Lessons On Movies.com
  Free Handout + MP3 + 8 Online Quizzes on The Matrix

  GAMES:

  • Fill-in-the-blank
  • Matching
  • Hangman
  • Flash cards
  • Sentence jumble
  • Missing words
  • No letters
  • Crossword puzzle

The Matrix is a 1999 American science fiction action film written and directed by brothers Larry and Andy Wachowski. The film stars Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne. It was first released in the United States on March 31, 1999. The enormous success of the film led to the release of two sequels. The Matrix franchise was further expanded through the production of comic books, video games, and animated short films. The film contains many references to cyberpunk and hacker subcultures. It is influenced by Lewis Carol's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Hong Kong action cinema, spaghetti westerns, and Japanese animation. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest science fiction films of all time.

The film depicts a future in which reality is actually a simulated version of real life, created by machines to pacify and subdue the human population. The machines take their energy source from the body heat of humans and from electrical activity. This system is the Matrix. The main character is a computer programmer named Neo (played by Keanu Reeves). After he learns about how machines are taking advantage of and using humans, he decides to take action. The movie shows how he tries to free people from their imprisonment in the Matrix. He starts a rebellion against the machines. He teams up with other people who have been freed from the "dream world" and are back in reality.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Matrix

  TRAILER AND POSTER

THE MATRIX POSTER

1. SIX WORDS: Look at the poster and write down six words (more if you like) that you think of as you look at it. Share the words with your partner(s). Why did you choose them?

2. STORY: Talk about what you think the story of the movie is – the start, beginning, end, etc. Change partners and share stories.

3. CREDITS: Look at the credits on the poster (the actors, director, producer…) and talk about them with your partner(s).

4. MUST-SEE: Talk with your partner(s) about whether the poster and movie title are good and make you want to see the movie.

5. STARRING YOU: Imagine you are one of the stars of the movie. Talk about your role with your movie star partner(s).

THE MATRIX TRAILER

1. RETELL: Watch the trailer and retell what you saw to your partner(s).

2. CHUNKS: Watch 10-to-15 second chunks of the trailer and retell what you saw to your partner(s).

3. QUIZ: Watch the trailer and write down some quiz questions for your partner(s). Watch a second time to find the answers to the questions.

4. VOCABULARY: Make a note of words in the trailer that you see or hear. Talk about them with your partner(s).

5. GOOD / BAD: Watch the trailer and write down why you think the film might be good or bad. Share your ideas with your partner(s).

  MATCHING

SYNONYM MATCH

1.	released	a.	follow-ups
2	enormous	b.	conquer
3.	sequels	c.	thought of
4.	references	d.	portrays
5.	regarded	e.	brought out
6.	depicts	f.	uprising
7.	simulated	g.	huge
8.	subdue	h.	exploiting
9.	using	i.	mentions
10.	rebellion	j.	pretend

PHRASE MATCH

1.	led to the release	a.	many references
2	The film contains	b.	westerns
3.	cyberpunk	c.	advantage of and using humans
4.	spaghetti	d.	of two sequels
5.	It is widely	e.	against the machines
6.	a simulated	f.	reality
7.	machines are taking	g.	to take action
8.	he decides	h.	regarded as one of the greatest
9.	He starts a rebellion	i.	version of real life
10.	back in	j.	and hacker subcultures

  LISTENING / READING GAP FILL

The Matrix is a 1999 American (1) _____________________ film written and directed by brothers Larry and Andy Wachowski. The film stars Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne. It was first released in the United States on March 31, 1999. The enormous success (2) _____________________ release of two sequels. The Matrix franchise was (3) _____________________ the production of comic books, video games, and animated short films. The film contains (4) _____________________ cyberpunk and hacker subcultures. (5) _____________________ Lewis Carol's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Hong Kong action cinema, spaghetti westerns, and Japanese animation. It is widely regarded (6) _____________________ science fiction films of all time.

The film (7) _____________________ which reality is actually a simulated version of real life, created by machines to pacify and subdue the human population. The machines take their energy source from the (8) _____________________ and from electrical activity. This system is the Matrix. (9) _____________________ a computer programmer named Neo (played by Keanu Reeves). After he learns about how machines are (10) ________________ and using humans, he decides to take action. The movie shows how he (11) _____________________ their imprisonment in the Matrix. He starts a rebellion against the machines. He teams up with other people who have been freed from the "dream world" and (12) _____________________.

  CORRECT THE SPELLING

Paragraph 1
1.	science toniicf
2.	It was first ldeseaer in the United States
3.	The oosurenm success of the film
4.	The Matrix cisafrneh
5.	The film contains many nsceereref to cyberpunk
6.	It is widely drdgeaer as one of the greatest
Paragraph 2
7.	a simulated viornes of real life
8.	pacify and busedu the human population
9.	energy screuo
10.	taking dagvaaten of
11.	He starts a ierlneolb against the machines
12.	back in ayritle

  PUNCTUATE & PUT CAPITALS IN THE TEXT

the matrix is a 1999 american science fiction action film written and directed by brothers larry and andy wachowski the film stars keanu reeves and laurence fishburne it was first released in the united states on march 31 1999 the enormous success of the film led to the release of two sequels the matrix franchise was further expanded through the production of comic books video games and animated short films the film contains many references to cyberpunk and hacker subcultures it is influenced by lewis carol's alice's adventures in wonderland hong kong action cinema spaghetti westerns and japanese animation it is widely regarded as one of the greatest science fiction films of all time

the film depicts a future in which reality is actually a simulated version of real life created by machines to pacify and subdue the human population the machines take their energy source from the body heat of humans and from electrical activity this system is the matrix the main character is a computer programmer named neo (played by keanu reeves) after he learns about how machines are taking advantage of and using humans he decides to take action the movie shows how he tries to free people from their imprisonment in the matrix he starts a rebellion against the machines he teams up with other people who have been freed from the "dream world" and are back in reality

  INSERT THE VOWELS

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Th_ f_lm d_p_cts _ f_t_r_ _n wh_ch r__l_ty _s _ct__lly _ s_m_l_t_d v_rs__n _f r__l l_f_, cr__t_d by m_ch_n_s t_ p_c_fy _nd s_bd__ th_ h_m_n p_p_l_t__n. Th_ m_ch_n_s t_k_ th__r _n_rgy s__rc_ fr_m th_ b_dy h__t _f h_m_ns _nd fr_m _l_ctr_c_l _ct_v_ty. Th_s syst_m _s th_ M_tr_x. Th_ m__n ch_r_ct_r _s _ c_mp_t_r pr_gr_mm_r n_m_d N__ (pl_y_d by K__n_ R__v_s). _ft_r h_ l__rns _b__t h_w m_ch_n_s _r_ t_k_ng _dv_nt_g_ _f _nd _s_ng h_m_ns, h_ d_c_d_s t_ t_k_ _ct__n. Th_ m_v__ sh_ws h_w h_ tr__s t_ fr__ p__pl_ fr_m th__r _mpr_s_nm_nt _n th_ M_tr_x. H_ st_rts _ r_b_ll__n _g__nst th_ m_ch_n_s. H_ t__ms _p w_th _th_r p__pl_ wh_ h_v_ b__n fr__d fr_m th_ "dr__m w_rld" _nd _r_ b_ck _n r__l_ty.

  MARK THE SPACES

TheMatrixisa1999Americansciencefictionactionfilmwrittenanddirec
tedbybrothersLarryandAndyWachowski.ThefilmstarsKeanuReeves
andLaurenceFishburne.ItwasfirstreleasedintheUnitedStatesonMarc
h31,1999.Theenormoussuccessofthefilmledtothereleaseoftwosequ
els.TheMatrixfranchisewasfurtherexpandedthroughtheproductiono
fcomicbooks,videogames,andanimatedshortfilms.Thefilmcontains
manyreferencestocyberpunkandhackersubcultures.Itisinfluencedb
yLewisCarol'sAlice'sAdventuresinWonderland,HongKongactioncine
ma,spaghettiwesterns,andJapaneseanimation.Itiswidelyregardeda
soneofthegreatestsciencefictionfilmsofalltime.Thefilmdepictsafutur
einwhichrealityisactuallyasimulatedversionofreallife,createdbymac
hinestopacifyandsubduethehumanpopulation.Themachinestakethe
irenergysourcefromthebodyheatofhumansandfromelectricalactivity
.ThissystemistheMatrix.Themaincharacterisacomputerprogrammer
namedNeo(playedbyKeanuReeves).Afterhelearnsabouthowmachin
esaretakingadvantageofandusinghumans,hedecidestotakeaction.T
hemovieshowshowhetriestofreepeoplefromtheirimprisonmentinthe
Matrix.Hestartsarebellionagainstthemachines.Heteamsupwithothe
rpeoplewhohavebeenfreedfromthe"dreamworld"andarebackinreality.

  DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1.	__________________________________________________________________
2.	__________________________________________________________________
3.	__________________________________________________________________
4.	__________________________________________________________________
5.	__________________________________________________________________
6.	__________________________________________________________________

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STUDENT B's QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1.	__________________________________________________________________
2.	__________________________________________________________________
3.	__________________________________________________________________
4.	__________________________________________________________________
5.	__________________________________________________________________
6.	__________________________________________________________________

  THE MATRIX SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about The Matrix in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

	Student 1 __________	Student 2 __________	Student 3 __________
Q1.
Q2.
Q3.
Q4.
Q5.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

  WRITING

Write your own movie review. Show your partner your letter. Correct each other's work.

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

  HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET INFO: Search the Internet and find more information about "The Matrix". Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about "The Matrix". What are (did) critics and moviegoers saying (say) about it? How good were the actors' performances? What was good and bad about the movie? Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

4. "THE MATRIX" POSTER: Make a poster about "The Matrix". Make sure you put tag lines, audience and critics' reviews, why people should see it, etc.  Show it to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your posters.

5. MY PREQUEL / SEQUEL: Make your own prequel or sequel for  "The Matrix". Make sure there is a good mix of things to do. Find some good online activities. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback.

6. CHARACTER STORY: Choose one of the characters from the movie. Imagine you are that character. Write your story about what you did in the movie. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback.

7. ONLINE SHARING: Use your blog, wiki, Facebook page, Twitter stream, or any other social media tool to get opinions on "The Matrix". Share your findings with the class.

  ANSWERS

SYNONYM MATCH

1.	released	a.	brought out
2	enormous	b.	huge
3.	sequels	c.	follow-ups
4.	references	d.	mentions
5.	regarded	e.	thought of
6.	depicts	f.	portrays
7.	simulated	g.	pretend
8.	subdue	h.	conquer
9.	using	i.	exploiting
10.	rebellion	j.	uprising

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Please check for yourself by looking at the movie review article at the top of the page.
(It's good for your English ;-)