A modern, futuristic masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (19 March 2006)

It was 1999 when I walked out of a theater in my hometown, feeling this insanely big urge to read philosophical books, re-read everything of PKD I owned and dodge imaginary bullets while doing cartwheels against walls.
THE MATRIX is one of the few (if not the only) movies that, I believe, forces people to think AND is of great entertainment value. If you're looking for a movie to both show you a good time and give you something to think about, look no further. It is Philip K. Dick and William Gibson made cool for the masses, without ever losing even a fragment of its intelligence as a picture.
What more can possibly be said about two --back then rather unknown- directors who managed to craft a film whose each and every aspect is a delight to witness on screen? There are very few film-makers in the industry today who can create a film that flirts with pretentiousness so wonderfully and actually manages to leave you off not bothered by that fact one bit. Science fiction, underlying philosophy, symbolism that is so vibrant you simply cannot miss it, beautiful cinematography, sensational score, the greatest action scenes ever seen up to that day (which have been since copied mercilessly) and a wonderful cast of actors and actresses. Can it get any better?
The story takes us along the journey of one Thomas A. Anderson, a hacker known in cyberspace as Neo (KEANU REEVES). Thomas leads a rather dull life anywhere outside his own computer, until the day he is heaved out of anonymity and boredom by the mysterious TRINITY (CARRIE-ANNE MOSS), subordinate to the legendary man Thomas/Neo has been searching for years, Morpheus (LAURENCE FISHBURNE). The plot soon thickens, as Neo gets more than he bargained for and comes to discover 'just how deep the rabbit hole goes'. The male, aloof version of 'Alice' in this phenomenal film gets thrown into a 'Wonderland' that proves to be cold, alien and terrifying, but more real than anything he had so far witnessed. Or is it? I will come out and state that I am a very big fan of KEANU REEVES. Although fully aware that he is not among the best actors out there, I am prepared to give him a chance to prove himself as an actor in any of the projects he gets involved in. When I later on heard that the original choices for Neo included Will Smith and Tom Cruise, I cringed. KEANU becomes Neo in this film. There is a certain style he has adopted for many years now in his acting, and for this film, it works incredibly well. Venturing into the film alongside him, you can feel Neo's insecurities, his hesitance to become what he is allegedly destined to. A reluctant hero is all his glory, and KEANU is very effective in conveying that. He pulls off the part of the leading man wonderfully, and is framed by an equally capable cast. CARRIE-ANNE MOSS counters the slightly feminine (or rather asexual) look and softer personality of the leading man, and does so brilliantly. As Trinity, she moves with the grace of a woman and the discipline of a mercenary. It is no stretch to assume that two-thirds of the leading trio were cast as such purposefully. The third person to complete the hero triad is played by LAURENCE FISHBURNE, an actor for which, I am certain, no words are needed. Strong leader, caring 'father' to his crew, unyielding mercenary. LAURENCE slips into his part effortlessly.
But surely, the greatest treat of this movie casting-wise is the awe-inspiring villain, Agent Smith, played by HUGO WEAVING. What a find! I have since then followed the man's career and was pleased to see that he does as incredibly as he did in THE MATRIX. Although fully convincing you the he is naught but a part of the machine world, HUGO breathes life into his robotic character. A machine with personality, you'll ask? I assure you that it is later on justified.
THE MATRIX is well on its way of becoming a jewel of a movie for the young ones to get to know, and the older ones to fondly remember.
I urge you to watch this movie again if you have already seen it and enjoyed it; you'll discover something new with every single viewing, since the amount of detail in this picture is almost insane. Kudos to the crew that worked so hard to achieve this result. If you haven't seen it, rent it as soon as possible.
This is not just a movie for people who (like me) enjoy comic books, Sci-Fi, computers and Kung Fu. It's a movie for people who enjoy well-crafted cinema. And if it gives you something to think about when the credits roll under the booming tunes of Rage Against the Machine, all the better.
Love it or hate it, THE MATRIX is a revolution. One certainly not to be missed.