Review: THE MATRIX (1999)
January 30th 2009 08:00
The Matrix - 9/10
The Wachowski Brother's sci-fi masterpiece dealing with reality and control is one of the greatest science fiction films ever made, if not one of the greatest films period.
Thomas Anderson (Reeves) lives an ordinary life. He wakes up, goes to work, pays his bills, and "even helps his landlady with the garbage;" everything about Anderson is typical. Except, of course, for the life he lives in computers. Online, he is known as Neo, a respected cracker who has no qualms when it comes to bypassing security or pushing the limits of a computer system. Though he is good at what he does, Neo feels that there is something missing in his life, even though he cannot quite place it. He is constantly searching for a meaning that seems just out of reach, and it seems the only way he will find that meaning is with the aid of another cracker by the name of Morpheus (Fishburne). Neo finally gets his chance to meet with Morpheus, and when he does, his world is turned upside down. What Neo discovers about the "real world" will place him in a collision course with an "agency" who will stop at nothing to suppress the truth of what they are doing to mankind.
It is hard for me to believe that it has been nearly a decade since The Matrix was released. Was it really that long ago that the world of film making was turned upside down? There is not much that I can say, now, that has not already been said about The Matrix; its originality, its thoroughly thought out story; the mind blowing graphics. Truth be told, The Matrix is definitely one of those films that cannot be seen only one time; the different layers represented always make this movie enjoyable. While it is easy to think that Reeves is nothing more than a robot (no pun intended) when it comes to his acting ability, I have always felt that he was perfect for the roll of Neo, if for no other reason than it required a person who genuinely seemed vacant. Everything else about the film, however, is spot on: the writing is amazing, the cast perfect, and of course, the technology involved is mind blowing. Like I said, it is hard to believe that it was ten years ago that The Matrix was released, simply because I cannot believe that it was ten years ago that the world of film making was changed so drastically. Didn't it seem like every action movie that came out afterward had to copy some sort of style from The Matrix?
I have always been pleased with the recognition that The Matrix received. Though the sequels were arguably much different, the first in the series will always be considered a milestone to me. If you have, for whatever reason, been avoiding this film, do yourself a favor and pick it up. It will not disappoint.
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