Bah Humbug, I say!

Rating: 7/10 (13 April 1999)

I have to wonder about the point of these here pico-reviews, since obviously they are skewed towards the kind of people who loved the film enough to take the trouble. Well, I didn't like it, and here's why.
The profound matter of "what is reality?", supposedly the film's underlying theme, is rather superficially treated. Don't expect your mind to be blown unless the thought "reality is just the way we interpret electrical signals in our brain" is bizarre and new to you.
Keanu has been given the thumbs up for playing a dazed and confused character so well - I kind of agree, except playing a dazed character is neither interesting or challenging. The lead character in this film is dull as dishwater, Hugo Weaving's Agent definitely steals the show. Fishburn was quite cool, although the way his character was set up I was a bit disappointed he was actually a tall black dude with sunglasses (exactly like you'd expect) and not an old Vietnamese woman with arthritis, which would really surprise you.
However, my main issue is with the film's plot - it has plot holes so large Hannibal could drive his army through them. The future portrayed is mind-numbingly unoriginal, and the rationale for the existence of the Matrix itself is simply laughable; it's just patently ridiculous. (I feel so dirty.) The way in which the characters interact with "reality" and "the Matrix" is necessary to drive the plot, which I might liken to a new volvo; shiny and with computers in it, but still the same old boring car as they made 10 or 20 years ago. This interaction is, alas, stupid and nonsensical. Suspension of disbelief is easy to achieve in a movie with great acting or plot, but here, I tried and failed.
On the up side, the combat sequences were amusing, the effects were OK - quite average for 1999, which is to say, pretty amazing. Weaving and his cohorts were cool, and until you actually find out what is going on, the plot is somewhat intriguing.
This film is a Hollywood-made, Keanu Reeves-starring cyberpunk movie. You get what you expect - as long as you haven't read the other reviews. :)