Mixing science and philosophy with heart-pounding action, The Matrix trilogy is a landmark in modern filmmaking. Charting a human revolt against a world order ruled by artificial intelligence, this fable of 'free thinking' was the brainchild of the enigmatic directing duo the Wachowski brothers. Not only did they push the boundaries of visual effects with the invention of 'bullet time', but they also made professional plank Keanu Reeves one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood. It prompts the question: is this the real world, or just a crazy simulation?

The Red Pill

Matrix fans could lose themselves forever in the digital wonder world that is The Ultimate Matrix - which includes all nine shorts in The Animatrix series. Ten discs come loaded with behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, music and artwork with every major car chase and kung-fu fight in the trilogy painstakingly dissected across nearly 100 'making of' featurettes.

Anatomy Of A Super Punch is a prime example, focussing on a single second of film where Neo (Reeves) clocks Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) with atomic force. Capturing this fleeting moment is a vastly complicated process involving multiple storyboards, motion-capture technology, high-powered air jets (to ripple Weaving's skin), clay sculptures and CG wizardry. Elsewhere you can take tours of key sets like The Nebuchadnezzar, get a breakdown of 'bullet time' and watch video diaries by members of cast and crew.

Follow The Rabbit

For a broader view of the four years it took to bring Reloaded and Revolutions to the screen, check out The Burly Man Chronicles. It's a feature-length documentary that affords rare access to the Wachowskis as they chew over major set pieces and ostentatious stunt sequences. Among the reams of behind-the-scenes footage, catch Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and Laurence Fishburne in kung-fu training, or the preparation and execution of the epic car chase from Reloaded. Video cameras also put you in the middle of these breathtaking action sequences.

While you watch, 'The White Rabbit' appears intermittently to lead you down a deeper hole where you can meet stunt co-ordinators, visual effects supervisors and costume designers as they go about their daily business. It's an exhaustive journey, tracing a shoot that lasted 276 days across two continents. Spending the bulk of production against a green screen, Keanu looks dazed most of the time (but hey, what's new?), and after 200 days admits he's not enjoying it anymore. "I need flesh and blood," he says, "You've got to give it some life but how do you do it?" Um, acting lessons perhaps?

Free Your Mind

Philosophy scholars, science fiction scribes, scientists, and geeks ponder the meaning of The Matrix in two feature-length documentaries. It may sound rather dry, but both are as entertaining as they are utterly baffling. "How do we know what we know and why do we think we know it if what is known is not a known?" is just one of the questions raised here and addressed by what one of the interviewees dubs, "The ultimate geek movie."

Sadly The Wachowski's do not offer any commentaries, because, as they explain in a wordy introductory statement, the trilogy espouses the idea of free thought so "it felt hypocritical to talk publicly about them". Instead they recruited three critics (who hated the sequels) and a couple of philosophers to talk you through the trilogy - the idea being to stretch your mind between two differing perspectives. Unfortunately, the exercise isn't entirely successful since the critics seem to spend most the time snoozing and laughing at their own jokes, while the philosophers chase their tails in unending spirals of profound contemplation. It's the one disparity in an otherwise extravagant package of extras.

Storyboards, music from the soundtrack, galleries of concept art and a visually arresting effects montage (with thumping music) complements the plethora of 'making of' featurettes and documentaries. Everything you ever wanted to know about The Matrix is covered here with rare attention to detail, but be warned: once you're plugged in, you may never get out.

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