| THE MATRIX |
 1999 - USADirector: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski - Reviewed by Linda
But let me confess something: The first time I saw The Matrix, I wasn't impressed. It had been in the theaters for awhile already, and the hype and fuss were defeaning—so I gave in, plunked down my cash, settled into a cushy seat in the darkness, and focused a hyper-critical eye on the screen. It wasn't long into the film when I wanted to stand and up yell, "THIS is the philosphy everyone has been marvelling about? The most original sci-fi ever? MY GOD PEOPLE! This is the oldest story in the world!" Wasn't it obvious to anyone else that The Matrix was simply the Jesus myth peppered with Plato's "Allegory of the Cave"? It was Popcorn Philosophy 101 in black leather. But after my initial dismissal of the film and much heated discussion with Matrix-freak friends who has seen the film numerous times, I decided to give it another chance. I saw The Matrix again. And again. And, uh, a few more times. I mean, really, you finally have to relax and ask yourself, "What's NOT to like about sexy people in black, with a cyber-punk soundtrack, kicking ass, with cool special effects?" If you've been living in your own shadowy cave, or haven't heard of the Bible, here's the basic run-down of the film. Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) is a corporate lackey in a gray corporate world. Thomas is also Neo, a techno geek staying up until the wee hours hacking away on his computer, and hanging out with other pretty pale people in black. (Can I just say how cool and sexy the club scene is?) Neo gets contacted by a mysterious and drop-dead-hot woman in painted-on black pleather, who calls herself Trinity (played by Carrie-Anne Moss) who pulls him into an alternate world of blurred realities, cartoon violence, and stone-faced agents (most notably Agent Smith, played by the fabulously deadpan Hugo Weaving) who are out to kill this group of good-guy rebels. This alternate reality (or is it the REAL reality?) is known as the Matrix. What is the Matrix, you ask? Well, if I told you, there'd be no fun in watching the movie, now would there. As Neo is told by the leader of the rebels, the cool-as-ice Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), Neo may be The One... the leader that all the rebels have been waiting for... the one that will lead them to defeat the race of evil, and until now, unstoppable agents. Reluctant Neo just now has to give a sign, or proof to the others, that he is indeed The One... But who cares about plot? What makes The Matrix so ridiculously fun and watchable is the style. This movie is so hot it's cool. It's sexy, it's suspenseful, has great fight scenes, cartoonish and unbelievable action, and, most importantly, eye-popping special effects. I mean, I don't think that anyone would argue that Carrie-Anne Moss' Trinity has the BEST character introduction scene to grace the screen in years. HOT! HOT! HOT! And if that isn't what The Matrix is all about, I don't know what is. |
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I read a great quote recently, that said, to the effect, that 1999's The Matrix will be looked back on fondly like 1977's Star Wars, as a ground-breaking film that changed all films after it. And you know what? I wouldn't argue with that. How many times have we seen that clever freeze-frame camera-spinning trick since then? The black (p)leather cyber-chic look? The Western action flicks incorporating bad-ass Eastern kung-fu and ass-kicking?
