A futuristic thriller with a unique plot, excellent special effects and a profound theme.

Rating: Null/10 (4 April 1999)

The "living" world has come to an end. Mankind's own technological advances have turned against them. Now, computers are the primary inhabitants of Planet Earth... The humans have been turned into slaves by this master race of super-intelligent beings controlled by the CPU known as "The Matrix." This devastated world appears to be a nightmare...but it is only too real...

Neo (Keanu Reeves) is a computer hacker, unknowingly living in a virtual reality world created by The Matrix in order to keep him in check. The Matrix fabricates synthetic worlds for many people in order to suppress any potential insurgence. However, an underground resistance group led by Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and his officer, Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss, looking lovely in that black leather outfit) must pull Neo out from his fantasies...and force him to face the grim reality as it is...
A Prophecy has been spoken. The Oracle, a spiritual guide for the remnants of the human race has professed Neo to be that special person, the "Chosen One." However, is Neo indeed the "Chosen One?" If he is, can he exhibit the valor and courage that the Oracle has supposedly prophesized for this specific soul?
In a world ruled by computers and machines, these people are our last hope. The heroes must valiantly fight the main CPU inside the VR system...or die trying... With the abilities to dodge flying bullets and to increase their own upper body strengths, the human players do have the upper hand... However, can Neo, Morpheus and Trinity lead the human race into victory, or will the machines forever rule the planet?
THE MATRIX is a neat, thinking man's science-fiction thriller. The ambitious production design is demonstrated with some spectacular action scenes laced with great special FX. This virtual reality world with provocative imagery will enrapture the human soul as he/she will experience a journey unlike any peregrination in the real world. This film is visually appetizing...with lavish, computer generated special effects. The high-tech setting will expand your imagination to new horizons. As well, the ambiguous, though-provoking story will keep your minds thinking constantly as you try to solve the stratagem behind this brain twister of a concept...
Masterful stunt-work, especially the martial arts choreography by Yuen Wo Ping and endless firepower is integrated with astonishing, maniacal FX. The much anticipated comic book violence is enhanced by plenty of digital effects. In this way, characters can perform virtually endless tricks from the book including acrobatic movements and flying jump kicks to gravity-defying combat battles. Much of the special effects are epitomized in the shape of those "Sentinels," bizarre spider androids with unfathomable powers. The scenes transitioning VR to reality and vice versa are astounding also.
A few shortcomings in THE MATRIX cannot be ignored such as a complicated plot with loose ends and some occasional slowdown in the film's pace. The plot in THE MATRIX is indeed convoluted, but this film will probably require several viewing before you can truly grasp the heart of the matter. Also, some sections of this movie are a bit hamstrung, but the rapid-fire action compensates for most of the plodding segments.
Is this film overly meretricious? Maybe. Appeasing to the naked eye? Definitely! Will you have fun watching this movie? You bet. Although THE MATRIX is sometimes uneven, garish and twisted, this motion picture is groundbreaking work from the brotherly duo, directors Andy and Larry Wachowski. If you have enough of an attention span to endure the film's slow-moving sequences, than prepare to be warped into an artificially created world where rules are not bound, laws are meaningless, and nothing is what it seems... Aficionados who are devoted to "cyber-punk" thrillers should not miss this one!
RATING: *** out of ****.