Sight and Sound

Rating: 9/10 (1 April 2005)

The Matrix is a movie. It moves and it is moving. Indeed it is a movie of the highest order. The Matrix combines the elements of movie making in a way that is both thoughtful and thought provoking. The movie displays, on the part of its writers and director an acute understanding of story, background, lighting, and especially the role and impact of music in the film. The combination of action and music in this movie is so precise and complimentary at times it is exhilarating. The scene where Trinity meets Neo in the club is as close to a perfect marriage of sight and sound as I have ever experienced while conscious. "Morpheus is fighting Neo", the scene where Laurence Fishburne invites Neo to show what kung-fu he has learned is scored immaculately. And the "lady in the red dress" sequence is only beautiful in its execution of sound and action. On the whole, the movie is a wonder to behold. Special effects are just that, and once the separation of what is called reality and what exists as the matrix is established, the viewer is rewarded with passage from one to the other and perceptions of layers of each that reveal the brilliance of the film makers. This is not only a movie worth watching, it is one you can not afford to miss. Even if you missed it in theaters, I can heartily recommend it on VHS or DVD with one major condition; if you want to enjoy The Matrix, watch it in stereo or surround. Whatever you like about this film will only be improved by a quality reproduction of the audio content. The sequels, while being good movies themselves were not given the same attention and fail to keep the intensity of the first soundtrack, but Reloaded has twice as much attitude and visuals that defy comparison. This series will stand as some of the best film making of all time.