The editing of The Matrix is spot on. Zach Staenberg and the Wachowski's did a great job, with example after example throughout the film.
One core technique to basically all or most film editing (from the modern Western hemisphere at least) is on my mind today though. You can point to it in almost any scene, and yet the irony is that when used correctly, it itself is almost invisible to the average audience member.
Cutting on action. The "Meet Morpheus" scene jumps out for example mainly as a nod to one of my favorite film documentaries, The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing, which uses this first example.
As Neo enters the room, he sees Morpheus in a wide shot with his back to us, looking out a window. Morpheus turns to us and we cut to a tight shot of him in mid turn.
This is a simple example of cutting on action: not before or after the turn, but during.
The movement in both shots is too much for the brain to fully track, which helps cover and smooth over any continuity issues with timing, delivery, costume, etc.
Most scenes are not shot with multiple cameras, so we have multiple takes instead. With even the most rehearsed acting and keen production design eye, there will be differences between takes. Frankly, you want that freedom for your actors or at least some.
Cutting on action allows a little more room there.
You can see more examples, of course, throughout the scene.
Neo taking the red pill is another example of this. We have a sunglasses reflection tight shot of Neo's hand paused over the pill.
As he moves to take it we cut to a tight shot of his hand, without the reflection, again cutting on action.
If somehow you never saw this film, go and see it on a big screen with a great sound system real soon. Real soon.
Here's the scene in full.
Be well. http://www.LionSuit.com
