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Matrix's Neo vs Smith Fight Breakdown Video Highlights Why It's So Great
VFX artists from the popular YouTube channel Corridor Crew break down the iconic subway fight scene in the original Matrix film and discuss why it's so memorable. Directed by the Wachowski siblings, The Matrix starred Keanu Reeves in the lead role and he was joined by Carrie Anne-Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving, and Joe Pantoliano. The sci-fi film spawned three sequels including The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, both of which were released in 2003, and the latest and fourth installment in the series, 2021's The Matrix Resurrections.
The story of the first film is set in a dystopian future where humans are trapped by machines inside a simulated reality known as the Matrix. When computer programmer and hacker Thomas Anderson/Neo (Reeves), discovers the truth after being brought into the fold by Morpheus (Fishburne), he joins the rebellion against the machines and its sentient program led by Agent Smith (Weaving). The Matrix is considered by many as one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made and it has garnered numerous accolades including four Academy Awards.
Now, in a new video, VFX artist Niko from the YouTube channel Corridor Crew, who is accompanied by stunt coordinators Chris Cowan and Yung Lee, breaks down the climactic fight scene between Neo and Smith that takes place in a subway. Cowan begins by pointing out the "duality" in the camera shots and praised the back and forth intercutting between Neo and Smith. Yung continues by expressing that while there are "so many good things" to talk about in the scene, the driving force behind the sequence is really about the "character." He also addressed the fact that the actors performing the stunts themselves makes it easy to "hold a shot" and commended the "wirework" influenced by Hong Kong cinema. Check out the full discussion in the below video from 0:56.
The scene in question takes place towards the end of the film in one of the most pivotal moments of the story. After Morpheus and Trinity safely exit the Matrix from a subway, Neo is ambushed by Smith and makes the choice of fighting him head-on in what turns out to be a riveting hand-to-hand combat scene where the two adversaries constantly trade blows, with Neo coming out as the temporary victor. The duel between the two fan-favorite characters is arguably one of the highest points in a film that's brimming with plenty of action-packed entertainment that audiences enjoy to this day.
Having worked on titles like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and Solo: A Star Wars Story between the two of them, Cowan and Lee boast plenty of experience as stunt coordinators in the film industry. It's been over two decades since The Matrix made its debut in theatres and the fact that modern stuntmen and VFX artists continue to praise the fight sequences speaks volumes of the film's legacy and impact. It is also a testament to the actors and the stunt team involved as they produce a fight for the ages and one that many would argue still holds up today.
