Neo, portrayed by Keanu Reeves in The Matrix, employs a range of martial arts techniques in all four films, even though his most famous quote is “I know kung fu”. The Wachowskis’ action film series were renowned for their brilliant martial arts action, which was unusual in American cinema at the time, in addition to their surreal storylines and thought-provoking ideas.
However, keen-eyed fans may have noticed that Neo prefers punching over kicking in his battles with the agents. Have you ever wondered why, though? Well, Reeves had back surgery shortly before filming on The Matrix began in order to treat a spinal injury that was paralyzing his legs.
As a result, the actor found kicking difficult, so he decided to focus on punching in Neo’s fight scenes.
The Matrix: Why Does Keanu Reeves’ Neo Punch More Than He Kicks?
Keanu Reeves gave fans a trip down memory lane on The Art of Action podcast the previous year. The actor talked about his early career highlights, such as his work on Jan de Bont’s Speed, Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break, and The Matrix, providing insight into his first foray into the action genre.
With 1999’s groundbreaking sci-fi action film The Matrix, as we all know, he really went above and beyond. Reeves had to train harder and more intensely than ever before in order to play Neo.
Smitten with the “script” and the demands made of him by the directors, The Wachowskis, Reeves found himself in a precarious situation where, despite years of setbacks taking their toll, he would not be able to play the role. The actor admitted:
“I met with the Wachowskis and I loved the script, and they showed me pre-vis for bullet time which was extraordinary, and one of the things they talked about in the meeting was training in Hong Kong-style martial arts and asked if I was okay with that, and that it was over four months and I was like, ‘Yeah, that sounds okay.”
Given that he “loved” the script, what was the issue? Reeves added:
“The only problem – I was dealing with a neck issue which was getting worse, I’d spent a couple of years fighting it off, I was getting tingling…I had a bulging disc and I had a fractured disc too, and I started losing feeling and balance.”
For the tough fighting sequences in the movie, Reeves described how he had to train wearing a neck brace. “My spinal column was basically being sausaged, so I had to have a two level fusion on my spine before training, and they put a plate in my neck”, the John Wick actor stated.
From the iconic lobby shootout to the epic final battle with Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving), Neo’s hand-to-hand combat abilities are nothing short of impressive!
Was Keanu Reeves’ The Matrix Really Worth It?
Fortunately, for Keanu Reeves, the results of the training and the film exceeded his expectations. Not only is The Matrix a commercial success but it is also considered one of the greatest films ever made. With over $460 million in box office receipts on a $63 million budget, the movie was a box office hit and ranked fourth for that year (see Box Office Mozo). The movie won all four of the Oscar nominations it received for Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound Editing.
The film’s success resulted in four feature films, the first three of which were written and directed by the Wachowskis and produced by Joel Silver. Reeves is still winning people over off and on-screen, even after over 20 years in the business. May it last for a long time.
Reeves’ upcoming action thriller Ballerina, which is helmed by Len Wiseman, will see him reprising his role as John Wick.
Stream The Matrix on Max.
