Entertaining but TERRIBLE Hollywood ending (yawn)

Rating: Null/10 (3 May 2002)

There's plenty of good things about this film that set it aside from your normal Hollywood action fare. However, it occurred to me half-way through the film that the whole point of the film was to try and mimic a decent Hong Kong or Japanese action/kung-fu movie and the only way to do it was to introduce flashy camera trickery. Whilst these scenes are undoubtedly impressive, any half-decent HK action flick (filmed, no doubt, for a fraction of the cost) gives you far more impressive action for your money and the skills on display are usually real.
However, what really, really ruined this movie for me was the ridiculous "resurrection" of Neo at the end when Trinity decides that she really does love him.
"Oh Neo, you can't die, I lo-ove you" - Rubbish, pap, garbage.
This stupid scene throws away the whole premise that the film spends so long setting up - death in the Matrix equals death in reality. But no, Neo dies and yet is resurrected, Sleeping Beauty-like, by the gentle kiss of Trinity.
The film is still enjoyable, at least up until Neo's miraculous resurrection, but don't expect anything more than a predictable Hollywood film with a predictable Hollywood ending.
This film is worth no more than 5 out of 10.
If you really like action movies and, like me, The Matrix left a bitter , product-of-Hollyowood-focus-groups taste in your mouth, try asian cinema instead. In fact, I would strongly recommend Versus not only because it out-actions The Matrix on every level but also because of the Matrix p**s-take towards the film's climax. And Versus cost less than 1 Million bucks to make whereas I doubt a million dollars would even cover Keanu Reeves' personal masseur let alone make a dent on the Matrix's budget.
Don't believe the hype - The Matrix ins't terrible and it certainly ins't fantastic, it's just very average.