More fun than summer vacation.

Rating: 9/10 (5 May 2001)

I really like this movie, but seeing it ranked #40 of all time is laughable. There is, or course, the geek effect, the fact that techie folk who frequent this forum are likely to rate a techie film abnormally high, but there must be hundreds of films, at least, that deserve to be ranked higher than this one.
Granted, it is a great story. Not Star Wars great, and certainly not Lawrence of Arabia or even Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe great. But oh what a concept. Humans have been subjugated by their machines, a concept James Cameron explored ages ago in the Terminator pictures. But Matrix has more wow and gee whiz than any of its genre.
The fight scenes are spectacular. Carrie-Anne Moss kicks ass and looks great doing it. Hugo Weaving may not be the most intimidating man in black, and I still think of him as Mitzi from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, but I wouldn't get on his bad side. And I have to admire this movie for not going the brain dead muppet route of so many otherwise great sci-fi films just to milk the aftermarket.
Keanu Reeves, who has made a great career out of so very little talent, may have found his best vehicle since Bill and Ted. His deadpan, detached delivery is perfect, especially in the films climactic battle between Reeves and Weaving. I have to say that I can't imagine a Matrix without him.
My absolute favorite scene is the one with Spoon Boy. "There is no spoon." I still get chills. I also have to say that I didn't quite buy Joe Pantoliano selling out his comrades because he missed the taste of a good steak. I think that story line could have used a little work. Laurence Fishburne is definitely the class of the cast, and I am delighted that he has signed on for both sequels, already in production.
All in all, you absolutely must own this movie. It is fraught with clever allusions, dazzling effects, and more fun than summer vacation.