Like watching Aliens, Rambo, Das Boot, Sleeping Beauty, a Cronenberg flick and Jesus Christ Super Hacker all at once.

Rating: Null/10 (24 May 1999)

Yes, the Matrix manages to steal from all these sources and probably a whole bunch more that I missed. After taking elements from all these sources the Wachowski brothers then add some well aged philosophy to the mix: the old 'brains in vats' idea. Well. Let's be charitable and say the Matrix is very postmodern. Just without much of the irony.
Don't really be expecting any deep story telling - I didn't find it particularly hard to follow, but it does lean on standard SF conventions fairly heavily: if you're not really familiar with SF, locate the nearest nerd and drag him/her along with you to see it.
It is worth seeing, even if the plot ain't Dickens - the FX are first rate, right from the very opening till the very last shot.