film is a masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (30 August 2002)

Words like 'classics' and 'masterpiece' might be more convenient alongside titles like 'Casablanca', yet they are not incongruous with 'The Matrix'. Sure the ideas used in the film were not new in science fiction (and philosophy). Of course, there were lots of plots about ordinary people getting familiar with troublesome job of saving the world. There were audio-visually astounding movies with inventive fights and action sequences. There were self - ironical movies. Maybe even cinematographic inventions of 'The Matrix' were not completely new. But perhaps never all the elements were fused together with such a skill to produce so impressive entity. Every detail of the film, while beautiful on its own, is integral part of the whole, occupying exact place and performing exact function. Generally, I'm offended by violence on screen. But in this film, all the brutal scenes are there for a reason, and they are delivered in aesthetical way. Dialogue might seem unrealistic, yet it is perfect as a part of the whole. It is amazing how quite sophisticated ideas are translated into simple, yet metaphorical language. People don't say 'as far as we have materialistic explanation of subjective idealism here...'. They say 'there is no spoon' instead. The acting could be better, but it is not bad. At least, Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving really do act.
Last of all, there are few words on effectiveness of the film in my case. When leaving the cinema after the 3rd viewing a month ago (yes, one can watch 'The Matrix' in a packed theatre 3 years after its release!) I thought that, at last, the experience was more like of having fun rather than being hypnotized ... just to find myself on the wrong trolleybus going to the wrong end of the city afterwards. Guess that people might watch this movie even 50 years later  forgetting its age, feeling its power.