Hackneyed Pseudo-Philosophy For Dummies

Rating: Null/10 (14 June 1999)

This is the perfect film for the dimmer bulbs in the comic book geek population. The laughable "profundities" -- unaccountably uttered with deep foreboding and a straight face -- sound like a bad mix of Yoda, Rod McKuen and your average neighborhood stoner. And how are we to not laugh outright at the sight of a toddler yogi bending spoons with the power of his mind? The "what-is-reality?" theme is as old as the dream state itself, and The Matrix offers no real contribution to the debate. The imagery, while lovely and inventive, and the direction, although deft and punchy, mask (all too effectively for some) the lack of a true, unique vision from the filmmakers, who demonstrated so much more on a much smaller scale in Bound. However, if your sense of film history only extends back to Dark City and your philosophical preoccupations were ignited by The Sandman, this whole muddled film is all gonna seem mighty big and new. But, hey, at least it's entertaining.