...much better than Cats...I want to see it again and again...

Rating: Null/10 (27 June 1999)

I generally judge movies based on the premise that a well-crafted film will save a bad story, but a good story will not rescue bad cinematography/production/design. Overall, this movie rocks. In premise more than execution, though the execution was for the most part excellent as well.
Ups:
1. Great plot premise. There was actually a short episode very similar to this on the New Twilight Zone back in the 80's, where a guy kept getting tracking lines on his idealized life. May be one of those rare occasions where the premise carries the execution, at least in my book. I can think of several other ways they could have "played" the same story and it would come off cool.
2. Wicked cool special effects and fight scenes. The computer enhanced action is actually supported by the plot premise, and is therefore not gratuitous. Pegged the eyecandy meter hard.
3. Use of tungsten or cross-processed film (or something) to give the Matrix World a drab fluorescent tone. Notice how green-skinned Keanu looks in several scenes. Good subtle effect.
4. Great attention (too blatantly, in some scenes) to some incredibly minute details. Like the reflection in Morpheus' glasses, and the Uri Geller kid's spoon. Background stuff - title of Neo's book safe, stuff on TV screens, etc.
5. Keanu Reeves - stiff as usual. l was surprised at how it somehow worked this time.
Downs (surprisingly few):
1. I would've preferred to see a much more techno-hip cyberpunk "look" instead of the tired old industrial-gothic. Postmodern influences were relevant to both Blade Runner and Brazil's story-worlds, as well as the era in which they were created. Batman and The Crow fit their comic book settings. Even the art deco noir in the more recent Dark City is supported by the plot premise (though there is NO excuse for the aliens to look like Klaus Kinski's Nosferatu). I understand that long coats are good for hiding guns. But why have them wearing polished animal skins designed to keep trail dust off your "good clothes" on a long ride? How archaic. Do you think the rebel underground would actually have the time to think about style? And what were they basing the look on? An ancient pirated copy of last year's Blade starring Wesley Snipes in blackleathertrenchcoat, ironically dodging bullets in superslomo.? (Morpheus' sunglasses are really cool, though.) Come on, its 1999. Goth is out. Or at least it should be. Its too fantastic, too Victorian. Terry Gilliam's "future" for 12 Monkey's, though somewhat stylized, put much more thought into what a world created by survivors would look like.
2. Could be more inner turmoil with the hero character trying to figure out which world is real, who to believe, am I going insane? Let Neo/Reeves discover more of it himself instead of having everything spelled out for him/us (per 12 Monkeys, or Angel Heart). And we figure out what the hell is going on WAY too early in the story for my taste. There is no Grand Revelation at the end or no "...or IS it??...". That's the one missing Rod Serling moment.
Fortunately this movie is all around good enough not to be forced into "for a sci-fi flick" or "for a martial arts flick" comparisons, though it should be near the top of either category as well. Unfortunately the competition within the sci-fi genre is usually pretty weak -- even worse if you qualify only "cyber" movies. I'm hoping the upcoming Neuromancer will be worthy.