Absolute Eye-Candy!

Rating: 10/10 (2 April 1999)

When I first saw the trailer for the Matrix, I did not know what to think. I only saw Keanu Reeves, who hasn't had the most consistent acting career, running around with Lawrence Fishburne asking "What is the Matrix?" However, this same question drew me into the theater, and I was not disappointed. The Matrix has it all. A great storyline, which causes viewers to question their own realities. It also has a pretty good acting crew. Reeves tops his previous best in SPEED, portraying the confused, reluctant Messiah of Fishburne's movement. Also, the movie has complete control over the audience. In one scene, Fishburne (Morpheus) asks Reeves (Neo), "Do you think what you're breathing now is air?" The entire audience stopped breathing, and then recovered to congratulate the film with scattered "whoa's" and "ah's." Another similar instance occurs when a bullet comes whizzing directly into the camera, making everyone in the audience instinctively blink. Oh yeah, I forgot: The movie is absolute eye-candy! Although it is overdone at times, the computer enhanced stunt sequences are unbelievable! I won't give anything away, but you're about to see something incredible as soon as Neo and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) attempt to enter the Agent headquarters! All in all, the movie combines the best of the most classic sci-fi films to create a story to wrap around their visual marvels. The plot contains allusions to The Terminator, Alien, and others. All of this makes the Matrix an incredible experience that you won't want to see end.