more than cliches

Rating: Null/10 (27 April 2000)

Well it seems that people either really love this movie or really hate it. Who is right? Go see it for yourself and decide. I would submit this to those who hate it - some people love opera and others hate it, but their hatred doesn't diminish opera as a legitimate art form. Just because some people aren't able to appreciate something, doesn't devalue the object. This movie does have many good points beyond just special effects. Just because some people can't understand them or refuse to accept the ideas presented, doesn't make this a bad film. There is a strong story with philosophical messages about faith, love, and the nature of reality. The story parallels Christianity so closely that it is almost blasphemous. The Matrix does have similarities to movies like Terminator and Dark City, but this movie twists those elements into a different direction that works rather well. In the Phantom Menace, the special effects overwhelm the movie, but here they support the story instead of dominate it, as special effects are supposed to do. People who hate this film say that it is full of plot holes and bad acting. I found very few holes, and they were insignificant to the story. Don't be fooled by reviews of those who didn't fully understand the story. The acting is adequate to make the story work. This isn't The English Patient, after all. Keanu is his usual self, but it was tolerable. He does say his trademark "whoa" once. As much as I loved the movie, I will admit that there are flaws with the film. I hated the one scene with the big shoot out in the lobby. It was unnecessary and overdone. It didn't enhance the story one bit, and it didn't even look that good. I was annoyed. But there was so much else in the film that was outstanding, I was able to forgive it.