Agreeing with Dr. Kat - excellent screen representation of Sci Fi

Rating: Null/10 (3 May 1999)

Science fiction is extremely difficult to encapsulate in a 2-hour movie. It isn't bound by the usual physical laws - but it is bound by laws which must be explained to make sense. Also, it's futuristic, it's logical, and it's exciting. That describes The Matrix: the only sci fi pic I've seen that watches like a good sci fi novel reads.
If you read other reviews following this one (read the one by Dr Kat), you'll see that another reviewer complained about "holes in the plot you could drive a truck through". I'm very sensitive to plot holes, and I honestly didn't see any in this movie. For this genre of movie it's a reasonably tight plot.
I went somewhat reluctantly expecting another Johnny Mnemonic, but by the middle of the movie I found myself really enjoying the ride. I don't quite know how to express this except to say that I dislike the cardboard cutout futurism of Johnny Mnemonic, Blade Runner, Total Recall or any other "the future is dark, bleak, dirty, grimy, with punk haircuts and Bowie-esque makeup" movies. The Matrix admittedly had a trace of that (more than I would have liked - ie, why such a grubby ship and ripped clothes?), but it really got beyond it. 'Way beyond it. Burning cars and punk haircuts are not the entire future vision of this movie's director (in fact, there are no burning cars or punk haircuts that I recall).
Oh, by the way - I went expecting great special effects and wowie-zowie fight scenes. While they're cool to watch, I grimace when I have to shut off brain to watch obviously choreographed action. However, I was impressed at the way the director worked these impossible visuals into a logical, thinking-man's plot (inside a computer simulation, if you can hack the program, you can manipulate). It worked for me.
Verdict: I give The Matrix a 9. It's a credible sci-fi plot, and the fun explorations of pop philosophy ("If a tree falls..." and "Which reality is real?") made the audience chuckle. This is one I have to see again. But do yourself a favour: see it on the big screen, don't wait for the video.
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