The Matrix

I know some of you still haven't seen The Matrix; I've given up trying to reason with you. For those that have, today is for you. NB: If you live in Ohio and your excuse is that you don't have anyone to go with, email me.

www.whatisthematrix.com: Zion Archives
The long-awaited story from the Wachowski brothers, detailing the incident that led to the Machine War. The official Matrix site is the best place to go for Matrix pictures, screensavers, cast bios, and continuing stories like the one above. You can hack into the system and access extra stuff by clicking on the main menu's keyboard and typing one of the passwords below.

• crash: QuickTime of Trinity and the helicopter crashing
• darrow: small graphic and sketch from the subway scene by Geof Darrow
• deja vu: a preview of Paul Chadwick's comic that later appeared in full in the comic section
• geof: pencil sketch of a Harvester by Darrow
• guns: a large Bill Sienkiewicz-drawn picture
• lobby: QT of Trin doing the run-flip thing in the building lobby
• mirror mirror: QT of Neo's encounter with the looking glass
• morpheus: computer-generated renderings of some of the sets
• nebuchadnezzar: QT of the hovercraft evading Sentinels
• sentinel: continued QT Sentinel footage
• steak: this is the password shown if you watch the movie credits to the end. A bunch of behind-the-scenes pictures and sketches
• trinity: QT of the opening phone-booth storyboard sequence
• wrong number: Vince Evans portrait of an Agent gunning down someone in a phone booth

Fan pages
Two decent fan pages are Trinity's Domain, with several otherwise unavailable pictures and several spiffy animated sequences from the movie, and The Matrix Has You (requires Shockwave), which offers more pictures and sounds, as well as the passwords (w/o descriptions) listed above. Another fan site has a largely accurate script available. Finally, the Matrix News & Rumors site keeps up with important issues such as the makes and models of the cellphones and sunglasses.

Media coverage
Even though Entertainment Weekly initially panned the movie, they keep writing about it, including sequel plans, Michael Jackson's private screening, a breakdown of the religious and mythological symbolism, and a set of pictures for obsessive Keanu fans (both of you). In this week's issue, Carrie-Anne Moss (Trinity) made this year's "It List" and John Gaeta was named the "It F/X Whiz." (Speaking of Moss, I didn't realize until today that she had been my favorite model on Models, Inc.: the 27-year-old who was "past her prime." You can also find a bunch more pre-Trinity pix at www.carrieannemoss.com) This week's EW also has an interview with David Foster Wallace in which he claims to be the Matrix's biggest fan. Meanwhile, Time offers a glowing review and symbological analysis.