From a screenwriter's perspective, the most important example of the story's nods to other previous films is through its structural application of Joseph Campbell's "Hero's Journey." In fact, its structure in many ways replicates another famous film that uses the Hero's Journey form, "Star Wars".

The "Star Wars" Parallels

Neo, like Luke Skywalker, is looking to join a larger cause he only barely understands. Luke and Neo both meet up with mentors, Ben Kenobi and Morpheus, respectively. Both heroes "refuse the call" two-thirds of the way into Act 1, and both, because of irreversible circumstances are forced to join in the fight against a dominating and anti-humanist police-state-like institution. Luke and Ben first make contact with Han Solo in a bar; Neo first meets Trinity, a member of the resistance at a party. Neo, like Luke, must learn to trust his mentor's teachings and make a leap of faith that will fundamentally alter his beliefs, and thus his abilities to fight the enemy. Darth Vader tortures Princess Leia to reveal the location of the Rebels' secret base, and Agent Smith tortures Morpheus for the location of Zion, the last human city (supposedly to be seen in future "Matrix" sequels!) Morpheus sacrifices himself for Neo, just as Ben Kenobi sacrifices himself for Luke. Neo and Trinity blast their way into the Agent's stronghold, just as Luke and Solo rescue Leia from the Death Star after a ferocious gun-battle.

I could go on, as there are further similarities. But my point here is in no way to condemn the Wachowskis for plagiarism, but is rather to note the effectiveness and industry-wide influence of the Hero's Journey as a structural paradigm. All genre films steal from each other -- the point is to steal only from the best, and to do it with finesse. The history of storytelling is about the interpretation and reinterpretation of ideas and themes in new forms, which are then viewed through the lenses of new cultural influences. Thus the Wachowskis are not common idea-thieves, but film junkies who have diligently digested the entire history of their working genres and spat it back out in their own image. Many other filmmakers have tread the same ground yet miserably failed, because they concentrated upon simple regurgitation of genre tropes rather than the smooth execution of a well-told fable as the Wachowskis have done.

For this analysis, I have used a copy of the screenplay dated June 3, 1997, which is 128 pages in length. This version is in most ways the same as the final film, but differs in a few significant places, which I shall examine. The terminology I use in my dissection I have previously laid out in the chapters on Act Structure.

Act I - What is the Matrix?

Initiating Incident (Page 2-3): Trinity speaks to Cypher on the phone. During their conversation (which is about Neo), their call is traced. Suddenly, a heavily armed squadron of cops bursts into the abandoned room where Trinity works.

This event sets the rest of the story in motion. Although the Resistance has been monitoring Neo for some time (which is apparently what Trinity was doing when the cops burst in), this attempt to capture Trinity shows that the Agents are closing in, and that the Resistance is running out of time to recruit Neo to their cause.

This event (and the pages that follow until page 9) also shows that for a story to feel more complete, it is often a good idea to suggest a preexisting history or context for the events of the film. From beginning to page 9, we learn that:

• The battle between the Resistance and the Agents has been going on for some time.
• Both the Resistance members and the Agents have superhuman powers.
• Agent Jones, on page 8, says, "Then the informant was real," foreshadowing Cypher's later traitorous acts.

Plus, these events add up to an action-filled opening sequence that wonderfully fills the first 8 pages. As is oft-repeated in the biz, the first ten pages need to grab both potential readers of your script, as well as eventual audience members for the final film. And for action films, this prescription goes double.

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