[Quick Summary: When a hacker learns that his life in the Matrix is a sham, he joins the resistance against the evil artificial intelligence.]
We all know that you can't build a cake on top of frosting. You make the cake first, and the frosting is the finish.It's the same way with the grand spectacle. Build a solid story first, then go wild with spectacle.
I liked this film because it did just that.
First, the writers had something philosophical to say about fighting to believe.
Then they added some grand spectacle on top, such as this unforgettable moment:
EXT. ROOF - DAY
...Just as she drops the final Marine, Trinity sees what's coming. Neo sees her, the fear in her face, and he knows what is behind him.
Screaming, he whirls, guns filling his hands with thought-speed.
Fingers pumping, shells ejecting, dancing up and away, we look THROUGH the sights and gun smoke AT the Agent blurred with motion --
Until the hammers click against the empty metal.
NEO: Trinity!
Agent Jones charges.
NEO: ...Help.
His GUN BOOMS as we ENTER the liquid space of --
-- BULLET -TIME.
The AIR SIZZLES with wads of lead like angry flies as Neo twists, bends, ducks just between them.
Agent Jones, still running, narrows the gap, the bullets coming faster until Neo, bent impossibly back, one hand on the ground as a spiraling gray ball shears open his shoulder.
He starts to scream as another digs a red groove across his thigh He has only time to look up, to see Agent Jones standing over him, raising his gun a final time.
AGENT JONES: Only human...
Suddenly Agent Jones stops He hears a sharp metal click.
Immediately, he whirls around and turns straight into the muzzle of Trinity's .45 --
--jammed tight to his head.
TRINITY: Dodge this!
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: I like the economy of this "bullet-time" on the page. It's good frosting (but only because of the previous foundation of 'cake.')
The Matrix (1999)(shooting draft, 3/29/98)
by The Wachowski Brothers
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