This cinematic thriller, set on Earth in the not so near future, features Keanu Reeves as computer hacker Thomas Anderson. In the daytime, Anderson is your regular Joe Schmoe; He works a 9 to 5, and sits at a cubicle all day. During nights (often without sleep), Anderson is a (rather skilled) hacker searching for answers to his reality--he often struggles discerning between dreams and reality.
Other than his secret illegal activities, Anderson leads a relatively routine and ordinary life under the presumption that it is 1999--that is until he's contacted by the infamous and mysterious Morpheus (via Trinity, played by Carrie-Anne Moss).
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Morpheus tells him that he is living in a computer generated dream-world, controlled by malevolent robots with Artificial Intelligence. These Machines, according to Morpheus, created the fake world to control the masses of humans while they drain them for energy, essentially like a battery.
The real world exists in a demolished and devestated state 200 years older than the one produced in the dream-world. The Machines have taken over the surface of the Earth, and harvest humans from birth for their bioelectrical energy. There is a small human city and stronghold under the Earth's surface, called Zion.
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Anderson, is hailed as "The One"--that is the one who is to shift the balance in the constant war with the Machines, leading the humans in victory to reclaim all of Earth. In this capacity, Anderson and all of Morpheus's crew are considered dangerous and pose a threat to the infrastructure of The Matrix.
The film ends with the discovery that Anderson is indeed The One...the first half of the prophecy is proven true. But can Anderson (always called Neo) fulfill the entire prophecy? Can he lead the humans to a glorious victory? That is a question that the Wachowski brothers left for the 2nd and 3rd installment in what would be known as The Matrix Trilogy.
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The Matrix shares two major factors that play a role in the onset of its Dystopia. The first, is the inherent fight for survival and self-preservation that transcends most all living things. While arguments can be made for many other motives for the Machines in this story, the fact that they use humans for bioelectrical energy is crucial and indicative of a race trying to survive.
The second factor that plays a role, is the sheer hatred for humankind that resonates from all Machines--both in real-life, and within the Matrix (i.e. "Agents"). After waging war for years on end, it's not surprising that the machines still harbor a little resentment...
Last Human led Mech Army posted in Zion
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The Machines continue to tunnel beneath the Earth's surface, towards the core and towards Zion. They want to completely wipe out the human race, and establish themselves in complete control of Earth. Like the Robots we deal with everyday, there are no "Laws of Robotics" holding them in check, so the machines can advance with as great a force as they please. Without any Laws integrated into our Robots, how long until they rebel against us?
