Rating: Summary: NO DTS! Review: This movie is a great cinematic thriller and has plenty of visual treats to please the special effects junkies out there. Unfortunately, the DVD doesn't offer DTS sound, which is the perfect compliment to any movie with intense visual effects. I'd still recommend this DVD despite the audio limitations.
Rating: Summary: Best Movie EVER!!!!! Review: This movie is excellent for many reasons. Not only does it have fantastic martial art special effects but it also has a somewhat beleivable story. Who knows we could be living in a matrix because you can't know. If you die you can know if there really is a heaven or a hell but iff you die you can't know if there is a matrix. nobody can't know and the story is multidimensional. Its a love story a sci-fi story a everybody story. Everyone who sees this movie will love it.
Rating: Summary: Flawed Masterpiece Review: The Matrix is a watershed in cinema entertainment. Rarely have I seen a film with such exciting innovations. It successfully combines elements from sci-fi, action and martial arts genres. The result: a visceral, mind-blowing experience full of emotional tension while also challenging the intellect.The characters were very well developed. I cared about each of them, who they were and whether they survived each adventure. The plot was intriguing and unpredictable. Of course, the wonderful special effects are by now legendary. Unfortunately the scriptwriters made 2 mistakes in my opinion. 1) Some of the violence was purely gratuitous. The Morpheus rescue scene where our two protagonists assault the building security guards was not logical. There should have been a way to avoid killing the guards who are really just innocent people doing their jobs. Or at least a compelling reason for killing them all should have been given if a hyper-stylish shoot-em up was needed to advance the plot. 2) The use of profanity really spoiled the movie for me, particularly the G-damn word that was used repeatedly. A movie of this caliber is already cool - it does not need to resort to cheap profanity to "make it cool". Unfortunately the use of profanity is continued in the sequel as well.
Rating: Summary: Exceptionally Well Rounded and Spectacular Movie! Review: This movie is spectacular. It journey's into the un-explored world of science fiction, carrying the viewer into a parallel world of thrilling martial arts and fighting that gets you so riled up that you feel invincible. Magnificent mark in special effects as well. ITS GREAT
Rating: Summary: The Matrix - The Ultimate Sci-Fi/Action & Adventure Flick! Review: The Matrix is simply one of the most visually stunning and intellectually enthralling Science Fiction/Action Adventure films to be produced in recent history. It is the quintessential film of the nineties and now the new millennium. Amazingly enough; at the time of its release I was working extremely long hours and didn't even see a trailer for it so I missed it at the theater. After hearing so many good things about it, I purchased it and was absolutely floored by its originality; mind blowing action and compelling plot. The Wachowski Brothers deserve nothing but the highest praise that they continue to receive for putting this story to paper and the silver screen. I've never been much of a Keanu Reeves fan but that opinion definitely changed with this movie and I'm sure will continue with its follow on movies "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions." He is absolutely perfect in the role. Laurence Fishburne in the role of Morpheus is outstanding as usual, making it seem as if the role was made for him. In the role of Trinity is the ever so beautiful Carrie-Anne Moss whose hard work and stunning gorgeousness shines brilliantly on the silver screen and the home theater screen. Hugo Weaving performing as Agent Smith is nothing less than perfect in the role of the nemesis. Joe Pantoliano delivers another great performance in the role of good guy turned bad. Combining a brilliant story and superb directing by the Wachowski brothers with superb performances by the aforementioned actors brings forth what is most likely one of the best Science Fiction/Action & Adventure flicks of the nineties and the catalyst for this years release of the sequels which are both expected to reach astronomical levels at the box office. The premise: Thomas Anderson a.k.a. Neo is living two lives, by day he's a computer programmer who is seemingly living by all the rules as Thomas Anderson, by night he's Neo, a computer hacker who is breaking every computer derived law in the book. For quite some time he's also had the strangest feeling that everything is not as it seems. He begins to hear rumors of someone named Morpheus and something called "The Matrix." Suddenly, while he's searching for Morpheus, Morpheus seeks him out and then Mr. Anderson's world is turned inside out... What follows from there is as stated above, one of the most compellingly well written Science Fiction/Action & Adventure flicks to grace the silver screen and the home theater in quite some time. This is a movie that can be watched repeatedly and it's just as exciting as the first time you watched it! I "highly" recommend this film to all who are interested in a "great" movie that is unbelievable in its scope and detail and perfect even in its minor trivialities. {ssintrepid}
Rating: Summary: The Matrix - Definitive DVD Review Review: "The Matrix is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth." "What truth?" That "The Matrix" is a brilliant film. You put in the DVD, and immediately you are confronted with a fast moving montage of the best bits of the movie. You could sit and watch the menu for two hours, or you could watch the film. What I thought before watching the movie was that it was just another sci-fi movie with nothing I hadn't seen before. I was wrong. Very, very wrong. The beginning is a bit slow moving, but you need to hang in there to fully appreciate the rest of the film. The film follows the story of Thomas A. Anderson or his hacker alias Neo. He is just like you or me until he is contacted by Morpheus. He explains to Neo how where he lives is actually a computer generated dream world sent into our brains by machines who need our energy to survive. The Matrix is that dream world. Neo is apparently able to remake the Matrix as he sees fit, and the movie is about how he discovers his abilities. Neo is played by Keanu Reeves, who spent four months learning kung fu for the movie. It really does make for great viewing. But what stands out the most are the amazing special effects. I'm talking about bullet time. The camera spins around Neo as he dodges bullets in super slow motion. The explosions, the camera effects as the camera zooms through computer screens, allowing us to see inside the screen, it's all amazing. Another dimension to the film is the score, by Don Davis. It is great by itself but adds mood and mysteriousness to the movie. Also, the soundtrack is great, from Rage Against The Machine (The end of the film where Neo hangs up the phone) to the Propellerheads (The shoot-out scene in the lobby of the Government building). So the film is breathtaking, but it doesn't stop there. Back in 1999, the release of the DVD transformed how DVDs were to be made. It had tons of special features, hidden special effects documentaries, and a great DVD-ROM feature that allowed you to access interviews, games, exclusive websites and more. Even today it rises above many other DVDs in terms of special features. And if that isn't enough, a double disc DVD is available with even more features. The film is rated 15, but there isn't really anything there that's too bad for older children. If anything, it appeals more to younger people. So if you're thinking of buying this DVD, there's no point in thinking about it. Go ahead and buy it. It is a film that gets better every time you watch it, and you will need to watch it again to notice everything in the film. It is essential to anyone's DVD collection. "Why do my eyes hurt?" "You've never used them before..."
Rating: Summary: You've Got To Be Kidding Me!!! Review: If you're a big Sci-fi fan you might love this. I am not. I'm actually astounded by how many people took the time to write a review. I'm equally if not more astounded by how many felt compelled to give it 5 stars. To each his own, I guess. I saw this on a rainy Saturday and it was not my first choice. I can't even remember what we originally wanted to see but it was sold-out so we got stuck seeing "The Matrix". Anyway, I will give this film the two stars for its ground-breaking special effects. They were cool. That said, I cannot for the life of me understand what so many people find so fascinating about this film. I read some of the 5-star reviews and it never ceases to amaze me. I might possibly need to see this film again to try and get what everybody else did and what apparently went way over my head. I know there was a ton of existentialist, futuristic, mumbo-jumbo philosophizing going on and truth to tell I was bored out of my mind. I honestly couldn't wait for the closing credits. The film isn't even that well-directed and for something that is supposed to be a suspense film I couldn't have been more relaxed. I loved The Wachowski Brothers' first film "Bound". But as far as "The Matrix", one word: Feh.
Rating: Summary: Best movie Ever! Review: I love this movie. It will remain my top pick for a very long time. My only complaint is not seeing it in the theatre.
Rating: Summary: Free Choice or Pre-Destination Review: The Oracle tells Neo the flower vase will fall. Neo responds to the falling by causing the flower vase to fall and break. The Oracle says, "if I told you that the vase was going to break would it have made a difference." The advocacy of the Pre-Destination debacle is purely irrational, for an individual to be capable of acting or to be acted within their sphere of influence is intelligence. Intelligence demands and only operates with the confines of free will or choice. Without free will and choice man would act irrationally. Man must have the ability to choose. Is the Oracle insane priestest herself or is she trying to get Neo to realize the power of free will? The paradox of the matrix is the battle between good and evil. The matrix personifies evil within the reality that the artifical intelligent believes it is capable of controlling and manipulating human reality by removing the their ability to act within an independant sphere. The overall worth of a human is reduce to biological matter and humans into becoming the batteries of the matrix - maintaining a parasidical relationship. The artifical intelligence entity has decided freedom is defined by the machine and that life in the matrix is a better reality. Yet Agent Smith hates the matrix. Neo's desires to maintain a freedom to choose and provides the idealogical foundation to build a revolution against the matrix. The matrix is not flawless. The matrix's need for redundancy allows it to emerge duplicate humans within its world. Hidden inside the complex interweaving of people are numerous duplicates. Originally, the matrix was powered by the sun. Humans tried to destroy the matrix which resulted in the destruction of the surface of the earth. After the earth's surface was destroyed, the skys darkened, and humans were connected at birth to the machine; life was transformed into virtual reality so completely emerged they did not notice the manipulation. The freedom to choose chained them like slaves to a slave ship. Neo represents a Messaic deliverance hope. Morphesus declares Neo to be the "chosen one", as one crying repentance in the wilderness. Is Morphesus consciously or unconsciously aware of this concept. How does Morphesus know the Matrix is so vulnerable. The directors make Neo's miricleous powers capable of transcending human abilities: 1. power over death 2. the defeat of agent Smith; in contrast, Neo does fail in the leaping across the builds, affirmation as the chosen from the Oracle, and releasing the humans from the matrix. What will Neo lead the people too, since, the earth surface has been destroyed. Will they live in claves of steel? Does Neo have the power to restore the earth? What valuable information does the zion mainframe contain? Why couldn't the agents get the encryption key by hacking Morphesus's brain? I think its because no weapon can prosper against Zion. Zion is a refuge from the enemy. Zion can not save its people, only a Messah can save its people. If the agents penetrated Zion what do they hope to gain? Morphesus believes in Neo and as Neo defeats Agent Smith, Morphesus declares, "He's starting to believe." I interpreted him to mean that all this Pre-Destination garbage could not surpress the brilliance of the mind and the power free choice in believing free choice will overpower the control of the matrix or Predestination.
Rating: Summary: Very good sci-fi, needed more action, and more of a plot Review: This is a very good Sci-fi movie, but it takes forever to get to some action. Neo:He is what Morpheus and the others, belive is the one. He is just a normal guy, that works, but the agents want him for some reason. When he decides to join Morpheus and his gang, he realizes how hard, strange, difficult, and unbeliveble the truth can be. Morpheus:He has been serching all his life for Neo, whom he belives is the one. He is the leader of a crew that goes up agenst the odds in the real world and the vurtual world. Altho he's doinf quite good, his crew keeps on dying to agents, in the computer world. But the crutial question is this: is Neo really the one? It took a real long time for me to get into the movie. This movie really didn't have a plot, and it took so long to finally see some action, which was why I gave the movie 4 stars for starting slow, but ending with a bang. If you love sci-fi, then by all means, check this out, but if you love action, just expect to sit through the first hour, whaching nothing but talking.
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