Sender took a couple of weeks to acknowledge purchase. Once acknowledged, however, item came quickly and in excellent condition and within the original specified time window for arrival.

As annoying as Keanu C. Reeves can be, this is his ultimate role! The 44 year old Canadian actor whose middle name is Charles plays Neo who is most unlike his character in the 1989 comedy Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.

Released in 1999 and written and directed by the Wachowski brothers this film takes the viewer into a dismal future for mankind in the year 2199. As ubiquitous as today's World Wide Web is, this film goes in a direction that takes electronic machines and their artificial intelligence to the extreme in which they take captive 99% of humanity.

As dependent on machines, the internet and technology as we are - could all of that become greater than us and in turn rely on us for its survival? You decide, this movie is in my personal top three movies I have ever seen!

When 'THE MATRIX' first came out, I resisted the hype that began to surround it once all of the reviews--by laymen and professionals alike--started coming in.
About a year after it's cinematic release, when it was available on pay-per-view, on a night when I was bored stiff, with absolutely nothing else to do, I invested $4.99 just to see what all the hoopla was all about.
Excuse my French... but, God Damnit! Induct the Wachowski brothers into the movie making hall of fame right now!
If they never make another film, (which they obviously have, considering that there's now a 'Matrix' trilogy. UGH!)this one fantastic movie, in and of it's own accord, justifies their having a place of prominence in the pantheon of the all time great producers / directors in movie making history.
Being an intelligent, thoughtful, highly analytical and conscious individual, the mental stimulation which I derived from this finely nuanced film was enough to make me giddy.
With a superb cast; great acting; a mind-boggling plot; and dialogue that you can sink your teeth into; THE MATRIX gives the viewer a whole lot of everything.
But, for me, the one thing that it gave me more than anything else, was a sense of empowerment.
The sense that if we can conceive it and BELIEVE it, that we can also achieve it; and in essence, this film is really just one long testament to my favorite philosophical axiom; one which states that, "The person who thinks that they can, and the person who thinks that they can't, are both right." and for every single character in this movie, it was all about that one simple thing: 'belief'.
Morpheus, the leader of the group, who was played to perfection by Lawrence Fishburn, BELIEVED so strongly that he would find the one, that he had devoted his entire life to searching for him.
Trinity, played by Carrie Ann Moss, believed so strongly in Morpheus, that she risked her life time and time again, delving into the matrix as a liaison between Morpheus and 'the one'.
Cypher, played by Hugo Weaving, believed that their search was so much B.S. that he sold out to the agents, attempting to sabotage the groups efforts, for his own personal welfare.
NEO, played by keanu Reeves, believed that he was 'just another guy' until the collective belief of everyone around him, particularly Morpheus and Trinity, convinced him that he really was 'the one.'
This movie is so tightly constructed that even the names of these individuals tell a story that is relative to it's character.
Morpheus is the name of 'the principal God of dreams' in Greek mythology, and in The Matrix, Morpheus attempts to wake everyone from their dream state.
Trinity represents the power of alliance, particularly the alliance of three, as in the sun the moon and the stars, the father the son and the holy ghost, life death and rebirth, past present and future, etc... and she serves as the link between Morpheus' ideology, and it's real life application in the embodiment of Neo.
Neo, literally means 'NEW', and is also an anagram for ONE, and he would be the first person to see The Matrix as it really was, and he would also be the the first ONE to take a step into the heart of THE MATRIX and live to tell.
Even the name of their vessel, the Nebuchadnezzar, was symbolic, in the regards that Nebuchadnezzar was the name of the Babylon king who rebelled against Darius the great of Persia, who was the most powerful ruler of his 5th century B.C times.
This s**t is the macrocosm in microcosm, finely nuanced in every detail; and, in fact, if you really want to experience this movie from another perspective, DON"T WATCH IT... LISTEN TO IT.

"SOUND BYTES"
NEO: "So what are you telling me... that I can dodge bullets?"
MORPHEUS: "No! When you're ready... you won't have to."
When Neo is preparing to jump From one skyscraper to another, and has doubts about his ability to do so, Morpheus tells him, "Don't think you can... know you can."
When Neo tries to convince himself that he can make that jump, he declares, "NO FEAR, NO DOUBT, NO DISBELIEF."
And for anyone who is wondering if they should watch/buy this DVD; and whether or not it's worth their time and money?
Take it from me, (someone who isn't prone to gushing effusively about anything; though you wouldn't know that based on this review) you should have "NO FEAR... NO DOUBT... NO DISBELIEF."
THE MATRIX is THE ONE.

"Wake Up, Neo".

With those three seemingly simple words, the entire concept of the Matrix is born. Part science fiction, part philosophical musing, part action-adventure, "The Matrix" is, pure and simple, the most well-crafted science fiction film of all-time.

The film, set in a human future where machines control the human race and use humans much like we currently use batteries, centers on the fate of one man, Neo (Keanu Reeves), who is awakened to this terrible existence. Much like the viewers of the film, Neo must figure out what is real and what is not, who to believe and who to fight.

The real gem hidden within this film, however, is its commentary on the CURRENT human condition, or specifically how we continue to design smarter and smarter machines that may one day be our downfall. Plus, the absolutely unbelievable/horrible future that awaits us is so unforgiving that viewers can't help but cheer for the protagonists, even if we will go back to our AI the next day at work.

The acting in this movie has been much-maligned, but the characters (while truly not very emotive) are almost MEANT to have a sort of philosophical tone to them. Neo is the confused savior, Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) is the unflappable leader, and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) is the experienced sidekick. Also, the villainous "Agent Smith" (Hugo Weaving) will make you want to see him absolutely annihilated (the sign of a truly good villain!).

Of course, the special effects in this film are absolutely stunning, what with the use of "Bullet Time" (where the lightning action is slowed down to miniscule movements without losing any clarity).

Overall, this is a masterpiece science fiction film, combining an extraordinarily engaging plot, very able-bodied protagonists and antagonists, as well as special effects that, at the time of the film's release, were cutting edge. So, if you are looking for a film that will have you deep in contemplation days after viewing, but will also make you say "Whoa" (to quote Neo) while viewing, this film is for you.

What more can I say? Nothing like this movie had ever been seen before. It revolutionized cinematography wth "Bullet-time" and created a multi-million dollar franchise that spawned two additional movies, a video game, an animated film...Great story, great effects, if you haven't seen this yet, where have you been?

WARNING: This review contains spoilers! DO NOT READ THIS UNTIL YOU'VE SEEN THE FILM!

Every once in a great while a film comes along that changes everything and revolutionizes the way films are made. It happened with Fritz Lang's Metropolis, Orson Welles' Citizen Kane, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Steven Spielberg's Jaws, and George Lucas' Star Wars... now we are given Andy and Larry Wachowski's The Matrix. The Matrix not only has a cool, cyberpunk, hyper stylized look and jaw-dropping special effects, it also features an intelligent story that is often overlooked by the mindless action junkies. The story unfolds at a feverish pace while we, the viewers, are given the thrill ride of a lifetime.

Thomas Anderson worked a menial desk job at a major software company. In his spare time he leads a double life as Neo, a computer hacker, and it is as Neo that he gained the attention of some very strange people. One night, after falling asleep in front of his computer, Neo wakes up to find a message flashing on the monitor. "Wake up, Neo... The Matrix has you... Follow the white rabbit. Knock, knock." Not two seconds after reading this message, the door knocks. It's only one of Neo's friends stopping by to pick up a disc, or is it? Neo notices that his friend's girlfriend has a tattoo of a white rabbit on her shoulder, so naturally when he's invited to go to a rave he agrees out of curiosity. Once there, Neo is overwhelmed by the blaring rock music, the flashing strobe lights, and he's just considering leaving when a beautiful woman dressed in a slinky black outfit approaches him. She introduces herself as Trinity, a name that Neo is already familiar with. She's an expert hacker and an ally to Morpheus, a mysterious man that the authorities are after. Trinity tells Neo that he's in danger, that she understands him and his growing feeling of disenchantment, that she can help him, and that Morpheus can answer the question that's been eating away at his subconscious: What is the matrix?
The next morning Neo wakes up and realizes that he's late for work. When he arrives there his boss lectures him saying, "You have a problem with authority, Mr. Anderson. You believe that you are special, that somehow the rules do not apply to you. Obviously, you are mistaken." After his reprimand his day only gets worse. He receives a FedEx package containing a cellular phone, which immediately begins to ring. When he answers it he hears, for the first time, the voice of Morpheus. "I don't know if you're ready to see what I want to show you, but unfortunately you and I have run out of time. They're coming for you and I don't know what they're going to do." Over the phone Morpheus gives Neo instructions to on how to escape the building without being seen, but Neo fails to follow these instructions. He's taken into the custody of several strange agents, who interrogate him and plant him with a "bug".
Neo wakes up the next day believing that all the events of the previous day had been a dream, until he gets a phone call from Morpheus who cryptically tells Neo that he is "The One". They agree to meet at a safe location. When Trinity picks up Neo, she asks him to lift his shirt because she thinks he may be "bugged". Trinity reveals a large, awkward, high tech contraption that she uses to locate and remove the "bug". She then takes Neo to an old deserted building where he finally meets Morpheus face to face. Morpheus asks Neo if he wants to know the truth about the Matrix. He explains that no one can be told what the Matrix is, that they have to see it for themselves. Morpheus produces two pills and then offers Neo a choice: Take the blue pill and his life will return to normal, but if he takes the red pill Morpheus will reveal to him the mystery of the Matrix. Neo, with a little hesitation, takes the red pill and his world begins to dissolve, literally. The next thing he knows is that he's naked, covered with cords and wires that are plugged into his body, and that the vat of amniotic fluid he's been sleeping in is suddenly drained away, pulling him down through a series of tunnels and depositing him in a lake of waste. A large airship comes to his rescue and removes him from the grimy water. When Neo reawakens, Morpheus tells him that his entire world, his entire existence was fabricated, that he had been subjugated by an illusory reality designed to keep him compliant. The real world turns out to be a nightmare and the nightmare a reality. In the real world, the machines have long ago developed artificial intelligence, and taken over the surface of the planet as they use human beings as their energy source. The Matrix, as it turns out, is nothing more than an elaborate set of programs meant to deceive human beings so that the machines may parasitically feed off their semi-conscious bodies. Neo's life has been an empty dream world... but there is hope.
Morpheus has been leading a band of freedom fighters who live in the real world and hack into the Matrix through a pirate signal, to free humanity from the clutches of the machines. Morpheus tells Neo of a techno-mystical prophecy that one day a man will be born who will liberate humankind and end the war between the living and the mechanical. Morpheus trains Neo to become their champion in a virtual reality simulator, where Neo learns martial arts. He is also taught how to adapt his mind so that when he next enters the Matrix, he will be able to fortify himself for protection as well as bypass the laws of physics (mainly gravity). But they also face great obstacles, both in and out of the Matrix. In the real world they must deal with Sentinels, robots that are squid like in appearance and armed with a deadly arsenal. Within the Matrix, there's the threat of the Agents who eliminate any dissenters. Of these Agents, Agent Smith is the most dangerous for his programming was flawed. He is capable of experiencing human emotions such as ambition, pride, and a general contempt for all organic living things. Soon Neo, Morpheus, and Trinity have begun a revolution from which there can be no turning back. They will either end the tyranny of the machines or be crushed in the attempt.

The concept that our perceived reality is a mere illusion is by no means revolutionary. Since ancient times, philosophers and scientists have suggested the possibility of alternate realities which are only accessible through the mind. What makes The Matrix so fascinating is that it combined this metaphysical idea with modern technology, contemporary politics, social counterculture, and martial arts action. The film also has an underlying spirituality and frequently makes references to world religions and mythologies. The iconic characters are played to perfection by a talented cast including Keanu Reeves as Neo, Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus, Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity, Joe Pantoliano as Cypher, and Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith. Though it was released in 1999, The Matrix has often been cited as the film that ushered in the new millennium. It is a high energy, thought provoking modern masterpiece.

Also recommended:
Philip K. Dick: Five Novels of the 1960s & 70s
The Philosophy of Science Fiction Film
Metropolis
2001: A Space Odyssey
Star Wars Trilogy
Blade Runner
The Terminator
Brazil
Dark City
The Matrix: Music From The Motion Picture

God, this movie SUCKED! Stupid story, bad acting (hey it's got Kenau in it--'nuff said), and it moves VERY slow. Just a boring movie with great special effects. Overrated drek. Avoid at all costs, unless you have a problem with insomnia, and this will definately cure it.

Oh by the way, I did get it before anyone asks. Just because I didn't like this movie, that does NOT mean that I did not get it.

I can't believe that it's been 9 years since this movie's release. I remember my date and I talking about this movie for hours afterwards. The whole concept was so fresh and imaginative...and deep. I think the greatest crime was for the powers that be to turn the film into a trilogy. I saw the second movie and never saw the third. That's how much they ruined it for me. Keanu, an extremely lucky and untalented actor, turned up gold with this script. The art direction and graphics still manages to impress and even after all this time, the action and suspense of this film is still razor blade sharp. Excellent filmmaking.

The Matrix is a many-layered shoot-em-up pure fantasy for adults. The post-Ragnarök grimness is balanced by the optimism of the Bodhisattva, Neo. Ten years after this film was made, the technology portrayed is still current, the story is still compelling, it is worth the effort. Take the red pill.

The Matrix is a great movie. I ordered it and it arrived in good time and in good condition. I am happy with the service.

I first saw this movie in the theater back in 1999. It had its moments, but not many. To start, the acting is terrible. Keanu Reeves has the emotive ability of a toaster, and Carrie Ann Moss is about as sympathetic as the ubiquitous sexy sidekick babe in a generic video game. Lawrence Fishburne comes off a bit better, but his dialogue is the most pretentious, ridiculous garbage I've ever heard. I imagine the characters in this film spend about six hours out of every day designing the leather bondage costumes they'll wear next time they're in the Matrix.

For the first half of the movie, it seems to be interested in questioning reality, which, as the title to my review suggests, was already done more topically in previous films. "The Matrix" is astounded by what it perceives as its own brilliance, but for those of us who have thought of its ideas before, there are few surprises. Some people I know were blown away when Neo discovers the truth behind his reality, but I was waiting for something interesting to happen.

"The Matrix" has been praised for its originality, but it suffers from two traditional and clichéd movie formulas. First, Neo is the Chosen One (notice that "neo" is an anagram of "one." Was this supposed to be suspenseful?) who is destined to save the human race, bring balance to the Force, etc. He dies and comes back to life, like Jesus. Of course, to begin with he was just a pasty hacker in a crummy apartment and an anonymous office job, giving hope to all the spotty teenage geeks in the audience that they too might become the Messiah one day.

The second fault is the movie's reliance on action. Instead of coming up with interesting and exciting ways for two people to fight each other in virtual reality, Neo and Co. whip out their guns and start shooting. The techno music begins, and the audience is treated to several slow-motion kicks and scenes of people dodging bullets. I'm not sure how they manage all this, because nobody ever takes off their sunglasses to see properly. If the villains of the movie really were programs in the Matrix, shouldn't they be able to manipulate it without having to resort to kung fu?

Anyway, I didn't like this movie. "Dark City" is a better, more original version of the same premise, without the Chosen One nonsense or the martial arts.

I love keanu Reeves as an actor. The matrix movies are just another great acting of Mr. Reeves.
Full of excitment.I have all three movies. Like them all.They won't lst you down.

The Matrix
This movie should be in everyone's collection. The Matrix one of those movies that just has something special about it. I personally don't think it's perfect, but I agree that you need this in your collection. This is probably one of my favorite series of movies.

You follow a character named Neo. Neo has lived a fairly normal life as a hacker. He has been tracking down a man named Morpheous, and the strange aura that attracts Neo to Morpheous. Neo eventually meets Morpheous and a group of people. Morpheous asks Neo is he wants to know what The Matrix is. The story is kind of weird because Neo seems to know everything without being told about it. He knows about the Matrix already, but has no idea what it is. I don't know if that makes sense, but I'm just trying to say he's heard of everything already. Anyway, Neo says yes. He is than asks to take a pill if he wants to know the truth. Neo takes the pill and appears in world he's never seen before.

He turns out to be in the Real World, and the world he used to be in was the computer program called The Matrix. Neo learns that machines rule humans. The machines now grow humans to produce electricity for themselves. The survivors are now struggling to fight off these machines. Morpheous believes that Neo is what a prophecy called The One. The One was supposed to end the war bring peace to everyone.

The movie has a real Alice in Wonderland feel to it. He is sucked out of his world and put in a mysterious new world. The story takes awhile to get going, but once it gets going it is great. You will see heart-pounding action, great story telling, and insane camera work.

Extras include your basic behind the scenes and commentary along with a few other things. These are all good to watch. I don't think they are enough to up this movie to a 5 star though.

Like I said at the beginning of the review, you need this in your collection. If your collection consists of only a few movies, this should be one of them.

I liked this movie, I mean its worth watching, but its all the while a question of "suspend your disbelif", because this is just so unlikely. i dont know if the problem is the genre that its science fiction or what, buyt its hardly credible. pure fantasy. but fun

So let's take the Man vs Society theme, set it in a sci-fi plot, and use the latest special effects.

Slo mo bullets and super-slo-mo blood splattering. How many bullets and corpses can we get in a scene? What can we do to out special/effect all the other movies that have come out?

It ends up being a pandering effort at those who love a gore-fest.

Not even worth one sequal, much less two.

The great thing about this movie is that the first time you watch it you will appreciate maybe the more superficial aspects of it like the special effects. The second and subsequent viewings will entertain and intrigue you much more as you understand the story and what it represents, and maybe you'll even begin to ask yourself important questions about the meaning of life. The more you grow and try to understand the world around you, the more interesting this movie becomes. There are many aspects of this movie to appreciate, and I'd buy it again if I lost my copy, and again if I lost that one, then I'd call the police if that one came up missing.

Before seeing this movie, I didn't even know there WAS a red pill.

Thank you brothers W

I've enjoyed the segments I've seen of this movie, but had yet to see the whole thing. Visually, this movie cannot be beat.

Also, I think Marcus Chong deserved more notable billing for his portrayal as Tank. He made the movie, in my opinion.

The directing is great. The angle shown of the agent dodging bullets differed from the hero doing the same thing, and this added to the suspense and the concern for the hero.

The story is a bit on the dark side, without one conclusively knowing who survived except for Neo (Keanu Reeves). This movie had spiritual overtones that I want to comment on.

In an internet group I'm on, someone compared this movie with the Chronicles of Narnia, and said this movie was more Christian than Lewis' classic series. Having seen the movie, I really disagree.

This movie fits into a relativistic mindset. There are no absolutes. The oracle told Neo "what he needed to hear", but that turned out to be a lie. Neo definitely fits into a substitute Messiah, having skills the others do not have. The ideal, though, is to be antinomian, that is, without rules. This is contrary to Biblical Christianity.

Just my thoughts.

The Matrix is a pivotal film in the history of film. While that may seem overstated, The Matrix deserves every ounce of acclaim it has garnished over the years. Before this film, we didn't truly know action could be so good!

Neo (Keanu Reeves) is a mundane computer geek who lives an equally mundane existence. Until he takes an unexpected trip down the rabbit hole. Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), the legendary man who is only whispered about by the kind of people Neo knows, contacts him and offers him a choice: Learn what the Matrix is, or stay in your regular old life and remain unfulfilled.

He asks, "Did you ever have a dream you were so sure was real?" The philosophical influences in the Matrix are obvious to anyone familiar with works of Descartes. Neo chooses to learn what the Matrix really is, and that's when the fun really begins. Trinity (Carrie- Ann Moss) kicks some serious butt. Neo finds out the truth is scarier than fiction, and that reality is never what it seems to be. Love soon develops between Neo and Trinity, but not before Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) steps in to try to stop any hope from triumphing in a world dominated by killer machines. Are you ready for The Matrix?

The Good Things
*Fantastic, ground-breaking special effects and stylish action.
*Intruiging premise, with a storyline that keeps you hooked.
*Good cast of characters; great acting.
*Even though certain influences are obvious, it doesn't necessarily rip-off anything. It's very original in its own right.
*The writing is excellent. Not only is it easy to comprehend, but also has a lot of complex themes concerning philosophy, sociology, and mythology (and perhaps theology, although that is more apparent in the sequels). Each new viewing reveals something new to think about.
*Filming style is excellent, even when the camera is not doing a 360-degree turn. It's fresh, original, and has many strong motifs. The use of colors is excellent as well.
*Now that I've seen it five times, I can see strong continuity with the sequels.
*Awesome music.

The Bad Things
*A little slow for the first half. All of the fighting is more in the end.
*Those who do not like action movies may find this stupid.

I still consider this to be an absolute favorite. Aside from mind-bending action and effects, the story is swell and has lots of awesome, memorable characters. Themes and motifs are strong, and with each new viewing, something new can be discovered. It is even stronger now that the sequels are out, and one can see how all three films work together as a whole. It is constantly refreshing and exciting to watch this, for it is probably the most intelligent action movie ever made. If all action movies were made this way, perhaps Hollywood could redeem itself! I expect that this will become a cinematic classic; everybody should see it at least once in their life.

Last night, I have watched one of my favorite movies, "The Matrix" as I have seen it many times. I would highly recommend this movie, and I am not talking about just the full trilogy. I am talking about the very first one, this one. There is alot of symbolism in this movie and certainly several aspects that would drive one mad and utter turns to disbelief if it were to be true. What if our reality is the Matrix? Don't start looking for the holes on your arms...yet.

Also, there was alot of dailogues between Neo and Morpheus that is memorable, including this one:

"The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you're inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it. Were you listening to me, Neo? Or were you looking at the woman in the red dress?"

The woman in the red dress is what we would consider to be temptation. There are those who tasted temptation, lived for it, and will die for it...even though it is a lie. Interesting, eh?

Go out and see this movie. It is surely a must see and there's a good deal to learn from it. But, if you're not into symbolism of the movie, the actions and fights were "awesome," as my inner child would say.

I am not normally and action or sci-fi fan but I (finally) watched this movie with a friend and was totally amazed, the clever story and dialogue sucked me right in. The action scenes are awesome and the special effects are just mind-blowing. Keanu Reeves looks great and Laurence Fishburne owned Morpheus. I have to catch up on the rest of the series now. Highly recommended!!

Being an occultist I use The Matrix to explain magical concepts to people just getting into magic or questioning religion, society, or the mind. It is a profound metaphor for what humanity *is* and what we can be. The action in it has of course changed movie making for years to come, but really the action is there in my opinion to get the message out to the masses. If you think this view is a little off just think of it this way. The Matrix, Agents and the machines are all analogies of societies/religions/cultures programming on the human mind and how they keep us under control. If one frees himself of this programming from both the outward matrix and the controls within (Agents) then one becomes "free" to change the world as they see fit.

As for the sequels, they were not needed. OK, but ultimately cheapened the first.

When I first saw the Matrix on DVD a few years ago I thought it was terrible. Many parts actually made me laugh, or at least groan.

Seeing it again though a few months later I grew to appreciate it more. The plot made more sense to me this time around, and the premise was actually very intruiging. What is real to us? Is artificially induced electrical impulses in our minds any different from "true" reality? I have to admit that after the film finished I did have a few fleeting seconds of doubt about things I always took for granted, to my slight embarrasment.

However I found two major flaws with this film, that shatters the sense of immersion. Firstly there is just too much silly Kung Fu/ Jujitsu action sequences with the actors wildly swinging their arms and painfully obviously missing their opponent. It's reminiscent of old "swashbuckling" movies where swordfighters prance about and keep on hitting their opponents swords (and probably saying "en garde!" or "a ha!") Although undoubdtedly there to provide a "whoa! cool!" response from 12 year old kids I just thought they were corny. There are even some sequences reminiscent of the 1970s show Six Million Dollar Man where high speed action is depicted by slowing down the waving arms into a motion blur effect.
Secondly the main villain Agent Smith is just too much like a silly pantomine villain with his "You...disappoint me Mr Anderson" and "I'm going to enjoy watching you die Mr Anderson", all spoken in a very obviously fake Canadian accent. It's like watching your Dad try to be funny by impersonating a gangster.

IMO the film could have been better by dropping the Kung Fu, and making the agents more menacing. The cyberpunk aspect could have been explored more, as well as the enemy machines themselves. We see only glimpses of them and they were far more interesting and menacing than the agents. And Neo and Trinity are supposed to be computer experts, yet we see very little of this. Show not tell should have been used here more. While I continue on the negatives, the soundtrack wasn't very memorable either.

But those are just my views and probably differ from the majority of the reviewers here who praise it. Although I've gone on about the films' faults, I do think that it is worth watching, whether as an action adventure flick or a more though provoking slice of science fiction.

i'm not sure what the big deal is about this movie.i mean,it borrows
heavily from other sources,such as the bible and Star Wars,among
others.the gist of the story is that the world people see around them
is isn't real.it's actually a construct made by machines.Humanity is
actually enslaved by the machines.but there is one man who can free
humanity.that man may be a hacker who goes by the name Neo.Neo is
portrayed by Keanu Reeves.also playing prominent roles are Carrie Ann
Moss and Laurence Fishburne.but in my mind,it is Hugo weaving who
steals the show as the enigmatic agent Smith.i will admit the movie has
some great special effects and some spectacular fight scenes.but some
of the moves in the fights are really silly and are not what i would
call practical.also,a lot of the movie is slow moving,and the
characters don't behave in logical ways.still,the movie does have its
good moments.there are some genuine moments of high tension.this is the
first of three movie in The Matrix franchise.for me,the first movie in
the series is a 3/5

Excellent story, excellent special effects, everything ties together seamlessly. The matrix created a standard in which every sci fi film since must meet. Robots/Kung Fu/Slow Mo. HOLY CRAP!

Must have for any action flick lover. Too bad the next two films fell to pieces.

To truly understand this brilliant and original film, you must view it again and again and again. To the point of knowing every single line from beginning to end. Well, that was just me. But then again, I haven't seen a movie this thought-provokingly entertaining since, well, ever. It blew my mind the first time I watched it. My jaw dropped during that first opening scene and to this day, the effects can't be matched. We all know Keanu Reeves cant really act, but he picks his roles wisely. I mean, no acting required really for this role. Well, I'm mostly just kidding. His committment to the film cant be denied. I saw all the behind the scenes footage. I know these actors worked their butts off for this movie. Now that is dedication. There really aren't enough words to properly describe The Matrix. You literally have to see it for yourself. If you find yourself confused-watch it once more.

To Neo (Keanu Reeves) it seemed as if his entire life was a dream. As with most of us he was searching for something. He was also looking for a person named Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) who would be able to answer the burning question "What is the Matrix?" It just may be possible that for other reasons Morpheus may be looking for Neo.

The movie producers get points for it the first people to do the particular FX.

This film even though it has a beginning and an end is really the first is a series that unfolds a further truth.

Keanu Reeves plays his part well; however, he is better as Siddhartha in "Little Buddha" (1994). Their little trick with pills reflecting off the classes was good. Speaking of Buddha one does not realize until going through the rest of the films in this series that there is a subtle Buddhist philosophical thread running through them.

Little Buddha DVD ~ Keanu Reeves

I've watched the Matrix again and again. The premise is extremely thought-provoking ... that we live in a world that isn't really what we believe it to be. There are plenty of spiritual connotations here about rebirth, seeing things for what they really are, etc. While I'm not a big fan of Keanu Reeves (really don't think he's all that great of an actor), his deer-in-the-headlights performance worked well for his character. No matter how many times you watch it, you will still get new insights from this great movie.

Cyberpunk doesn't really exist in today's culture, but it was so apparent in the 80's, perhaps because it was so long ago, now we feel in shock when we look at the calendar and see the number 2008! I can't imagine what things will even be like in 2010! This movie single handedly slays any of those awesome 80's cyberpunk movies and takes it's place at the right hand of the cyber gods. You're not a real fan if you don't agree, this movie is the best of it's kind, and majorly entertaining, more-so to those that imagine possibilities like that actually being possible in the future. You need to have an imagination to love this movie, and be in awe of all the far out sci-fi ideas, that's what all the great sci-fi movies are supposed to do, awe you with their vision of how things could be in the future. And they say that sci-fi movies quite literally fortell reality! I get tired of medieval movies, and action, but I love cyber stuff so much. It's like the movie Transformers, a typical person will dismiss it as a regular movie, but a real fan will love it so much, and love the music, and love the hot chick, and love the action scenes, and the special effects, and even the story. A real fan watches a movie and gets ideas for his own story from it to turn into a movie. Since watching this movie I've become so thoroughly full of ideas of what could be that I started a website dealing with cyberpunk, all influenced by this movie. It's called: VERSUS. And you can find it at http://sikkulture.blogspot.com. I have my selection of cyber movies, zombie movies, horror, all on site from Amazon! Check it out!!

If you haven't seen this movie yet, you are missing out. It does fall under the cyberpunk genre, but I think it has appeal to quite a few people. The movie makes you wonder about what's real with your own life. It is kind of easy to be critical of Keanu Reeves' acting ability, he does alright in this. If you have seen this and not seen The Matrix Reloaded or Revolutions, then just stop now. The Wachowski brothers got it right with this movie and should have left the remainder of the story up to the imagination of the viewers.

Excellent movie.
The sequels have even better special effects, however their stories and plot suck.

Some may argue with me when I say that this film loves violence. They might use terms like "panders to" and "wallows in" instead. But what convinced me was a single shot: the falling, in slow motion, of scintillating spent shell casings from the helicopter, during the rescue of Morpheus. It was then that it hit me: the Wachowski brothers were not giving us that shot in order to pump up the violence/action. They were doing it because they intuitively understood the sheer, unadorned beauty of violence.

2007 UPDATE TO REVIEW TO MY 2000 REVIEW: People can be properly disappointed with the second and third installments of The Matrix saga. They didn't live up to the hype and expectation generated from the original. Fair enough, but don't blame the original for the fact that the follow-through was so weak. The Matrix is one of the classics of the sci-fi and action genres.

What is The Matrix? Oozing cool, this sci-fi action thriller draws parallels from biblical stories, countless religions and ancient Japanese lore. To say that it must be seen for yourself is no understatement. Revolutionary special effects, spawning dozens of notorious parodies, most notably during a 1999 Super Bowl commercial, ultra hip wardrobes and Gatling gun action firepower, The Matrix single-handedly saved Warner Bros. from a lengthy cinema slump, and put the "awesome" back in R-rated films and black leather apparel.

Neo (Keanu Reeves) is a computer hacker who is plagued by thoughts of the indecipherability of the real world and the dream world. When he is mysteriously contacted by Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an infamous and regaled underworld leader, he follows clues and the shapely messenger Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) to unlock the secrets of the Matrix. To know more would spoil the ingenious and surrealism of this masterful film; needless to say, Neo wanders down the rabbit hole to see how far it goes.

Redefining cool, the action and stunts in The Matrix are nothing short of unbelievable. Focusing heavily on carefully choreographed martial arts battles and highflying helicopter stunts, this film will enliven your faith in the action genre.

Utilizing slow motion in a dance of magical cinematography, scenes which would otherwise be exceptional are transformed into pure genius. A helicopter shootout on a rooftop with gushing water, blazing bullets, slow motion diving through mid-air, and a plethora of machine-gun bullets kicking out of a mounted Gatling gun so hard and fast that they fall like metal rain, is only one example of stylized action that is truly beyond unique. In perhaps the most famous scene of the franchise, Neo and Trinity march through a heavily guarded security terminal packing dozens of automatic weapons - all in beautiful slow motion. To see the look of shock on the security officers faces as they set off the alarm and open fire on the unsuspecting guards is sheer bliss. What ensues is the gunfight of the 20th century as they defy gravity and blast their way through a hallway loaded with shotgun-toting SWAT troopers.

Magnificently blending science-fiction action and a good old-fashioned love story, to delve too deeply into the intricacy of The Matrix is to do it injustice. Complex and well-organized, the multiple colliding themes of betrayal, destiny, fate and hope, help to serve up a scrumptious cinematic dish. The detail-oriented acting and character development is outstanding, and drives the film with sincerity and determination. The sinister Agent Smith, played by Hugo Weaving, is immortalized as one of the greatest screen villains and manages to be cool and collected in a disconcerting manner, and startlingly malevolent in his final confrontation with Neo. Laurence Fishburne's Morpheus is stern, resolute and commanding. Trinity is the anti-femme fatale, lithe and sexy in her shiny black leather and skillfully deadly. These admirable and awe-inspiring characters are intertwined into an intricate world magnificently crafted by the Wachowski Brothers. Their previous feature, Bound, proved they had a knack for eye-pleasing storytelling and characters. The Matrix is inspired by many themes and ideas suggested in Japanese Manga comics, but the way the characters and storyline is depicted is a vision for which they deserve undivided credit.

The special effects are particularly noteworthy as brand new technology and CG methods were invented for several of the shocking fight sequences. During the rooftop melee, bullets pierce the air around Neo and he reels backward in an attempt to dodge them. While ripples of waves circulate around the slowed down bullets, the camera circles around him in over 360°. Special features on the DVD supplement The Matrix Revisited delve into the complex camera set up and green screen approach used for this often mimicked shot.

Few science-fiction films have been so heavily praised, let alone a film from less than ten years ago. The Matrix spawned two sequels, as well as The Animatrix, a collection of animated films, as well as video games, comics, action figure lines and more. If you haven't seen this film, don't delay - The Matrix is waiting for you.

- Mike Massie

There is no excuse for anyone to have not watched this movie. But how many people who watch it really nderstand that it is gives a superb analogy to understanding our current reality.

We live in a world of illusion, distraction, economic slavedom and material indulgence. Breaking free from these culturally programmed distractions will enable you to break free from the real Matrix that we inhabit.

Still think the Matrix is fantasy??? To really explore the reality of our 'matrix' try reading the book by Ouspensky called "In Search of the Miraculous", and the book by Laura Knight-Jadczyk called "The Secret History of the World".

It's your choice, get swallowed up in the illusion of job titles, pensions and consumption or start living your own truly free life!!!!