Associate Producers: Carol Hughes, Richard Mirisch

SCRIPT
Script: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski

DIRECTION
Directors: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Bill Pope

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Zach Staenberg

MUSIC
Music: Don Davis; Jimmie Haskell (Night of the Lepus)

SOUND
Sound Designer: Dane A. Davis
Sound Recording: David Lee

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Key Make Up Artist: Nikki Gooley
Hair: Cheryl Williams
Costume Designer: Kym Barrett

SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Special Make Up Effects: Rick Connelly, Bob McCarron, Wendy Sainsbury, Sonja Smuk, Elka Wardega

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects: Animal Logic; Bullet Time; DFILM Services; Manex Visual Effects; Mass.Illusions, LLC

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Owen Paterson
Art Directors: Hugh Bateup, Michelle McGahey

LOCATIONS
Locations: Moore Park, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Waterloo, New South Wales, Australia

STUNTS
Stunt Co-Ordinator: Glenn Boswell

CAST
Keanu Reeves (Thomas A. Anderson / Neo)
Laurence Fishburne (Morpheus)
Carrie-Anne Moss (Trinity)
Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith)
Gloria Foster (Oracle)
Joe Pantoliano (Cypher / Mr Reagan)
Marcus Chong (Tank)
Julian Arahanga (Apoc)
Matt Doran (Mouse)
Belinda McClory (Switch)
Anthony Ray Parker (Dozer)
Paul Goddard (Agent Brown)
Robert Taylor (Agent Jones)
David Aston (Rhineheart)
Marc Gray (Choi)
Ada Nicodemou (DuJour)
Deni Gordon (priestess)
Rowan Witt (spoon boy)
Elenor Witt, Tamara Brown, Janaya Pender, Adryn White, Natalie Tjen (potentials)
Bill Young (Lieutenant)
David O'Connor (FedEx man)
Jeremy Ball (businessman)
Fiona Johnson (woman in red)
Harry Lawrence (old man)
Steve Dodd (blind man)
Luke Quinton (security guard)
Lawrence Woodward (guard)
Michael Butcher (cop who captures Neo)
Bernie Ledger (big cop)
Robert Simper, Chris Scott (cop)
Nigel Harbach (parking cop)

PLOT SUMMARY

Software employee and sometime hacker Thomas 'Neo' Anderson finds his world turned upside down when he learns the truth about 'reality' - it's all an illusion, an elaborate artificial reality known as The Matrix. Anderson teams up with an underground resistance movement dedicated to liberating humanity from the thrall of the machines and learns that he may be The One, the saviour who will overthrow the computers and their deadly agents.

CAPSULE REVIEW

Coming straight out of the blue, The Matrix transformed action cinema with its blistering visuals, mind-bending plot and seamless blending of western effects blockbuster and Asian martial arts movie. One of the most densely textured films in decades (the wealth of detail is too much take in at a single viewing), it threw down a formidable gauntlet, challenging the moribund Hollywood action genre to come up with something new and original. In years to come, this wholly remarkable film will be seen as one of the great turning points in the history of popular cinema.

Argentina
Theatrical Distributor: Warner Brothers
Video Distributor: Argentina Video Home

Finland
Theatrical Distributor: Sandrew-Metronome Distribution Finland

Germany
Theatrical Distributor: Warner Brothers GmbH
DVD Distributor: Warner Home Video (Z5 17737) - Special Edition; Creative Design - Collector's Edition
This version of the DVD includes: the HBO First Look: Making the Matrix documentary (with German and English subtitles); the "red pills" feature leading to the special effects documentaries What is Bullet Time? and What is the Concept?; and the "follow the white rabbit" feature leading to 9 behind the scenes documentaries. The Collector's Edition has the same specs, but came in a slipcase with a copy of the soundtrack CD, eight limited edition lobby card prints, a limited edition senitype image from the movie with 35 mm film frame, and a copy of the 1-sheet poster.

Japan
Theatrical Distributor: Warner Brothers

Spain
Theatrical Distributor: Warner Sogefilms S.A.

UK
Theatrical Distributor: Warner Brothers
Video Distributor: Warner Home Video (V016985) - rental; Warner Home Video (S016985) - retail; Warner Home Video (S017665) - retail widescreen
DVD Distributor: Warner Home Video (D017737); Warner Home Video (MTD2002) - Deluxe Collector's Box Set
DVD includes: HBO First Look: Making the Matrix documentary; the "red pills" feature leading to the special effects documentaries What is Bullet Time? and What is the Concept?; and the "follow the white rabbit" feature leading to 9 behind the scenes documentaries. The Box Set contains the same extras plus a screenplay storyboard; a set of stills; and a limited edition senitype image from the movie with 35 mm film frame. This version was made available only through non-commercial and e-commerce outlets.

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Warner Brothers
Laserdisc Distributor: Warner Home Video (17665)
DVD Distributor: Warner Home Video (17737); Creative Design (20091) - Collector's Edition; Creative Design (20120) - Collector's Edition: Platinum Minibox Collector's Edition
The standard version of the DVD includes: an audio commentary by Carrie-Anne Moss, Zach Staenberg and John Gaeta; an isolated music track with comentary by Don Davis; HBO First Look: Making the Matrix documentary; "red pills" leading to two special effects documentaries, What is Bullet Time? and What is the Concept?; "follow the white rabbit" feature leading to nine behind the scenes documentaries. The Collector's Edition has the same specs, but came in a slipcase with a copy of the soundtrack CD, eight limited edition lobby card prints, a limited edition senitype image from the movie with 35 mm film frame, and a copy of the 1-sheet poster. Curiously, the Platinum Edition seems to contain less, missing the soundtrack CD.

Argentina
Rating: 13

Australia
Rating: M

Belgium
Rating: KT

Finland
Rating: K-16

France
Rating: U

Germany
Rating: 16

Hong Kong
Rating: IIB

Italy
Rating: T

Netherlands
Rating: 16

New Zealand
Rating: M

Norway
Rating: 15

Portugal
Rating: M/12

Spain
Rating: 18

Sweden
Rating: 15

Switzerland
Rating: 12

UK
Rating: 15
All versions are cut by 10 seconds to remove shots of Neo and Smith head-butting each other in the subway.

USA
Rating: R (for sci-fi violence and brief language)

TIMELINE

1999
March
31: USA - theatrical release

April
8: Australia - theatrical release
8: New Zealand - theatrical release
22: Singapore - theatrical release

May
6: Malaysia - theatrical release
7: Denmark - theatrical release
7: Italy - theatrical release
15: South Korea - theatrical release
21: Brazil - theatrical release
21: Colombia - theatrical release
21: Mexico - theatrical release
21: Thailand - theatrical release

June
9: Kuwait - theatrical release
9: Portugal - shown at the Oporto Film Festival
10: Argentina - theatrical release
11: UK - theatrical release
16: Spain - theatrical pre-release
17: Germany - theatrical release
17: Netherlands - theatrical release
18: Switzerland - theatrical release (in German speaking region)
23: France - theatrical release
23: Spain - theatrical release
23: Switzerland - theatrical release (in French speaking region)
24: Israel - theatrical release
25: Iceland - theatrical release
25: Portugal - theatrical release

July
3: Indonesia - theatrical release in Jakarta
7: Belgium - theatrical release
9: Finland - theatrical release
9: Norway - theatrical release
14: Sweden - theatrical release
16: Estonia - theatrical release

August
5: Hungary - theatrical release
5: Slovakia - theatrical release
13: Poland - theatrical release
19: Slovenia - theatrical release
20: Greece - theatrical release
26: Croatia - theatrical release

September
11: Japan - theatrical release
21: USA - laserdisc release (Warner Home Video (17665)); DVD release (Warner Home Video (17737))
30: UK - certified 15 by the BBFC

October
6: UK - certified 15 by the BBFC (for home video release)
14: Russia - theatrical release

November
25: Germany - DVD release (Warner Home Video (Z5 17737) - Special Edition)
29: UK - DVD release (Warner Home Video (D017737)); video release (Warner Home Video (V016985) - rental; Warner Home Video (S016985) - retail)
30: USA - DVD release (Creative Design (20091) - Collector's Edition)

2000
April
26: UK - certified 15 by the BBFC (for DVD Deluxe Collector's Box Set release)

May
5: Italy - theatrical re-release

September
25: UK - DVD release (Warner Home Video (MTD2002) - Deluxe Collector's Box Set)

November
21: USA - DVD release (Creative Design (20120) - Collector's Edition: Platinum Minibox Collector's Edition)

December
7: Germany - DVD release (Creative Design - Collector's Edition)

POSTER TAGS

Believe the Unbelievable

Reality is a thing of the past.

What is The Matrix?

Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.

The future will not be user friendly

Perception: Our day-in, day-out world is real. Reality: That world is a hoax, an elaborate deception spun by all-powerful machines of artificial intelligence that control us. Whoa.

The Future isn't user friendly...

In 1999, the Matrix has you

On March 31st, the Fight for the Future Begins.

On March 31st, The Matrix has you.

On April 2nd, the Fight for the Future Begins

On April 2nd Be Afraid Of The Future

LINKS

SEQUELS
The Matrix Reloaded (2002)
The Matrix 3 (2003)

SEE ALSO
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Abre los ojos (1997)
Akira (1988)
Alice in Wonderland (1933)
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Blade (1998)
Blue Thunder (1983)
Brazil (1985)
Cats and Dogs (2001)
Charlie's Angels (2000)
Cité des enfants perdus, La (1995)
La Comunidad (2000)
Conker's Bad Fur Day (2001)
CyberWorld (2000)
Dark City (1998)
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999)
Doctor Who (1963 - 1989)
Fahrenheit 451 (1966)
Fight Club (1999)
Fong Shi Yu II: Wan fu mo di (1993)
Galaxy Quest (1999)
Gojira ni-sen mireniamu (1999)
Harsh Realm (1999)
Heavy Metal (1981)
Johnny Mnemonic (1995)
Josie and the Pussycats (2001)
Kite (1998)
Kokaku kidotai (1995)
Lashou shentan (1992)
Lilo and Stitch (2002)
Men in Black (1997)
Muppets From Space (1999)
Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)
Ninja Mission 2000 (2000)
Otto - Der Katastrofenfilm (2000)
Pocket Monster: Kesshôtô no teiô (2001)
The Qui-Gon Show (1999)
Rashomon (1950)
Red Dwarf (1988 - 1999)
Saturn 3 (1980)
Scary Movie (2000)
Scary Movie 2 (2001)
Shrek (2001)
Spiderman (2000)
Spy Kids (2001)
Spyro: Year of the Dragon (2000)
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Superman (1978)
Syphon Filter 2 (2000)
Te lo mereces (1996)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
The Terminator (1984)
Titus (1999)
Total Recall (1990)
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Trancers (1985)
True Lies (1994)
The Truman Show (1998)
Twelve Monkeys (1995)
Vertigo (1958)
Waterworld (1995)
Welt am Draht (1974)
Whasango (2002)
Witchblade (2000)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Wo hu zang long (2000)
Wong Fei-hung (1991)
X-Men (1992)

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
Making The Matrix (1999)

INCLUDES FOOTAGE FROM
Night of the Lepus (1972)
The Prisoner (1967)

KEYWORDS

computers; virtual reality; underground; nuclear winter; rebellions; video games; artificial intelligences; cyberpunk; messiahs; traitors; hinduism; subways; deja vu; religion; electro magnetic pulses; reincarnation; oracles; martial arts; helicopters; buddhism; evolution; acupuncture; cyberspace; hackers; cats; vomiting; mobile phones; dreams; telephones; alice in wonderland

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009