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Blake, Wm. The Spiritual Form of Nelson Guiding Leviathan. 1805.

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“The Matrix” was released 25 years ago. The film’s revolutionary visuals and AI-driven plot dazzled viewers at the time and continue to shape both cinema and fashion today.

Will Smith was initially supposed to play the lead character of Neo, but he passed on it, so Keanu Reeves took up the now iconic role. The cast also included Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Hugo Weaving.

The film’s architects, Lana and Lilly Wachowski, took influence from Hong Kong’s martial arts movies. Costume designer Kym Barrett oversaw the futuristic wardrobe. “I wanted to find a modern version of something that could move like a cape,” she said of the long leather coats in 2019.