The Matrix: The Shooting Script (Newmarket Shooting Script Series) (Paperback)

by Larry Wachowski (Author), Andy Wachowski (Author), William Gibson (Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
For the first time in the acclaimed Newmarket Shooting Script® series format, the screenplay for one of the most successful films in history. A surprise box-office hit when it opened in theaters in the spring of 1999, The Matrix has proven to be nothing short of a phenomenon, setting records for DVD sales, winning four Oscars®—Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing—and spawning two sequels for release in 2002 and 2003. The extraordinary vision of writers/directors Larry and Andy Wachowski is captured in its purest form with the film's shooting script. The tale of Thomas Anderson, aka Neo (Keanu Reeves), a computer hacker forced to confront his special destiny in the salvation of mankind, challenges our perceptions of reality and expands our expectations of what a movie can be. The 122 pages of the script are presented in facsimile form. Also included are scene notes about the script written by Phil Oosterhouse, assistant to the Wachowskis throughout the making of the film; 20 b/w film still photos; and full credits.

About the Author
Larry and Andy Wachowski have been working together for 32 years, and previously wrote and directed Bound. They are currently at work on two sequels to The Matrix.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Newmarket Press; 1st edition (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557044902
• ISBN-13: 978-1557044907
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #299,497 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Trimmed down from THE ART OF THE MATRIX, April 26, 2003

By	Michele L. Worley (Kingdom of the Mouse, United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

A word for anyone tempted to buy anything/everything related to THE MATRIX: the complete contents of THE MATRIX: THE SHOOTING SCRIPT (including the scene notes) can be found in THE ART OF THE MATRIX, which contains additional material, both written and pictorial. I enjoy the material in THE SHOOTING SCRIPT version, but prefer the more detailed treatment in the bigger book.

Even the text of William Gibson's introduction appears in THE ART OF THE MATRIX, as an afterword. The author of NEUROMANCER and JOHNNY MNEMONIC was slow to see THE MATRIX when it first came out, knowing that it was in his own genre - although he'd been exposed to the screenplay, he hadn't anticipated how well the story would translate to film. Not only did he enjoy it when first persuaded to see it in theatrical release, he promptly turned around and dragged others out to see it. :)

The scene notes following the body of the script aren't written by the Wachowski brothers, but by their assistant Phil Oosterhouse - the brothers being busy at the time with making the sequels. The notes accompanying THE SHOOTING SCRIPT omit discussion of some deleted scenes, but otherwise tally with the more complete version in THE ART OF THE MATRIX.

Essentially, this book is for anyone who's interested only in the no-frills text of the script, without the storyboards that were essential to the Wachowskis' campaign to persuade Warner Brothers to actually make the film, and without any extra discussion of scenes that were cut before the movie was actually shot. As far as it goes, it's fine.

12 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AN EXCELLENT REFERENCE GUIDE, May 28, 2002

By	Nettie "Nettie" (London) - See all my reviews

I highly recommend the Matrix Shooting script. It not only covers the scenes that were in the movie, but also bits that had to be excluded.

The Forward is written by none other than Willaim Gibson [how's that for a seal of approval]. He says that 'Keanu's Neo is my favourite-ever science fiction hero, absolutely!'. You can't ask for anything more.

I also love the commentary by Phil Oosterhouse, who was Assistant Director on the movie. He gives wonderful insights into little nuances of the scenes and the commitment of the actors and directors to produce the very best movie they could.

The book also has stills from the movie in cool black and white. It's a book any true Matrix fan should be without.

Enjoy!