Rating: Summary: My favorite sci-fi movie Review: Although the plot is a bit trite ("the one"), this is a wonderful film. The SFX and the revelation regarding "what is the Matrix?" are alone enough to make this a must own.
Rating: Summary: Technological Socialism Review: Although the screenplay of this film was clearly meant for little boys who think they're Batman, the plot structure and issues the movie works through are important. Notions of dystopia, the Goth/Romantic vigilante, God and heaven (Zion)--these and many more pieces of human questioning and yearning are presented nicely and pursued with near perfect precision.It's rare to find a philosophical movie entertaining, but there is such a great balance of special effects, sexiness, darkness, heroism, symbolism, etc. that the viewer understands at the same time that he or she is amazed. The movie ends quite well. When society is in the middle of a revolution--in our case, a technological revolution--it's important for a piece of art about our times to be open-ended, to refresh our interest to let the revolution come. Recommendations: Dark City, Donnie Darko, The Crow, The City of Lost Children, Cowboy Bebeop, 1984, The Handmaid's Tale, Fight Club
Rating: Summary: No film is better suited for the DVD format than this one. Review: Althought the Editor/Actor commentary lags somewhat, the rest of the disk is top-of the line and has features programmed on it that no one has seen or done before.
Rating: Summary: no choice Review: Am I the only one who wishes those jerks making movies would give us a choice between widescreen or fullscreen versions of these new movies?
Rating: Summary: How original, another film about binary realities. Review: Am I the only person who thinks that this movie got all the positive reaction Star Wars episode I deserved, and Star Wars Episode I got all the criticism The Matrix deserved. Okay, it certainly isn't a bad movie, good action sequences, interesting story, nice Gigeresque sets, but Keanu Reeves makes Jake Lloyd look like an acting god, why did they choose him to play the part of Neo. I really cannot think of anyone who could be less the 'Chosen One'. While the special effects are good, the reliance on a 'dark' look to the film, almost renders the technology of colour TV functionless. The costumes are boring, the bad guys look like my bank manager at a rock concert, the soundtrack is cheesy, the slo-mo fight scenes are comedic and as for the relationship between Neo and Trinity, well there isn't one until towards the end of the film Trinity realises that their complete lack of chemistry together actually means she is in love with him. And as for the rotating cameras thingy, what's the point it doesn't fit into the story at all, they just shove it in because they can. The only brilliant scene is the big robot walking through a field of human embryos. worst of all, however is the 'philosophical' question the film poses. I'm getting a bit sick of films like this, Dark City was good as was the Truman show, but Fight Club was silly and The Sixth Sense was boring until the 'oh-so amazing twist'. Is it me or were these ideas staples of dodgy late night 'chillers' such as tales From The Crypt and The Twilight Zone. This question of whether we inhabit 'reality' or a 'simulation' of reality was dismissed by the Greek philosophers as ontologically and epistemologically worthless, as anyone who actually thinks about the film realises, it doesn't really matter, does it. It's about as thought provoking as the question "what would you do if...(you won the lottery, had three wishes etc). I would have given this film three stars if it was'nt for everyone going on about how 'mad' or 'deep' it was. The Wachowski Brothers should stick to action films and leave philosophy to philosophers. Now if you want to see real philosophy check out the use of a phenomenological approach in Star Wars Episode I.
Rating: Summary: WOW - One of my all-time favorites Review: Amazing - I missed this movie in the theater, but rented on DVD. I went the next day and bought the DVD and watched it 2 more times immediately. Great special effects!!! Great story!!! Great acting!!! To top it all off - this is the best use I've seen yet of the capabilities of DVD's. With the 30 minutes "making of" featurette and the "Follow the White Rabbit" extra's this is a DVD for others to emulate.
Rating: Summary: Visual effects outstanding. Review: Amazing work. Although the plot is a little fuzzy, the action and visual effects(not special effects) are outstanding.
Rating: Summary: WOOOOOOOOOOOOW Review: Amazing...i didn't think that it was possible to make a really good sci-fi movie after Star Wars, episode 4-6. But I was wrong. I walked into the theatre as an ordinary man and walked out as Neo, at least it felt like him. See this film, it will blow your senses
Rating: Summary: A must see! (That is, if you can see it all!) Review: An engrossing story line coupled with amazing special effects. I'm not a big Keanu Reeves fan but he passes along a believable character. I hadn't rented the movie last week when it was released waiting for the DVD version to arrive at my house. The movie was excellent up until the movie stopped playing at chapter 19. What a gip. Now I have to find the VHS to watch what I missed after Ch. 19. Has this happened to anyone else? I can't wait to see the whole movie though. I'm hooked. The extra features on the DVD make it a must add to your collection unless there is a manufacturing problem with the disk mentioned above. I probably would have given the movie 5 stars had I been able to watch it all. Anyway, risk it and buy it!
Rating: Summary: PLOT HOLES! Review: An enjoyable movie, but damn! I hate glaring plot holes. For a thinking man, it just spoils the entertainment value. What was up with the phone thing? Why did they have to go across town to beam out? Why couldn't they just use their cellular phones? And why use humans for you-know-what? Why not use cows? They are bigger (more bio-matter) and dumber (the matrix then could consist of only bales of hay and those flies that suck the juice out of the corners of their eyes). Why choose small firearms, when they could've had RPG's or grenade launchers? How can they see so well when they wear those sunglasses all the time? How can it always be 1999 if the people are going about their normal lives? Do they wake up after New Year and start all over again? Or do they just get extremely wasted and forget the previous year happened? I could go on, but its 2am, and I just finished listening to the Matrix Soundtrack (which rocks!)
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