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The Matrix (1999)

Director: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski

Average user rating

10 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Thomas (Reeves), a salaryman at a software company, leads a secret double life. As 'Neo' he's a computer hacker much in demand. But only when Trinity (Moss) introduces him to charismatic seer Morpheus (Fishburne) does Neo learn that the whole world's unwittingly in the same boat: life as we know it is merely virtual reality, a 'matrix' designed by mankind's overlords to hold us in unquestioning obeisance. Not only are Morpheus and his rebel crew fighting to regain our freedom, but the leader has a bee in his bonnet: might not Neo be the One, who'll lead us to salvation? For its first hour, the second feature by the Wachowskis works well enough as an ambitious if rather portentous dystopian fantasy in the vein of eXistenZ and Blade Runner. Though sometimes a little clumsy, the frequent switches between the different 'realities' are entertainingly ingenious, Bill Pope's camerawork and Owen Paterson's designs are slickly impressive, and the effects neatly embrace Cronenbergian body horror and comic strip panache. But the characters, too, are paper thin (Keanu, especially), while the promising premise is steadily wasted as the film turns into a fairly routine action pic, complete with facile Hollywood heroics, cod kung-fu homilies and computer enhanced martial arts scenes. Weaving is engagingly odd as the rebels' arch enemy Smith, but even he can't hold the attention in what's finally yet another slice of overlong, high concept hokum.

Author: GA

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

Erlo said...

Posted on Sep 08 2010 09:42 Thanks for your courage and candor in defying the tastes of the hoi polloi, the unwashed masses. Your review actually IS balanced, for you DO give high praise where it’s due (e.g., you are enthusiastic that the switches between the different realities are “entertainingly ingenious” and that the camera work and designs are “slickly impressive”).
But you are DEAD ON when you point out that the characterization is lousy (indeed, almost nonexistent--if anything, you were charitable here) and that the movie degenerates “into a fairly routine action pic.”
On the other hand, while “The Matrix” is indeed overwrought hokum, it is FUN, and at times “delicious,” hokum.

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Adam said...

Posted on Jul 29 2009 21:20 3rd time lucky for the rating.

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Adam said...

Posted on Jul 29 2009 21:18 Oops, I forgot to rate too.

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Adam said...

Posted on Jul 29 2009 21:16 George Bernard Shaw said that to believe there is a God is absurd; to believe there is no God is impossible. It is equally impossible to dismiss this movie's premise that we're living in a virtual world. How can anyone disprove it? For that reason, this movie for me is profound.

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J Waters said...

Posted on Jun 11 2008 12:17 Sorry. oops forgot to rate.

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J Waters said...

Posted on Jun 11 2008 12:15 Wow... what a dumb review. In fact I've just read all the three -ve reviews on tomatometer. What kind of dumb reviews are these (one of them is so funny, it's a one line review that significantly brought down the rating. I think it's one of the most significant sci-fi films ever made. The plot has several holes. But so what? It's a terrific premise, and extraordinary execution. It took watching the sequels about three times to finally get the hang of them (initially I thought the sequels were messed up). All in all, great movie. I think some reviewers live in their own world (pun intended).

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Quick Ben said...

Posted on May 24 2008 19:35 Most of the reviews on this site are guff. Almost every film of any significance has been given a bad review.

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Plow said...

Posted on May 11 2008 01:12 This movie is, without a doubt, the most smartly written, mind-blowing, action, sci-fi movie ever to be created. A true masterpiece that is worth watching over and over for an entire lifetime. A perfect film in every way!!!

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Roman said...

Posted on Apr 23 2008 21:55 Wow you are one of the worse reviewers. This movies was great. I dont know what you have against the directors, but noone cares. Everyone loved this movie.

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John P said...

Posted on Nov 25 2007 00:00 It is down right funny to see a negative review of The Matrix. I wonder if the person who wrote this review is selling hamburgers now?

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