Why was this movie so popular?

[AgentSmith]

Before you start saying, "Boy, this guy is a dipshit," hear me out..

Coming out in the Matrix back in April 1999, I was amazed.. The movie I had just seen was amazing. The plot was interesting, the acting ( especially Hugo Weaving ) was excellent...

I went to school the following day and all I heard was, "Wow, the Matrix is the best movie ever. I loved the gun scene. Wow, amazing movie"

As quoting Roger Ebert, "How sad is it that a movie that starts out questioning reality has to end in a gun fight?"

This is the main complaint I have about this film. Now, don't get me wrong, this film is great. BUT, WHY did they have to use guns?? Was it to drawn in audiences? Why could they have not done something better. Maybe, why not use the powers that Neo learned and knows to have fought the guards instead of some guns!

Ok, I am done..

[Lindsey]

Maybe because the audience wanted to see gun action, instead of fight action. I liked when they used the guns, it was an all out gun fest. Although a little karate action could have been neat, I understand where you're coming from.

I agree with people saying "The guns were so cool". Till this day, when I bring up The Matrix, people always bring up how cool the guns were. lol

[James Logan]

Well, it's an action movie...what's a sci-fi action flick with no guns? :p

[AgentSmith]

True true.. I just find it funny that if you ask someone what is the Matrix, they tell you GUNS!

[Congerking]

i think that the matrix has to have guns like star wars has to have lightsabers. those weapons define the movies. can you imagine the matrix without guns or any star wars movies without lightsabers. i think not.

[Dumb-Fokker-**]

Actually, I really liked the movie when it first came out too. But, after seeing it again, I didnt like it as much. And than, after seeing it again, I liked it even less. And after that, my enjoyment didnt really change. But I digress,... I think the main reason this film was so popular, was simply because it was an action movie, with an intelligent storyline, no real "action movie stars", and very innovative action sequences. Basically, that is all it comes down to. On a side note, I dont think the next two films will be as well-recieved, and I think that they will only be moderately more successful - too much time, too many parodies, and an R-rating. Just a quick thought.

[NotKeyserSoze]

the matrix was a style-setting flick as well as sci-fi... the guns were there to look good and allow a load of nifty action scenes. no guns, no bullet time.

but on reflection, the matrix wasn't that good anyway. it had great effects, performances were ok - but the story was bastardized from better movies. PLEASE go see Dark City... superior, I think.

seeing as the matrix's bullet time thing has been ripped off in just about every movie since 1999 (even to stuff like The Mummy Returns and Charlie's Angels) Matrix 2 will have to come up with something pretty nifty to surprise anyone. That's what worries me about the sequels - will there be anything that becomes a landmark in cinema like the original did? I doubt it sadly... and guns, it seems, will become the main focus. Fighting seems to be the name of the game, as there's no mystery to unravel any more. Neo's pretty much God now, the machines are doubtless getting ready to match him... so from a pessimist view, I'd say the next two movies will be "Neo and chums fight baddies. A lot." But here's hoping it's a little more.

[Scarface98.9]

If you want to see a smart sci-fi movie that has a similar plot, but an ending that didn't involve kung-fu or gunfights, see Dark City, which came out before The Matrix. Whereas that movie covered the smart bases, the Matrix covered the action parts, so it was its job. I probably posted a lot of shit that didn't make any sense, but it's basically saying "See Dark City!" subliminely (sp?)

[Donnie Darko]

I think that the problem is that no one realises that the guns in the movie were completely incidental to the plot. I mean, technically, it's the easiest way to kill someone, so why wouldn't they use them? It's not central to the plot, it just makes sense. The people who talk about how cool the guns were would say the same thing about any other weapon that was substituted for them. If it were knives "Man, the knives were cool...", planes "Man, the planes were cool...", or bears "Man, the bears were cool...", etc. Techinically speaking, from an interview with the Wachowski bros. a while back, they set out to make a deep, sci-fi/action movie, and for the most part, they did right by me. The characters weren't cookie cutter, there were individual motivations, and, for instance, Morpheus had a very deep personality. They developed in him a deep abiding religousness in an environment that was completely illusory.

[bigred760]

I loved the movie (and still do no matter how many times I watch it) because of it special FX, the action, Carrie Anne Moss, and the basic idea behind the movie.

Here's a few thoughts on the guns:
-it's what the script asked for
-whoever wrote the script wanted guns
-guns have become an everyday subject in our society (tv, movies, news, schools, gangs, etc.) - to answer Ebert's remark anyway
-I don't hear Charlton Heston complaining

[Silverload]

Because the Matrix was a live action anime (well as close to it as I have seen), something only previously attempted with Blade. But the Matrix had a bigger story and better graphics to pull it off. Before The Matrix you just didn’t see crazy anime action in movies. Every time I watch this movie I feel like I am watching an anime.

Dark City is The Matrix without all the gun fighting, but Dark City bombed at the theaters. With The Matrix the same story was told sort of in an anime perspective and people loved it. Many people I know hate Dark City, but yet love the Matrix. Why, because the Matrix was far more exciting. Without the gun fights it would have been Dark City all over again.

My biggest complaint with The Matrix was that it spent some much time trying to explain The Matrix that they started repeating what we already knew, and that became very boring. Without the awesome action and effects I wouldn’t have liked the Matrix nearly as much.

But I do think The Matrix is highly over rated.