This is what sci-fi is all about.

Rating: 10/10 (26 October 2001)

On May 1999, I read on a Spanish specialized magazine some info about a sci-fi that was cracking the US box-office. It was the second film of the Wachowski Bros., unknown at that time, and Keanu Reeves starred. It included some amazing photos, but it reminded me of another Reeves' movie, "Johnny Mnemonic": a sci-fi with a good premise and presentation, but irregular and not very hooking...
That film, however, had the abstract and yet attractive name of "The Matrix". And it had to have something special to smash the box-office so heavily.
July came, and I discovered that you mustn't make any judgments or comments about something you know very little or nothing about. Because after watching this movie, I just couldn't believe what I had just seen.
After having watched the film almost 15 times, I can list all the excellent aspects of "The Matrix", but the plot and the Visual FX (Oscar) obviously outstand. And it is after watching the Wachowski's first movie, "Bound", that you can explain many things.
These brothers really have a lot of talent. They have kept the style of their debut in "The Matrix", but, what's best, it is a style that's easily distinguishable. A sophisticated directing, in which cinematography is their best support. The film is actually decolored, and that matches perfectly with the film's spirit. But also their conception of thrilling stories with a touch of film-noir, that make the viewer think and wonder about the plot or message. I came out of this film with a certain paranoia, asking myself if this apparent reality is not what we think it is.
And I OBVIOUSLY know it is only fantasy, but that's one of the successes of the film: transport the viewer, and activating his brain to think for once in his life about what a film can tell us, developing in some way our imagination and getting him away from this world for at least a few minutes.
That's what's sci-fi all's about: making us think in what we know it is not real... or it's still not real. And this film can conceive hundreds of ideas and thoughts in our heads, which would be impossible to list. At least mine's...
The script as I said is original and polished, and containing its correct doses of action sequences and, what's best, a great majestic ending as I hadn't seen in many years. I'm not telling nothing about the plot because I hate spoilers (I don't want to be one), but trust me if I say it's amazing and incredible. The film keeps an excellent rhythm thanks to the Oscarized editing. There's an excellent, superb example of editing that maybe most of you haven't really recognized: the bomb arming sequence. That's editing made art. And you can see there is a good production design for the whole lot.
The directors make their part then, and also the actors do. Because unlike many other supposed great production films, such as "Lost In Space", in which actors are secondary, here they don't get absorbed and wiped out by the Visual FX department. Keanu Reeves may be considered by many people as a cold actor, but that's just because he doesn't fit in many comic or romantic roles he's played since "Speed": he's a natural born action actor. And in "The Matrix" he does quite a very good job indeed as Neo. But the best is Laurence Fishburne, giving Morpheus all throughout the film the mystery, patience and wisdom that surrounds the role since the start, when he's just known as a myth. Other characters are OK, but I want to remark Joe Pantoliano's job (haha, been naughty as usual!).
About FX... I am a great "Star Wars" fan, and "The Phantom Menace" and "The Matrix" were nominated both for 1999's best FX. However, I wanted the second one to win (another Oscar), because of their innovation and originality. Fantastic. How could someone ever imagine a man dodging bullets? Wow... The greatest thing about them is what I said before: they don't overtake the whole film, they INTEGRATE in the story, they are necessary for the plot to progress and transmit the story. The action sequences (the kung-fu training, the Hall cross-fire, the heli blast...) are superbly sequenced and and are massive. Please don't watch the film on full screen: get the Widescreen version or don't watch it. Simple and clear.
In the musical aspects, there is a correct balance between Don Davis' score (a pity it's too short) and the songs, some of the best metal, hardcore anthems of the last years, which are present because they fit with the film's spirit (they all belong to a determined genre), rather than as a mere compilation of big hits, the typical soundtrack "structure" these days... Sound and FX were carefully worked out, and watching (or better say listening to) it on theaters was a real pleasure...
No better end for this comment than the label many have given to the film: the perfect End Of Millenium movie, as it reflects many of the fashions of the 1990's (comic book homage and manga, Hong Kong cinema influences, cyberpunk and computer technology... ) as well as that apocalyptical sensation society experienced at the gates of 2000 (don't forget the many biblical references in the film). "The Matrix" apart from satifying and impress, will leave you with a quite sweet taste with the powerful epilogue gloriously accompanied by Rage Against The Machine's "Wake Up". Don't you dare missing it.
Thanks to the Wachowskis for reviving a genre that was almost devalued in the 1990's.
No doubt my vote's a 10 ;)