One of the best sci-fi films in years

Rating: 10/10 (9 July 1999)

A rare example of great special effects, a seriously fascinating concept, and a well executed plot all in one, The Matrix is far and away the best film of the year so far. After three viewings I feel that I can grasp the majority of the themes presented in the film, but I'm sure I'd pick up on more upon a fourth viewing. Many of these themes have already been expressed in other of these reviews, but some have not (although I haven't read all 1000+ of them):
Fate: at first I didn't understand what the Oracle had to do with the plot - it seemed to be a mythological/religious reference that detracted from the Christian theme running through the film. I eventually realized that the presence of the Oracle raises the question of fate, or more accurately, whose reading of fate we should trust, i.e. that determined by the machines or that determined by the Oracle. The Matrix is a computer program and thus, given all of the facts, the future, or fate, can be determined. We are not inclined to believe that about the real world, given Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, etc., but Morpheus and the Oracle suggest that fate works here as well. If both worlds are controlled by fate and thus deterministic, then what is the difference between them? If the actions of the rebels in the real world are predictable like a computer program, then why could not a computer program be written to describe the real world as well?
Mind: the agents attempt to "hack" into Morpheus' mind, much "like a computer" as Trinity says. So what is the difference between his mind and a computer? In fact, the film treats the mind much like a computer - i.e. "uploading" martial arts training into Neo's mind and entering the Matrix ("downloading" your mind?).
Music: the techno music played in the film again raises the question of the difference between man and machine - if this music is completely produced on a synthesizer/computer, then what makes it human? I may be incorrect, but I only recall hearing the techno music in the Matrix scenes, not the real world scenes. [Sidepoint: why does the music on the soundtrack have to be inevitably different from the music played in the film? This really disappointed me, and it's not the first time either - check out Moby's "God moving over the face of the waters" in the film "Heat" and on the soundtrack.]
Anyway, with a couple of exceptions (Keanu Reeves' acting, the way he "saw" the Matrix at the end of the film) this is a truly great film. It's better than either Terminator film and sits right up there with Metropolis, Star Wars, Blade Runner, or 2001 as the greatest sci-fi films of all time. What makes all of these films great is that they come up with an interesting concept, have an enjoyable plot and great special effects, and give you a lot to think about when the film is over (which is where the Terminator films fail, the second to a lesser extent). If this film gets nominated for Best Picture it will restore my faith in Hollywood. See it.