McFarlane Matrix APU (Armored Personnel Unit)

The Matrix is a science fiction film written and directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski. The stars of the movie were Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, and Hugo Weaving.
In the 21st century, humanity is fighting a war with the machines equipped with artificial intelligence. The very same machines the humans created not that long ago. In order to stop the machines, the humans decided to torch the sky so as to cut off the machines' supply of solar power (energy source for the machines). However the machines responded by using human beings as their energy source! The machines grew countless of people in pods and harvested their bioelectrical energy as their main energy source. The Matrix, a simulated reality of the world in 1999, was created by the machines to keep the human population in check.
Morpheus, played by Laurence Fishburne, and his crew ("unplugged" from the Matrix) had a mission to free the humans and recruited them for the fight against the machines in the "Real World". Morpheus in particular believes that there is one person (the One) that is able to end the war through his ability to control the Matrix. Neo (the One) is played by Keanu Reeves.

When the Matrix was released in 1999, it blew me away. The storyline was intense and very well thought of. The visual effect was stunning and the film was known for developing and popularizing the use of a visual effect known as "bullet time", which allows the viewer to explore a moment progressing in slow-motion as the camera appears to orbit around the scene at normal speed. After the matrix, a few other movies like The 13th story and eXistenZ followed a similar idea.
The movie enjoyed mainstream success and hence two sequels, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions were filmed. Ok...this is where the compliments will stop. I basically did not understand the two sequels and most of the time during the movie I was trying hard to understand and follow the storyline....Maybe I am just to slow...LOL

The APU (Armored Personnel Unit) appeared in The Matrix Revolutions and it was a damn cool machine. The APU was used mainly to defend Zion against the machines.
The APU is armed with two 20mm cannons mounted on its arms, which are fed by large ammo cases located to the rear of the unit. Reloading is a major problem, since the guns have to be reloaded manually by humans who are vulnerable to attack. In order to speed this operation the reloading crews are accompanied into the battlezone by at least one dedicated gunner with a directed energy weapon to act as close support.

The details on the APU are simply amazing and overwhelming! McFarlane really went crazy over this. If Neo is the One than the APU is the One for this whole Matrix series (or even most toys in this scale). Every wire, screws, bolts and nuts is where it should be. With this much attention to detail, it must be 100% or at least almost movie accurate.
The APU also comes with Mifune, the general in charge of the APUs. He is attach to the APU and can't be taken out. I think that after the sculptors were done with the APU, they were simply too exhausted to do a good job on Mifune, hence a very average head sculpt.
I read on some reviews that the APU has 40 points of articulation but I did not have the chance to find out. This is because of one major flaw in the APU, the quality is pretty bad. I don't know if it is just mine but before I could get it out of the box, both its arm had already broken off. Not long later, the top half of the APU decided to detach itself from its legs! I had to use super glue to fit them back!
The APU is freaking fragile. If any kid asked to touch it, my advice is a big NO NO. I would not even let an adult touch it...LOL.

Overall, a really great toy! Even though it breaks easily, it's still a wonderful toy to have on your display shelf (given it does not fall over)!

The APU.








Every wire in place






Front view of its legs


Closer look at the 20mm cannons








Backview of the APU


The large ammo cases that feed the
20mm cannons




Backview of its legs


Something I learn in life:
There is someone always better than you!