Rating: 
Summary: Amazing
Review: I first saw this on VHS. THen my friend rented it (On DVD) and we watched it. This movie can be confusing. But after the 5th time, you'll understand. The bullet trails are neat. And the Lobby Scene is the best shootout in years. overall, GET This movie.
Rating:
Summary: Top-notch, standing all by itself
Review: I first went to see "The Matrix" at the theater in 1999, and at the point where Neo (Reeves) is taking his martial arts training with Morpheus (Fishburne), I decided that my mind was not in a condition that day to be blown, so I postponed watching the rest until a further date. My attention span must have improved since then, for now I see a fantastic movie, all the way through. The description of just what the Matrix is, while a bit lacking in solid technical details (what is "Bio-Energy"? what does "120 volts" have to do with power?), answers the question in a way that is disturbingly hard to deny. "Why not?," the open-minded may argue. Perhaps what we see is a literal presentation of the kind of backgrounding that is in fact already done on citizens and subjects of the world, through computer systems. The day that sentience finally arises in the non-living will certainly be enough to chill the souls of the humans who are responsible. It has all grown so complicated, that no one could really prevent such domination, if it had enough of its own will. The idea that the human is ultimately the better...entity...is shown by motifs like the use of martial arts ("I'm going to learn...Jiu Jitsu?").
If nothing else, we have one powerful metaphor for the way things "really work", which is at a variety of levels and a variety of motivations. Though reviews of the "Reloaded" sequel have been mixed, the original "Matrix" was one hard precedent to follow. It will be on my list of films I can watch, over and over.
Rating: 
Summary: Is Style or Story More Important
Review: I forced myself to put a 4 star rating on this film. This film has a story line that I had a hard time believing in, and I can't even say that the acting of Keanu Reeves made the film any better. I have never really been impressed with Reeves abilities, but I am less impressed now that ever. I loved the special effects though. They were spectacullar. I found myself rewinding the action packed scenes for a second go-round. The effets themselves probably could have made up for an actors short-comings, unless of course the acting was of an extrodinarly low caliber, such as was the case with Reeves. As I said I forced myself to give a 4 star rating. That is because the special effects were wonderful and the other actors and actresses have a fair amount of talent. The story line, although I wasn't convinced it could happen because there were to many open ends, was very orginal. If only it had undergone a little more development...
Rating:
Summary: An Unexpectedly Excellent Movie
Review: I fought seeing this movie when it came out(even though everyone I knew said it was great)because I thought that Reeves could not act well enough to hold the lead in a movie. Well, I was wrong. Keanu finally tries a little acting, and although not oscar caliber,he's still good. Aside from Keanu not destroying the film, come the obvious praise. The special effects are spectacular. They could make this movie worth seeing just for them. The action scenes that house these special effects are fantastic as well. The supporting cast of L.Fishburne(who is always great!)and the rest of the crew adds another jewel to this crown. It is, however, the story that really draws you in and makes you wonder. It is well thought out and developed, which is rare for an action movie, and it is that story which makes The Matrix a highly recommended film.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding from the special effects to the actors.
Review: I found that the movie was very well made and it challenges many of our common beliefs. The only limitation that this movie has is our own imagination. The possibilities that are available, to each and every one that watches it, are endless. Our minds are set free to explore the endless expanse of our own thoughts. By watching this movie it becomes aparent that reality can be different to each person as they choose to see it and the mind is very powerful .
Rating:
Summary: The Matrix--DVD Technical Difficulties...
Review: I found the movie to be outstanding. In the DVD format I purchased, the ability to listen to the ongoing commentary discussing the making of the film was especially intriguing. However, I ran into difficulty when launching the DVD viewer. It continually hung up with the launching of the designated icon. Other DVD's I have viewed did not have this difficulty. Just a word of caution...be prepared to re-install your DVD drivers on a Windows 98 platform!
Rating:
Summary: Objective reality discovered and the fight to maintain it!
Review: I found this film to be an incredibly well integrated look at the philosophy of modern man. A great deal of the foundational plot twists follow the concept of _Atlas_Shrugged_, and the story's action is first-rate without being gratuitous. The story follows Thomas Anderson (a.k.a., Neo) as he pursues an answer to the nagging suspicion that something is fundamentally wrong with the world. Like Galt's men of ability, Neo is chosen for his talents and unwillingness to flinch in the face of adversity. He is enslaved by the very talents that make him who he is, and his motive power is being used to sustain a world that is, at base, a fantasy. Just as with _Atlas_Shrugged_, a single man identifies the truth, assembles a team of those capable of identifying the truth, and they continue to recruit and fight until they can stop the motor of a corrupt world. The parallels are comfortably ensconced throughout the movie, and one gains the impression that the writing here was designed for numerous levels of comprehension and enjoyment. In its own right, "The Matrix" is a top-notch action film, but it is also a paean to individualism and philosophical freedom: "...as long as the Matrix exisits, man cannot ever truly be free." A key and aptly named player, Morpheus, tells Neo that everyone in the world is so "hopelessly inured" in the matrix that they are not ready to be freed; consequently, they will fight to protect their system--meaning that, until their liberation, they remain enemies to the cause of liberation. Even those characters that seem a little contrived can be considered as rational players in the overall plot. For instance, there is an Oracle that each of the rebels goes to visit for insight. The Oracle is less of a visionary that a resource than a source of inspiration, for she tells her callers only what they need to here in order to be successful. In all, this was a first-rate film with a trememdously solid cast and truly enjoyable writing.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Movie w/Deep Themes
Review: I found this movie not only to be a great action movie but also found very deep biblical parallels. You don't have to be blind to see it. "The One"..."Trinity" (just to name a few) come on...there was no coincidence that this movie came out around Easter.
Rating: 
Summary: I can't remember a single special effect
Review: I found this movie rather trite and cannot remember much of it now. At the time, I thought it was very similar to the Wesley Snipes vampire movie but found that much more entertaining, and Wesley Snipes much more interesting to watch that Keneau Reeves.
Rating: 
Summary: JUST TO KEEP US IN PERSPECTIVE. . .
Review: I gave this movie three stars (all 3 for effects) in a previous review, but I thought I would weigh in one more time. I am changing my score to counter the flood of five star reviews being given to the Matrix. All reviews given for this movie read as slight variations of the following: "great effects and the story is good too!" EXACTLY. Effects before plot, style before substance, form over content. Good sci-fi movies acheive a synthesis of these elements. The Matrix does not. It has a half-realized concept and its effects are extremely overdone. For TRUE classic sci-fi check out 2001: A Space Odyssey, or if that's too "old" for you, try Gattaca or 12 Monkeys. Oh, and P.S. the acting is not that great. If this is your favorite film, you just haven't seen enough movies.
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