When ideas become matter

Rating: 10/10 (19 March 2006)

The Wachowski brothers accomplish yet another extraordinary commentary on society at large. Of course the film contains action and drama but without the emotional intensity of the Matrix. We knew that the heroin would be with us at the end of the film and overall there were little surprises with the direction of the plot. It was refreshing to see that the Wachowskis can have a flare for the dramatic as well as a solid, directional script that is still captivating. What was most compelling were the personal journeys of the characters whose past histories lead to present actions. While this scenario implies determinism, the film has a very clear focus that personal choice directs history. Without an antagonist or protagonist to focus on, the viewer is able to absorb the entirety of the film for a forceful message. Sentient beings are more than a body or a mind but an idea. An idea can bring about a catalyst for change that ordinary men wish only to study or follow. The father in the film turns himself into an idea to bring about redemption for those who wronged his family and a safer world for his child.