Almost as good as a Science Fiction book

Rating: Null/10 (17 June 2000)

Two things went through my mind as I watched this film (which I have seen thrice, and would happily see it again). One: This is a quality science fiction story. Two: Will the style and violence overwhelm the story? - as too often occurs with potentially great sci-fi films inevitably by way of cheap scriptwriting. It is the nature of blockbuster type Hollywood films to screw up a good sci-fi thing by allowing the action to prioritize-to-death the story. As one might expect from an action film featuring Keanu Reeves, the dialogue tends toward the short-witted and stylish and there is plenty of gratuitous violence. But Hollywood has recently been on to this valid criticism of itself, and it appears to have been making some progress in this area.
Matrix is an example of producers with an ear to those of us who want more than just ignorant dialogue and fast, violent action from our science fiction films. On one hand, they have basically a stylized kung-fu flick with an African-American heavily supporting a white lead, lots of black leather and overcoats, guns, action, state-of-the-art effects, futuristic "space"ships etc. On the other, they have a sci-fi story that at first sounds typical but then unfolds into a well crafted tour of a potential futuristic human existence visualized through the context of what currently stands as cutting edge technology (virtual reality). This makes the idea "hard" science fiction, as in Arthur Clarke's Odyssey novels/films which used NASA technology as their premise. There is also a biblical slant to the plot and names of characters and props.
If I was to be picky, I might say that less gratuitous violence in exchange for more plot discerning dialogue would have improved the film. It would have made it more like a sci-fi book. But maybe I should just go and read the book for that (most blockbuster films nowadays have a book released along with them - Star Wars has several). Anyway, I hope there is a good book made from this story, because I would read it as avidly as any favorite sci-fi novel: the plot idea is that good.
Incidentally, the sequels to this film, typically are trash in comparison to the original. Very much disappointed, I had to realize that the producers/director were far more involved in the stylization and special effects than the plot. Too bad.
On the other hand, finding time to read books is becoming increasingly difficult these days, which says a lot in relation to the moral within Matrix. Which leads us to the duality present in a moral film such as Matrix: Should we watch it again and forget about the world's problems, or think twice and do something to improve our society, to increase our independence and freedom? In the end, we may be victims of our own device, for we seek entertainment to help us forget about the drudgery of our lives. Our man-made systems, systems that were originally created to enhance independence from menial labor, may be creating a new form of slavery.
It's a creepy thought. But maybe it's just fantasy. Maybe Matrix is just an entertaining movie. Despite its inherent short-witted weaknesses, its clichÃ©d fashion statements, I was thoroughly entertained. It says something about me and the kind of viewers that like this stuff. We are dreamers more than we are fixers and doers. Our detractors, the fixers and doers who come out on this forum to criticize us, are probably right that we should be spending more of our time servicing our society. But then, that wouldn't be freedom for us, would it?