1. The "idea" for The Matrix originally started when the Wachowskis were asked by a friend to come up with a concept for a comic book.
2. The iconic "Bullet Time" shots were conceived specifically for The Matrix by visual effects supervisor John Gaeta.
3. And here's what the first "Bullet Time" test actually looked like.
4. According to ~lore~ Switch was supposed to be a gender-fluid character.
5. Neo hides his computer files in a copy of Jean Baudrillard's Simulacra and Simulation — this is a book the Wachowskis actually had the lead actors read to prep for filming.
6. Will Smith was actually approached for the role of Neo, but turned it down to do Wild Wild West.
7. The costume designs in The Matrix actually inspired Christian Dior's Fall 1999 collection.
8. According to costume designer Kym Barrett, Neo's Matrix outfit incorporated a mix of cultures and religions including Japanese Samurai, 18th Century Chinese warriors, and even "cassocks" worn by clergy leaders.
9. And Trinity's PVC-heavy outfit was meant to show that she was "like an oil slick," according to Barrett.
10. The reason the main characters wear sunglasses is to hide the eyes of those who knew the truth about the Matrix.
11. Because the movie was made before body-scan technology, the actors actually had to have their heads plaster cast to make the sunglasses fit perfectly.
12. The key cast spent four months training in kung fu and wire-fighting at a specially designed training center.
13. When Neo rubs his nose with his thumb, this is a nod to icon Bruce Lee's "signature gesture."
14. Hugo Weaving got injured just two days into training, ended up having surgery, and was on crutches for six weeks.
15. And Keanu had to train while wearing a neck brace because he was recovering from neck surgery (unrelated to the training) prior to filming.
16. The scene where Keanu jumps from the building was a 35-foot wire drop that he actually did.
17. The Wachowskis literally tracked down the contact information for fight choreographer Woo-Ping Yuen because they wanted him for their movie that badly.
18. The fire blasting through the lobby was a totally practical effect, here's what that looked like:
19. The part of the lobby pillar that falls off after the gunfight was totally coincidental.
20. In case you've ever wondered what city The Matrix was filmed in, it was Sydney, Australia.
21. And the stage they filmed on in Sydney was brand new at the time — they were the first movie to film there.
