Okay, maybe I’m pushing the definition of “spaceship” with the Nebuchadnezzar since it’s a hovercraft that never once emerges from beneath the Earth. “The Matrix” is undoubtedly sci-fi, though, and the Neb is as cool as it gets — so I think we can probably let it slide.
The Nebuchadnezzar is Morpheus’ (Laurence Fishburne) ship in “The Matrix” and “The Matrix Reloaded.” Sadly, it takes quite a beating over the course of those two movies. In the first, most of the crew are wiped out after Cypher’s (Joe Pantoliano) betrayal, while the ship itself is severely damaged in an ensuing sentinel attack. Then, at the end of “The Matrix Reloaded,” the Neb is destroyed for good by a tow bomb, though not before Morpheus bids it a tearful farewell. “Gone too soon” doesn’t begin to cut it.
If you’ve seen “The Matrix,” then you’ll know why the Nebuchadnezzar has made this list. Morpheus’ ship features a bold visual design driven by the same hodgepodge rebel style that makes the X-wing so appealing, while the decision to make it a hovercraft both underscores the grim desperation of Zion’s rebellion and provides an excuse to stick a bunch of awesome buzzing glowing thingies all over it. (What, do I look like a hovercraft engineer?) The Neb is also crewed by some of the coolest characters in modern sci-fi: Morpheus, Neo (Keanu Reeves), and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) go without saying, but the other members of the team are gun-toting, Matrix-hacking, leather-sporting badasses in themselves. Except Cypher. That guy can go to hell.