One-trick pony

Rating: Null/10 (18 April 1999)

Of course I had to *see* _The Matrix_ (since I couldn't be told what it is?), but I'm wondering if I would have had a different perspective on the movie had I *not* seen/read so much "behind-the-scenes" info on it. From the behind-the-scenes stuff (especially the HBO "First Look"), I knew that it was a couple of guys trying to do in "real life" what the Japanese do with animation - and in that, they succeeded...but that's not, as it turns out, a good thing. Japanimation (anime) always has fantastic visuals, cool characters, brilliant action sequences, and a lot of fun high-tech gadgetry...but is usually weak on a coherent plot and any sort of help for a plot-confused audience that is blinded by all the flashy effects. _The Matrix_ managed to get (unfortunately) *all* of those elements into a live-action film. While the plot coherency was certainly a notch above films such as _Mission: Impossible_, it clearly took second priority to the brothers Wachowski - they just wanted to create the amazing look of Japanimation in live-action. Sure, they succeeded...but I was sorely disappointed in the movie, and wondered if - had I not seen the behind-the-scenes - I would have realized *why* it was so convoluted and left me feeling as hungry as a huge Chinese meal two hours later. _The Matrix_ would've been much better if it *had* been a cartoon, but understandably wouldn't have received as much public attention (since most of the viewing public has yet to show any respect to even *good* animation).