Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely AWESOME
Review: I'm not a fan of this kind of film, but after much prodding my husband got me to sit down and take a look. I must say, this film is nearly flawless! Keanu Reeves (who normally reeks in movies) is great as Neo, a computer hacker by night who is desperately seeking Morpheus, another hacker who has information about something called "The Matrix". Neo wants to know more, and an encounter with Morpheus follower Trinity (the terrific Carrie Ann Moss) leaves him still looking.When he is finally drawn into Morpheus and Trinity's world, he finds that the Matrix is his reality, and his reality is only a sham. Now he has powers he never knew he had before, and Morpheus believes he is "The One", a savior of those who exist in the "real" world outside the Matrix. Lawrence Fishburne as perfect as always, the story is well-written, well-acted, and has great special effects. I'd definitely recommend the DVD version of the movie, since it has a fun commentary and other special features where you can explore the effects with more detail. I would highly recommend this film to anyone who loves the genre, or just likes a good movie!
Rating: 
Summary: My Third And Final Review Of "The Matrix"
Review: I'm not going to dispute that "The Matrix" has entertainment value. Some of the scenes are truly loud and visually mesmerizing. Though some scenes had an artifical look to them they were entertaining nonetheless. The battle that develops between Neo(Keanu Reeves) and Agent Smith(Hugo Weaver) is very entertaining. The monotony of the voice of Agent Smith will bring back memories of Ben Stein's blurb in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off".("Anyone,Anyone")It's fun with a capital F when they duke it out using martial arts and Agent Smith taunts Neo calling him Mr. Anderson. There is a forgivable lack of characterization. The setting involves a great deal of tension and it is understandable that the characters don't have the time to sit down over a cup of tea and describe themselves in great detail to each other and the audience. The action and drama more than makes up for the lack of characterization. There are some flaws. The first is the style of the writing. The writing violates one of the first principles taught to you in an introductory English class. The characters do way too much explaining and the movie does more telling than showing. It is odd to hear Morpheus(Laurence Fishburne) tell Neo that nobody can be told what the Matrix is than have him go right ahead and tell Neo what it is.(Some mentor he is)Watch out for numerous overly explanatory phrases where it seems that they almost freeze frame for a moment and explain to the audience what just happened. Show don't tell. The thought provoking aspect of this film doesn't make as much sense as it would seem when you listen to Morpheus's endless babbling. The Matrix is described as a virtual world controlled by living machines. People are enslaved, unaware that the world they live in is just an illusion programmed by the machines and translated by the human mind. It is understood that those unaware that they are in the Matrix can experience all five computer controlled senses and therefore can be killed in the Matrix. The rebels who have escaped the Matrix are cooped up in a ship where they hack into the Matrix. They enter the Matrix aware of the fact that it is an illusionary world created by the machines yet they still can experience all five computer controlled senses. I have a problem with their level of awareness. It is impossible for your mind to experience the full range of five senses in two different "realities" at once. They are aware of the real world and the virtual world when they enter the Matrix. It is like entering a dream but knowing you were entering a dream. You could see and maybe hear but you cannot feel and experience the situation as if it were really happening. It is hard to manipulate the senses of touch, taste, and smell. When you have a spontaneous dream and you are unaware that it is a dream you can experience all five senses. It is as if you were there. So, when bullets are fired at the rebels and the Matrix tells them they are real then why can't they counter that with remembering they are in the Matrix and those bullets are artificially created by the Matrix and not real. Can thought/awareness affect how your senses work? If there is no spoon as Neo learns then why isn't there any bullets right from the start. How can you be killed by something you already know doesn't exist? "The Matrix" asks questions about what reality is but never comes up with an answer and ends without attempting to resolve that issue. I have my own answer. In looking at what is real it is important to focus on the senses of touch, taste, and even smell.(Sight and hearing are too easily manipulated) In nature when you touch something with your finger, for example, there are nerves in your fingers that send a response to your brain that then translates that and sends a signal back to your finger to illicit the correct response, whatever it may be. Virtual reality, in my mind, on the other hand, starts with the mind bypassing the initial touching of the finger to a keyboard, for example, and even though you haven't touched that keyboard it sure feels like you did. Reality starts with the outside world and how the senses react to it. A message is sent to the brain from another part of the nervous system present on the human body. Virtual reality starts in the mind bypassing the outside world and how the senses react to it. It emulates the desired effect. In other words by stimulating the correct area of the brain you can trick the body into sensing whatever you desire. When you watch "The Matrix" and you see the rebels reenter the Matrix just question whether virtual reality and true reality can exist at the same time? Does it make any difference that you know something is not real? Can it still physically harm you? Enjoy the ride.
Rating:
Summary: best movie ever
Review: I'm not really sure why I'm even writing this review, because everyone all ready knows that The Matrix is one of the best movies to ever come out, but just figured I'd give my 2 cents anyway. This movie has so much action that it's incredible. It also has some of the best special effects I've seen in a very long time, and the storyline is amazing. Who ever wrote the story for the movie, is a genius and I hope is coming back for the other 2 movies. Before the sequels come out, make sure you get the one that started it all.
Rating: 
Summary: The Sequels Put It To Shame
Review: I'm sick and tired of people being so hung-up on firsts. Check out ANY music artist, and people will ALWAYS tell you that their first album was their best. It's the same thing with movies, and, quite frankly, with "The Matrix", they're totally wrong. I loved this movie when it first came out. It was undeniably creative, had great special effects, and really revolutionized the way action films would be looked at from then on. Then, "The Matrix Reloaded" hit the screens. After watching all the brand new, ultra-cool stunts, taking time to think over the philosophies, and trying to take in all the aspects of its massive scale, I can safely tell you that it makes this film look rather lame. Sure, the lobby shootout and the battle in the subway station are excellent, but when compared to "Reloaded"'s burly brawl, freeway chase, and chateau death match, I just can't put the original on a pedestal. "Revolutions" with its truly epic battle for Zion (which set a benchmark in digital animation), and final showdown even further this film's mediocrity. "The Matrix" has never been a series people came to for its writing or acting, and this one is no exception. Keanu Reeves is dry in his delivery, but makes up for it with all the coolness of his trench coat and sunglasses. The philosophical points and views expressed in the sequels are almost totally absent in the original, with the concept of a matrix of control constantly taking center stage during the dialogue scenes. Since Neo doesn't fully become 'The One' until the last minutes of the film, you won't be seeing very much of his lightning quick Kung-Fu either, and, to me, that removes a lot of this film's excitement. It's safe to say that "The Matrix" is a good movie, but if you want something that will blow you away both mentally and visually, check out either of the two sequels instead.
Rating:
Summary: An incredible story
Review: I'm sick of hearing people say, "Great action and it has a decent story, too." Movies are unwatchable a second time without a story. I've seen this one probably about 15 times. The reason is the story. It's fantastic. The visuals only make the story believable and they do it well. A movie like the Matrix does not get people saying, "I'd explain it if I could, but to understand it, you have to see it for yourself," without an incredible and, absurdly, plausible story.
My only beef: The lobby scene is unnessessary!! I hope the sequels don't do that.
Rating:
Summary: The Matrix Hurah.
Review: I'm sorry, but this movie is dumb. When I went to watch the 1st time, I wasn't ammused. The story is easy to figure out (a greek philosipher came up with this theory along time ago) and the effects, well, they were to laugh at. They were the worst special effects I've seen. They look so fake. Even the film's highlight was unippressive. You could see a little black outline around the girl when she jumped up and paused in the air. I don't know why everyone thinks that so good. The reason it gets two stars is because it tried to be original, but sadly it's taken a story that has already been told and hollwoodized it. I'm not that easily ammused Hollywood. This film made Star Wars Episode 1 look great. ...
Rating:
Summary: The Matrix is a masterpiece!!!!!!
Review: I'm totally in love & obsessed with this film (I'm a bit embarrassed to admit how many times I've actually seen it)! It is the best sci fi ever! It's mind-blowing. I actually still find it suspenseful when I watch it! No film has ever held me like that before...I'm usually bored out of my mind when I know what's going to happen next. Edge of your seat eye-candy! The effects are incredible and I was amazed with how they used computers in producing them. This film has definitely inspired me to be 'in the know' computer wise. It made me want to know just how they did it all! And it has actually inspired me to study film! The effects are the most incredible I've ever seen...seamless, flawless. Beautifully done!!! And the casting for the film was extraordinary. I can't wait to add this fantastic film to my collection. This film has so many layers...full of philisophical truths! I love Neo's journey to enlightenment! I love the symbolism used & connectedness throughout the film (lots of little gems to notice if you watch closely enough). They did a fabulous job...the script was alive , flawless choreography, beautifully shot, unique concept, exquisite set & wardrobe design. Pure art...a work of sheer genius!! I recently picked up the soundtrack. It's great. The best movie soundtrack I've ever heard! All others, I've always had to skip a couple of songs. But I enjoy the whole thing which is a pleasant surprise! (Another favorite film of mine is'Face/Off' which is beautifully shot. The Matrix uses a similar shooting style but takes it much farther!) The Matrix is a masterpiece!
Rating:
Summary: Mr. ed's review
Review: i'ts cool, it was a great movie! great actio
Rating:
Summary: This movie is ONE WILD RIDE!
Review: I'ts not often you get to see a movie that hits you HARD from the opening scenes and doesn't let up until it's over. What I liked about this movie was the fact that the plot isn't clear to the viewer for some time. That should be annoying, but it's not. The special effects and the way the story unfolds holds your interest in an unbreakable grip. And as the plot become clear, well, to borrow a line from the movie: "Buckle your seat belt Dorothy, cause Kansas is going bye-bye!
Rating:
Summary: Not THAT original.
Review: I've always called the first Matrix film a rip-off. It's a mix of many different films put together with important parts stolen from the Terminator (robots rule the future and have enslaved the remainder of humanity), Total Recall (futuristic 'Is it a dream or reality' sci-fi) and even Johnny Mnemonic (futuristic cyberpunk genre starring Keanu Reeves as a guy who can plug computers into his head and 'go into them'), plus various other works by William Gibson and a lot of Anime. It does deliver a lot of potential (that the sequels failed to honor) and has been influential on post-modern action but no matter how much I know The Matrix is loved I just can't get over the fact that I've seen most of it in other movies. It's the style of the Matrix that's more fondly cherished than the story. It won 4 technical Academy Awards, proving that all the Matrix is is eye-candy. Call that narrow-minded if you want but I believe this movie is no more than a very, very popular cult movie. A contradiction in terms yes, but still the most appropriate way of describing it. I only bought this DVD because it was super-cheap and came in a new purple keep-case instead of the flimsy old snappers. The DVD is in 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen and has Dolby 5.1 sound.
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