There is no spoon...

Rating: 8/10 (25 December 2003)

This of one of the many psuedo-philosophical statements that is uttered by one of the minor character's of the film. The Matrix is a geeky film. Everyone, especially Morpheus speak in semi-priest like ravings. His character is based on John the baptist, isn't it? Everyone has stupid computer geek like names, like Neo or Tank. It should be annoying and cringe inducing. Bringing up images of geeky computer nerd, teenage goths. You know, those ones that spend all their time listening to Skinny Puppy and quoting Nietzsche out of context. The ones that dress like Mortis the Depeche Mode goblin.
However despite all its faults this is an exceptional film. A film that when it came out was thrilling and innovative. This film made the 'Phantom Menace' look like what it is, a piece of crap. The Wachowski brothers have shown their influences to range from Jean Baudrillard, gnostic thought to Japanese anime such as 'Ghost in the Shell.' There is lots of stuff going on within the narrative and its refreshing to see an action film that has something of a brain. See Hollywood you can still make films with explosions and not always go for the lowest common denominator.
The problem was that it was so good that a sequel was inevitably doomed unless more innovative stuff was put into the film. Empire magazine wrote an article on the state of the art special effects that were used in 'Reloaded.' However it was the actual concepts that got people excited and the next film only offered some flimsy philosophical ideas on free will.

This film has been embraced by so many crusty academics and religious zealots who use this film to push their own ideologies. Everyone took this film way to seriously. I mean it's like 'Fight Club,' it is a thrilling ride but thats about it. Christians say that you free your mind by believing in a spiritual reality. Media professors state the matrix is a metaphor for the media, which controls attitudes and perceptions. Psychologists tell me that the matrix is a metaphor for the mind. All reality is perception, therefore when you change cognitions, you change your reality. Free your mind. There are other interpretations but you do you get my drift? The fact that it has got the attention of so many different kinds of intelligent people is a good example of why this is such a good film. It really grabs the imagination of the audience.
The film is competent. I'm not use to seeing competence in sci-fi films. I am still getting over 'The Shape of things to come.' However everyone does well here. One of my favourite characters is actually Morpheus who is very well played by Laurence Fishburne. He pulls off some pretty difficult dialogue convincingly. Keanu 'Whoa! I still can't act' Reeves even manages to be bearable. Carrie Ann Moss as Trinity is also quite good. I liked Cypher as Judas. But the man who steals the show is Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith. He is a bad guy that is unnervingly alike to my work and income case manager. I kept expecting him to look out from the screen and say 'Mr Skeptic, have you found work yet?' His camp demeanor is funny and effective and this is played on more in the sequel.
The imagery is also good and when Neo was being pursued by the bad guys I was reminded of Franz Kafka's 'The Trial.' The Matrix is a world that seems to look alot like downtown Sydney. The s&m tendencies of the directors seems to spill onto this film and everyone dresses like they are off to the 'torture garden.' The infamous s&m club. It certainly is not a way to keep a low profile. I think I would notice a whole bunch of people dressed in PVC with machine guns.
Despite these nigglings this movie is one hell of a ride. Even though it is a hive of geekdom. Recommended. I give it 8 depressed goths out of 10 existential computer nerds.