The Matrix: A Decade of Awakening Minds

This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the Matrix. It’s hard to believe that it’s really a decade old. Some of us weren’t even old enough to drive or stay home alone hehe. Some of us were just out of high school or College and some of us were just old enough to drink legally.

In 1999 I was an 18 year old living in Orlando Fl, and the night I saw the Matrix, I knew movies would never be the same. When Trinity for the first time suspends herself in midair defying gravity, I think I gasped out loud, along with the rest of the theater. I had never experienced that kind of wonderment, except maybe the first time I saw Star Wars.

This movie was the little movie that could, word of mouth spread like wildfire, not expecting to do anything but flop it ended up being the most talked about movie in decades winning academy awards and the respect of moviemakers. They proceeded to copy the Matrix’s trademark slow 360 camera spin in just about every movie that followed. It was so remarkable it upstaged the return of Star Wars. In a way it changed how movies were made forever.

It opened doors to our minds, made us think and ponder our very existence. It was much more then just a movie. It was the key to our own inner thoughts and questions. Philosophy was never cooler. We tried to decode every nook and granny of that movie, trying to find life’s answers. Till this day debates rage about Reality VS the Dream world. Was it really possible the movie could be not so sci fi after all?.

The Matrix Universe expanded in 2003 giving us two more films to devour. More hidden messages, and religious overtones. More hallways to pursue, characters that helped put the pieces of the puzzle together. Though not all understood or liked the last film, it still held valuable insight to our thought process and the lengths we will go through for love. Cuz after all it didn’t ONLY come down to choice did it?

That brings us to 2004. The world was finally ours to explore first hand. The Matrix Online was the game of all games. We immersed ourselves into the landscape free to choose any organization we wanted. We could try to walk in Neo, Morpheus, or even an Agent’s footsteps to understand what we stood for, fought for or to protect.. My time spend inside the MXO is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. So many friends and community I will miss. It’s a big part of my life and I’m grateful to have had the chance to be apart of it. In such a short time we’ve all experienced so much together, learning about WHAT IS THE MATRIX? I guess it’s really what is the Matrix to YOU?

As we know all good things come to an end and it’s only appropriate it comes at the Ten year mark of the Matrix. The birth and death if you will.  It began in 1999 and will unplug for the last time now 2009. A decade of awakened minds that will never forget the ride we’ve all taken together. Here’s to all of you!

/Salute

Midnight

I dedicate these two videos to all of you to remember the good times, the nostalgia and to the Rabbit Hole we will never get tired of being sucked down in.

THE MATRIX TRILOGY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNG2AxHifhc

THE MXO ONLINE THE EARLY DAYS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqk7HtdKH90

I never saw The Matrix in theaters, as I was only 13 in 1999.  I remember watching it shortly after it's theatrical run at a friend's house and, of course, being completely entranced.  This was the smart, philosophical action movie I'd been looking for.  This was the reason I spent every free moment reading any new book I could find.  This was the movie that made me think for the first time about our inability to truly know anything for certain, even the basic facts about our own existence.

I saw Reloaded in the theater and absolutely loved it.  The introduction of Exiles made the central conflict of the story much more complicated, and introduced shades of grey where before there had been only monochrome.  I loved the new characters of The Merovingian, Seraph, and The Architect.  I was entranced by every monologue, even more so than by the action scenes.  Before the movie was over I was already thinking about the fundamental differences in worldview between The Oracle and The Merovingian.  And The Architect's speech blew me away with his revelation of the cyclical nature of Zion and The One.  I'm not one to talk at the movies, but I cheered inside when Neo made his choice and broke the cycle of control.

Revelations was all I could have asked for in a finale.  I knew going into it that the only ending I would consider "happy" would be if Neo brokered a truce between the humans and the machines.  The events of Reloaded had convinced me that the machines and programs were sentient beings, no less worthy or deserving of survival than humans.  Neo delivered exactly what I had hoped, sacrificing himself to create The Truce, putting his faith in the capacity of the machines, exlies, and humans to live in peace.

When MxO was first announced, I knew immediately that I would do anything to get in.  The game launched just as I graduated high school, and I felt ready to step into a role and confidently play a part.  The players in that game were going to determine, or at least participate in, the future of The Matrix.  I had to do everything I could to protect Neo's Truce and work for peace in this virtual world.  It sounds silly to say it, but I was never just role-playing.  I was actually doing my best to bring The Matrix to the conclusion I wanted it to have.  And, actual impact or not, I feel like I helped.  As part of the Winter Brood, I was there when we decided to not interfere in the killing of Invalesco.  I helped bring down The Assassin, the biggest threat to The Matrix since Smith.  And since I'm considering Rarebit's notes canon, I helped drive out the influence of the Oligarchs and reshape The Matrix into something better.

And now it's ending.  I confess that I feel a little hole in the pit of my stomach whenever I think about all this data, this whole virtual world shutting down forever.  I hate that in a few months, I'll never step into TPaine's white formal shoes again.  I'm graduating college in a week, and I honestly don't know which place I'll miss more, UCLA or MegaCity.  High praise from a True Blue Bruin.  I've formed some good friendships, and they will continue on, but The Matrix will not.

This is the end of this franchise, this world, this story.  And I am honored and proud to have been a part of it.

TPaine wrote:

 

Revelations was all I could have asked for in a finale.  I knew going into it that the only ending I would consider "happy" would be if Neo brokered a truce between the humans and the machines.  The events of Reloaded had convinced me that the machines and programs were sentient beings, no less worthy or deserving of survival than humans.  Neo delivered exactly what I had hoped, sacrificing himself to create The Truce, putting his faith in the capacity of the machines, exlies, and humans to live in peace.

This was exactly how I felt.  I was thrilled to see an ending that didn't involve the utter destruction of any side, where former enemies might have an opportunity to live and progress to something more than they were before. 

I will always be thankful and glad that I was able to participate in the continuation of this story.

Lyr

I felt depressed watching the last movie, I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either.

I was expecting a different direction and i think I just set my expectations to high. I also think that movie was more about the side characters that I didn't really care much about. I wanted to follow the main characters more.

I loved reloaded that was my favorite, I loved the Love story between Neo and Trinity, I saw it 8 times in the theater!

I just wish the Merv was showcased more in the whole last two movies he was a fantastic character and they wasted him in two tiny scenes.

Midnight wrote:

I felt depressed watching the last movie, I didn't hate it but I didn't love it either.

I was expecting a different direction and i think I just set my expectations to high. I also think that movie was more about the side characters that I didn't really care much about. I wanted to follow the main characters more.

I loved reloaded that was my favorite, I loved the Love story between Neo and Trinity, I saw it 8 times in the theater!

I just wish the Merv was showcased more in the whole last two movies he was a fantastic character and they wasted him in two tiny scenes.

 

I agree, they could've done more with The Merovingian.

The first film "The Matrix" was by far a movie making masterpiece. I was living in Hollywood and it became almost an immediate obbsession, I went to the Galaxy Theatre a wopping 17 times while it was in its first run there.

Reloaded and Revolutions, although I feel that they deffinatley should have put more time in the between the movies, were just as enthralling. I cant even tell you the amount of money I spent over the years getting my hands on everything Matrix. Most of you know of my collection, which is still growing and will continue, through my posts on these forums over the years.

Im sure gonna miss this place. I just can't believe it's going away!

MxO_Neopill wrote:

The first film "The Matrix" was by far a movie making masterpiece. I was living in Hollywood and it became almost an immediate obbsession, I went to the Galaxy Theatre a wopping 17 times while it was in its first run there.

Reloaded and Revolutions, although I feel that they deffinatley should have put more time in the between the movies, were just as enthralling. I cant even tell you the amount of money I spent over the years getting my hands on everything Matrix. Most of you know of my collection, which is still growing and will continue, through my posts on these forums over the years.

Im sure gonna miss this place. I just can't believe it's going away!

What do you collect? I have some of the busts and maquets in my glass cabinet. The one I really need now is the one of Trinity on the ducati statue. I can't find it anywhere, or it's way to expensive

OMG, i kinda got to do some digging for the pics as I dont remember where exactley they are posted. But I have LOADS of stuff, autographs from all the cast (multiple), Prophet Duster, Busts, Comics, Screenplay, numerous books, every dvd made, odd stuff sent out to the press (rare), subway posters, actually just about every poster including for games, replicas of Agent Pistol (FM 1500) an actual jack-hole, lol, used in reloaded by locke(authentic), production crew tees and hats, a code rain umbrella, Neos Raybans, and agent raybans, actual trailer on film w/case for "the Matrix"......lots more

Gonna try and dig through the forums for the pics i posted with a chunk of my stuff in them.

That's so cool, I have been really lucky and seen Joel's Silver's office and the toys he has hehe I wanted one of everything.

and I have that Umbrella Too ROFL

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels this way about the Matrix Franchise ending. The word "Franchise" isn't even the right word. Excuse me, "DYNASTY". The Matrix drastically dominated at changed the world of Sci-Fi movies forever. I was never a real big fan of Sci-Fi movies before The Matrix hit the big screen. Till this day I can't say I am a Sci-Fi fan because any Sci-Fi genre movie I've seen since The Matrix is compared to The Matrix itself without me even being conscience of doing so. Its just in me now. I've been awakened by the great experience of The Matrix. Everything about was amazing. The first movie made me jiizz in my pants, the second reminded me of the sensation of me jizzing in my pants from the first, and the third just....well the third was like getting blue-balls because at first I didn't understand the ending. I didn't understand it until this..The Matrix Online.

At the beginning of my experience with MxO (which was my first MMO game EVER), I couldn't believe that I would stay up until 5:00 A.M. trying to just get to level 10 so I could hyper jump and once achieving the level and receiving the hyper jump ability, I felt it was totally worth it. Thus I knew I was hooked. Each new ability milestone kept me at the edge of my seat. I still wasn't done exuberantly enjoying the game. I was still at a high, and then came Role-Playing. Then, I came. I never knew or heard of Role-Playing IN games. I've heard of Role-Playing games, but never Role-playing in them. The imagination installed into the game by each player  subscribed was just breath taking. This is what made me continue to watch the movies over and over and over and over (I can keep going but I'm sure you get the point.) This became my favorite aspect of the game for a while. The friends were just amazing as well as the factions that I joined. (The Golden Reign, The Commission, The Masked Agenda, The Blue Order, Insomnia Diversion, The Tetragrammaton ALL GREAT EXPERIENCES WITH GREAT PEOPLE) Then came the live events.

The live events hit me just as hard. With the meeting of new storyline characters such as Genmaskeered and Enmascarado, The Assassin, and Agent Skinner, Cryptos and Agent Gray; and also the fan-favorited characters: Niobe, Morpheus, The Architect, The Merovingian, and Persephone. I can on and on about my experience with these live events, but the main thing was that it was a great first-time experience in a MMORPG. As I've always said, Monolith were the good ol' days and of course came Sony. (That in itself is self explanatory). 

So with that said, thank you all for the missions, role-play, live events, factions, crews, conversations, clothes, training, and PvP, farmng, and a great first time experience in the MMO world. You will definitly find me in the new Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO.

Goodbye to The Matrix Experience.

My email: [email protected]

AIM: MikeBPhresh

MSN: [email protected]

Twitter: ForeverNicho

The matrix was definately a good movie/franchise.  The philosophy has been around for a while, but I think the movie really brought them in the open for a lot of people.  Also the combat and FX were wicked ephin' cool! 

As this chapter of the matrix closes, I doubt we have seen the last of it.  I'm sure it will resurface if given enough time.