The Matrix

Director:Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Screenplay:Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Starring:Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano and Hugo Weaving

John's Review

Take "Johnny Mneumonic", add in an episode of the "Twilight Zone", stir in some Bruce Lee, add a dash of "Terminator" and a sprinkle of "Blade Runner" and what do you get? The Matrix. The cyber-sci-fi-martial arts film is more fun than I expected.
Basically, what would happen if our lives were nothing but a dream, that every thing that we consider reality was nothing more than an elaborate program written to keep our minds occupied while our bodies were being used for some other purpose? How could we tell the difference between the dream world and the real world?
Neo (Reeves) is a computer programmer/hacker, he's been trying to find Morpheus, (Fishburne) for a couple of years, we're not sure why, but that really doesn't matter. And on the flipside, Morpheus has been looking for Neo his whole life. Why? Because Morpheus believes that Neo is the savior of the human race. Without giving away too much of the plot, the humans are being enslaved by the very ultimate computer that they built. An AI that is self replicating. We all live in a suspended animation, a sort of dream-world in which our very existence is never in question because our minds perceive it as reality.
A carefully selected few are released from the very prison that is our lives and told of the "real world" by Morpheus. By using computer programs to train our heros, Morpheus and his band of merry men, Trinity (Moss), Cypher (Pantoliano) and a few others set out to destroy the computer that is enslaving them. But, first they have to get past several computer constructs. Self pervading programs that have free rein through our reality. Leader among the programs is Agent Smith, played with exceptional ability by Hugo Weaver, he almost steals the movie.
But can Neo convince himself that the "real world" is reality and that his "dream world" is nothing more than that? Is there a spy among the good guys? How do they do the stuff that they do? Can an audience that is not too techie understand the plot?
Well, all of these questions are answered, except the last one. The plot is hard too follow if you don't pay attention. Or if your not into lengthy plot point explanations. The action is first rate. The visual effects are stunning and the choreographed fight scenes are very impressive.
The cinemetography is very unique and basically adds to all the eye-candy. The music is not the most exceptional but it doesn't detract from the film itself. One added bonus to the film for me, was that I knew nothing of what this movie was about. The trailers were so cleverly put together that I only saw some scenes but never pieced together any plot. This movie is a first rate action sci-fi film and I highly recommend it.