Despite only turning 40 in 2001, Laurence (née Larry) Fishburne has been making movies for over 25 years. The Augusta-born actor had an auspicious beginning, in "Apocalypse Now", following it with acclaimed turns in movies as diverse as "King of New York", "Boyz n the Hood", and "Othello". Now he's dealing with another apocalyptic vision, in the second part of the Wachowskis' "Matrix" trilogy, as rebel leader Morpheus.

How do you feel about being part of this huge cultural phenomenon?

Pretty cool, actually. I mean, I get to be a superhero, and the child inside me is overjoyed about that.

This is probably the most anticipated movie sequel ever. Did you feel the pressure of having to live up to the original?

I think the directors, more than anybody else, were the ones who felt the most pressure. But I also know that they worked really, really hard to make sure the story was exciting, and to create things that would really satisfy the audience.

The idea of "The Matrix" springs out of cyberpunk. Did you explore this subculture as part of your preparations?

The people that are really interested in that culture are the Wachowski brothers. The Wachowski brothers are cyberpunks. They're very influenced by Gibson [sci-fi author William Gibson] and all the things that are cyberpunk, in addition to other influences. As for me, I own a computer; I know how to turn it on. And that's pretty much it.

What's it like being directed by the Wachowski brothers?

Somebody described them as being one brain connected to two different bodies. They're very passionate about their work, because they're writers first. But they also have this incredible vision - which you see on screen - and everything is about the detail. It's all about the framing and the visual perspective on something, and it's about intention. That's about trying to challenge the audience and get the audience to engage in a different way with an action film.

So sometimes it's challenging and sometimes it's frustrating, because they have a secret language all of their own. But there was a great deal of trust amongst our little family. You have to surrender to what they ask of you, but you know you're in good hands.

It was a long process. Are you happy it's all over?

I'm very happy that it's over. But it's because, like most people, I am a big fan of "The Matrix" and I wanted to see these movies and not just be in them. It's rare that you get the opportunity to be in something that you really want to see as well. So, yes, I'm happy that it's over, but I also miss the days that we had together, eating together, drinking together, laughing, playing and getting excited because "Oh! The big fight is coming!"

Some people have found it difficult to get a handle on the philosophy behind this film. Can you break down what you think the key issues of the trilogy are?

Who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose? Those are the big questions that these movies ask, and it’s up to you to go see it and figure all that **** out. You have the choice! The choice is yours!