Shot with intelligence, grace and a real understanding of what new audiences wanted to see, The Matrix offered an adventure no one had been on before. It was instantly iconic in that everyone knew they were watching something special, something that they would remember and revisit for a long time to come. With the likes of 2001 and even Blade Runner, some had to be told why what they were watching was extraordinary – they didn’t with The Matrix. The elements that composed it might not have been completely original but then, as Star Wars showed so ably in 1977, they didn’t have to be for them to feel original, they just had to be presented in an original way. This is a well-composed feat of filmmaking centred on drama that grabs, diverts, spins and screams. The themes, too, are as present as anyone needs them to be, the script instilled with notions of paranoia, faith and control. But beyond even that it is in essence a simple tale about self-discovery, and by effect is as personally engaging as any other classic on this list.
Crucially, The Matrix invented new ways to present sci-fi staples. In a genre often derided for its templated adventures and derivative heroes, here was a film that playfully turned the wise teacher into a kind-hearted cookie-baker, or the sinister, invincible villain into a man in a suit. The film is full of these slight and yet smart touches, enhancing the experience through surprise and humour, but in a coherent and very welcome way.
In truth, I don’t expect The Matrix to win this particular contest. Inevitably, and perhaps rightly, readers will vote with their hearts rather than their heads. But were the argument decided on purely objective terms, The Matrix, with its ability to excite in the way Star Wars does, challenge in the way Blade Runner does and impress in the way 2001 does, would surely be the frontrunner. To put it another way, were the matrix to construct a perfect sci-fi film designed to keep the masses happy, it would build The Matrix.
To find out more about this exciting phase in SciFiNow’s forum feature, hit the link and check out the other movies that made our shortlist.
Don’t forget to log on to our forums to discuss the films on our shortlist, and to read any of the other articles in this series as they are written, click on the title below.
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Blade Runner
Planet Of The Apes
Forbidden Planet
ET The Extra-Terrestrial
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Alien
The Matrix
2001: A Space Odyssey
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
This article originally appeared in the print edition of SciFiNow issue 39 by Aaron Asadi. To buy a copy of the magazine or subscribe, go to www.imagineshop.com, or call our subscriptions hotline on +44 (0) 844 844 0245.
