Christ story redefines the effects bar

Rating: 8/10 (11 April 1999)

The Matrix: 8 out of 10
"The Matrix" raises the special effects bar yet another notch, with stunning high-speed camerawork, Gap-commercial rotation-freeze frame, blur motion effects, and loads of computer-generated effects that amazed me. I have not seen such a redefinition of the "possible" using computer effects since I first saw "Terminator 2" and "Jurassic Park". Because of that alone, this movie will make a lot of money.
The movie most closely follows in the dark, cyberpunk tradition of "Blade Runner", but the plot is essentially the Christ story retold with guns, leather, and sci-fi monsters.
Keanu Reeves plays Neo (the Christ figure), who is brought into the true "Real World" by Lawrence Fishburne, who plays Morpheus, the leader of a band of rebels from the human city of Zion, fighting the forces of the Matrix, a computer program that has run rampant and taken over the real world. > I predict this movie will be one of top at the box office in 1999 -- even considering "Star Wars, Episode I" will soon follow and suck up the repeat viewer market.
The film combines karate, anime, armed-to-the-teeth, dressed-in-black cyberpunk with a thought-provoking storyline about what is "reality" and what is "computer generated dreamworld". It reminded me also of "The Lawnmower Man", with the Agents as guardians of the the heart of the computers, and Keanu as the hacker who breaks their security.
The story does have holes here and there, especially in explanations about the machines harvesting humanity, and why a kiss of love can overcome death, but the action is so rapid-fire and stunningly rendered, it does not ruin the film.
The actors all do well, considering the real top billing goes to the special effects. I thought Fishburne, Moss, and Agent Smith were most compelling, with Keanu playing well but with no surprises.
The movie IS "eye candy", but that is not a bad thing. It will be wonderful to compare the "The Matrix" to "Star Wars, Episode I".
Overall: Above-average. Redefines the effects bar. Recommended.