A Conceptually Powerful and Hugely Influential Action / Sci-Fi Blockbuster

Rating: 9/10 (12 May 2020)

What is the Matrix? I can still remember purchasing my ticket back in '99, that clever marketing slogan at the front of my mind, and strapping in for what would prove to be an unforgettable ride. At the time, I thought it was a stunning accomplishment. An instant favorite. Seen in a modern light, a few of The Matrix's tricks and eccentricities have lost their sheen, but the overall package still works quite well.
I can see why my college-aged self thought so highly of it, twenty-plus years ago. It's intelligent without being snooty, accessible without pandering, hip and slick with only a few whiffs of generational fade. A functionally smart summer blockbuster with hints (and occasional brow-beatings) of philosophical wisdom. It manages a tough balance between an innate grace and the constant risk of overstepping its own reach, brushing past edginess and into the trite. Ultimately, it's too cool to suck, even as its wardrobe has gone out of fashion and its plot has been stripped by imposters.
The action scenes and special effects are largely to thank for that, still sharp and crisp despite so many years. The Wachowskis were wise to insist upon Yuen Woo-ping for the film's frequent fight sequences, given their essential reality-bending nature and Woo-ping's history with the Hong Kong scene. His touch gives those brawls, both armed and unarmed, an unfamiliar air that makes the impossible seem plausible and still sets them apart. The script is generally very good, too, although it sometimes, obviously, thinks a little too highly of itself. Everyone is SO GRIM all the time, which can feel smothering after two hours. Still, its ability to convey and explore some very tricky conceptual terrain, in a way that's both coherent and dynamic, is downright remarkable.
Now into its third decade, The Matrix remains a great time, even if I might roll my eyes at a line here or there. Still an all-timer, though? Well, that's tricky. As a standalone, the movie itself probably deserves an eight out of ten, but its style, ambition and lasting influence merits a little extra credit.