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I think the original Matrix was really incredible. It was so original and it did so many innovative things with film. It was a much bigger film. Bound was just a smaller film. It was kind of like an old noir film.

Unless it's something very clever like 'Memento,' most independent films have a very tough life out there.

We found in 'The Matrix' that people were willing to accept something more. It was a smarter film.

But 'Memento' was so successful, such a huge cult hit, almost on the scale of a large film. If that had happened, with all the acclaim, before the next job, I'd have found it very difficult to figure out what to do next.

I've made a lot of stupid action films. But when we made The Matrix, we saw that people wanted more than that.

I remember leaving the first 'Matrix' movie feeling completely radicalized, completely changed. I think we all, from our ordinary lives, like to think about putting ourselves into these extraordinary situations and wonder how we'd respond.

Well I didn't actually see the Matrix but I've seen other movies where with similar sorts of themes.

The greatest filmmakers are not the ones who put everything in; they're the ones who can figure things to leave out, and in doing so, invite your participation.

'Alien' asked ground-breaking questions about eco-politics and female empowerment. 'The Matrix' delved deeper into the concept of perception versus reality than perhaps any other film I know. But for some reason, we tend not to remember the significance of their writing.

I turned down twelve films last year... Huge money films, but I had no respect for the writer or the work.