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The Matrix Customer Reviews (70 - 72 of 132 Reviews)

Very interesting storyline with stunning effects.
I guess my biggest complaint with Matrix is that inspite of a big budget and veteran action producer Joel Silver, the Wachowski brother played it too safe. Maybe they were afraid of isolating the mainstream viewer if the storyline was too radical. I personally feel that they could have been bolder and done decent business.

Matrix is a awe inspiring cyber-adventure, full of kinetic excitement, and borrows the gravity-defying choreography reminiscent of John Woo movies, but the ending could be considering anti-climactic by some. It's kind of a letdown when a movie begins by redefining the nature of reality, and ends with a shoot-out. Movie-goers want a leap of the imagination, not one of those obligatory climaxes.

It's great-looking, both in its design and in the kinetic energy that powers it. One of the main advantages of getting the DVD is to watch John Gaeta work his magic! He used flawlessly integrated special effects and animation to visualize regions of cyberspace. It creates fearsome creatures, including mechanical octopi. It morphs bodies with the abandon of "Terminator II." It uses f/x to allow Neo and Trinity to run horizontally on walls, and hang in the air long enough to deliver karate kicks. It has leaps through space, thrilling sequences involving fights on rooftops, helicopter rescues and battles over mind control. If my memory serves me right, Gaeta is the first one to film special effects sequences with 30+ camera simultaneously shooting at 12000 frames per second!

And it has performances that find the right notes. Keanu Reeves goes for the impassive Harrison Ford approach, "acting" as little as possible. Laurence Fishburne finds a balance between action hero and Zen master. Carrie-Anne Moss, as Trinity, has a sensational title sequence, before the movie recalls that she's a woman and shuttles her into support mode. Hugo Weaving, as the chief Agent, uses a flat, menacing tone that almost sounded like he is straining to find an American accent :)

This is strictly a personal choice but there could have been action sequences balanced with an audacious conclusion, to arrive at revelation, not just victory. I wanted an ending that was transformational, like "Dark City's," and not one that simply throws us a sensational action sequence. There is still hope though with the sequels currently in production (Part 2) and shooting (Part 3) stages.

"Why oh why didn't I take the BLUE pill?"
After hearing so many good things about this film, I was actually underwhelmed the first time I saw it. I already new the basic premise so it wasn't a surprise to me. It wasn't until the SECOND time I saw it that it really hit me. Very well written, with some philosophical underpinnings hidden throughout, the Matrix is a smart sci-fi action film -- but not TOO smart: that would have to wait until The Matrix Reloaded (which is so dense it's hard to understand what's going on with just one viewing).

great sci-fi flick
This is a great movie, especially for sci-fi lovers. What if the world we live in isn't real, but it's just a computer simulation created by violent machines in order to keep us calm while they secretly enslave us? No, I'm not crazy. This is the set-up for "The Matrix," which cleverly twists reality. Mind-bending special effects add to the already clever, original plotline. Keanu Reeves, often a very underrated actor, stars a Neo, the possible savior of humankind from machine-enslavement. Laurence Fishburne, who sounds a lot like James Earl Jones as Darth Vader, is Morpheus, the leader of a group fighting the machines. Carrie-Anne Moss, in her first big Hollywood hit, scored big as Trinity, the female fighter aboard the ship/Neo's eventual love interest. All actors, who did most of their own stuntwork, pull of their characters better than most actors could manage in a film that highlights its flashy special effects. Have I mentioned that Keanu Reeves is great in this? Have I mentioned that he looks hot being great in this? Directed by the Wachowski brothers, "The Matrix," along with all it's special features on DVD, will show you something you've never seen before, and make you think about something you've never thought about before. If nothing else, just sit and stare at Keanu Reeves for two hours.

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