Derivative plot

Rating: Null/10 (30 May 2000)

When I watched The Matrix at the cinema / theatre, I came away feeling that the plot was corny and derivative, and that I'd seen many of the plot elements countless times in sci-fi books. Having owned it on DVD for a while now though, it has become one of my favourite films. But I wonder whether my first impressions were correct after all.
The film has countless gaping plot holes and inconsistencies, and many of its underlying premises are flawed. If you're one of those people who have written reviews saying it "expanded your mind" and "made you think" and is a "frightening vision of the future" then get real!
Enjoy the film for what it is - a hugely enjoyable SFX-filled action film with some mould-breaking FX techniques (eg. bullet time), although even some of these were seen in adverts and pop videos before The Matrix came out. For example, the Schmirnoff advert.
But please, let's not get carried away and take it all too seriously!