Rating: 
Summary: Suggestive
Review: This is a dangerous film. An addictive film. It's success is due to it's coincidence with DVD, which gives people a sense of being at the cinema but in their own homes. Once the novelty wears off I expect there will be some sobering up over The Matrix's worth. The concept is more appealing than the execution. Why? Because it allows Americans to be the victims of capitalism and not it's perpetrators. They are all lying in containers and are not responsible for 'the system' which is imposed on them. They are still the enemy though, because they will unknowingly do anything to protect the system. This sets up a particularly nasty scene whereby the heroes mow down an entire lobby of people in cold blood. The relish in which the film makers execute this is chilling, appealing to some video gamers demographic in a truly cynical manner which really turns you against the film, if any encouragement is actually needed. After the heroes leave the lobby in a lift a bit of granite drops off the wall. This was a very calculating touch by the makers, to dismiss this evil bit of death by friendly fire as a joke. There is little humour in the portentuous proceedings but the little there is is always coldly logical and dripping in morbid incincerity. I'm sure though that for Mr Hazell below, the lobby scene was a deeply spiritual moment, in the strictly Yungian sense, of course. The message of course is typically American. Believing in yourself at the expense of others. Talk softly and carry a big stick. Shoot first and call your therapist later. God is what you make her. My favourite bit of self belief in the film is when Neo machine guns the room in which the guy he's come to rescue is sitting dead centre and despite the copious and random flaying of ammo somehow fails to hit him along with the bad guys. Maybe it's just bad direction. Like, for instance, someone whose grown up from a baby without any muscle development or bone usage would just fall out an incubator and immediately take up Kung Fu. New Age mantra peps you up, I guess. The tacked on redemptive power of love ending fools nobody, either. It's as bogus as the matrix itself. Neo can fly up into the sky as far as he wants, he won't escape the system. The ethos behind this film is pure capitalism, directed with all the cold precision and studied ruthlessness of a hedgehog being thrown into the path of a combine harvester. Anyway, the brothers Wachowski are young. Maybe they'll see the error of their ways. After ten sequels, of course.
Rating: 
Summary: 2003 is the year for the Matrix
Review: This is a definite 'must-see' action film. If you have not seen this film yet it is time to come out from under that rock. 2003 is the year for the Matrix. The follow-ups are to be released this year. The Super Bowl was yesterday and the trailer aired for Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions. It was the one commercial that changed the room of guys from roaring laughter from the Budweiser commercial into silence and put us all under a spell of awe-inspired concentration. We all make a vow to be there opening night. No one should miss out on these films of 2003. But before you consider the easy decision of going to the theater, you must take the action needed to see this film in order to prepare you for the rush of Reloaded and Revolutions. No decision here, if you want to see the sequels, you must see the origin.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining beyond the movie
Review: This is a DVD which makes great use of the formats strengths. There are numerous bonus features, including the 'follow the white rabbit' feature, which lets you see the making of a scene when the scene plays in the movie. Also has voice overs by cast & crew and the music composer. Top it all off with a very cool movie and you get a heck of a good disc. Worth much more than the asking price.
Rating:
Summary: WICKED FILM
Review: this is a film worth watching. excellent film with wicked special effects. best one i have seen for a while that makes yout think that there might be another world out there.
Rating:
Summary: Get your money's worth from your DVD player
Review: This is a first-rate action/sci-fi thriller. It also showcases the capabilities of DVD, with multiple soundtracks, on-screen links to behind-the-scenes footage of the action sequences, and mini-documentaries about the special effects. The DVD allows you to watch the film with music and commentary only, commentary only, etc. The music and commentary track should be fascinating to any student of film, allowing the viewer to concentrate on the impact that a well-crafted soundtrack has on the overall film experience.
Rating: 
Summary: OK but extremely over-rated!
Review: This is a fun sci-fi movie but not at all thought provoking. The film takes itself way too seriously. The alternate world/alternate reality theme simply doesn't remain consistent and consequently just doesn't work. But, if what you want to watch is a fun, silly, but kind of cool movie then watch this. But don't expect much more than that.
Rating: 
Summary: A Bit Overrated
Review: This is a good movie, but doesn't deserve the fanatical following it has. Some reviewers below commented on the "good story" in the movie, but that is really it's weakest point. There are so many holes in the plot and entire concept that you can't possibly do anything but go into suspended disbelief mode and ignore the so-called "plot" entirely. Other people talk about the "innovative" plot, too, but I've read science fiction books in the 1960's and 1970's that covered the same story line. Sorry, guys, but there is very little new under the sun; the plot (such as it is) for this movie certainly isn't new in any sense of the word. Another criticism that other people inexplicably argue with me over - the acting skills, and I use that phrase lightly, of Keanu Reeves. He has improved a bit over his horrendous performance in "Speed", but still, he is one of the worse actors in the business today. Lawrence Fishburne's acting consists mainly of looking cool in his sunglasses, too. He pulls it off, but it's not a challenging or engaging performance at all. The best actor in the movie is Joe Pantoliano, who went on to be the gangster everyone loved to hate in "The Sopranos". So what does the movie have going for it? Great innovative special effects, and for people who aren't heavy into the martial arts genre, good fight sequences. Those of us who have been following martial arts movies BEFORE "The Matrix" and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" have seen all this before, and done far better, too (Hong Kong has it all over Hollywood in this department). But still, even though the actors have NO martial arts skills, the action sequences are reasonably well done. That's a credit to Yuen Wo Ping, the fight coordinator. Again, those of us in the know have been following his work for years. Once again, nothing new... The buzz for "The Matrix - Reloaded" is all about - what? The special effects. That says it all - no one cares about the story, they just want to see new and better FX and action sequences. So I'm afraid the movie will be all about out-doing the original as far as action sequences and special effects go. That's fine, but there needs to be more to it than that. Well, then again, maybe there doesn't... Now, the DVD. In spite of my criticisms of the movie, this is still one of the best DVD productions, in some way, on the market. The unfortunate part is the visual aspects of the movie. The Wachowski brothers purposely made the movie dark, with very little color or detail. So it is not reference quality, visually, at all. Don't use this disk to show off your video system; it just doesn't deliver in that deparment. But the audio is outstanding; one of the best sounding DVDs ever. I'm surprised so few DVDs releases since this one have equalled it's audio quality. So is this DVD worth buying? If you have a good surround system, yes, absolutely. Just don't try to follow the story - sit back and enjoy the action.
Rating:
Summary: Matrix , what is the matrix?
Review: This is a good, cyber fantasy film, this is a film for everyone. Very good special effects, Good story, Good actors, more matrix films coming in the future. If you havn't already heard of this film get it now.
Rating:
Summary: Dazzling and Evocative!
Review: This is a great action movie!! I do not usually like Keanu Reeves but I can put up with him considering the great movie around him in The Matrix! Red pill all the way!
Rating:
Summary: Great film!
Review: This is a great film for fans of Sci-fi fiilms and Special effects alike. The behind the scenes footage is great and rally give an in-depth look at how the film was made. A must by for all.
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