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THE MATRIX review

This show rocked! by Aggie_Ed	Apr 1st, 1999 05:59:49 AM
There really isn't more to be said. This movie was definitely the appetizer we all needed before the feast of Episode One!!
I have seen THE MATRIX....and it is good (brilliant even)!!! by Epsilon3	Apr 1st, 1999 06:10:36 AM
Harry, I've been waiting for you to get the review for this movie up 'cause I've been itching to publically declare my love for this film for hours, now. It lived up to all expectations and more. Pluses: 1)-and this is huge- Keanu Reeves did not suck. Even the much maligned "whoa" of the preview was appropriate. 2)The special effects were both brilliant and essential to the story. Nothing was done for show here. 3) The soundtrack (which I will purchase today) was 100% effective in complimenting the film. THere was no padding here just to sell CDs. It was all necissary & 4)-most importantly- this was a story-driven film. It had a well thought out plot that was primary over the effects. The effects serviced the story and not the other way around. I really cannot say enough good things about this film --- There were minuses: 1) I would have liked to see more character development & 2) The pacing was a bit slow for the purposes of exposition (this is both a plus and a minus, BTW) But who cares. THis film was brilliant, there's no other word. I'm going to try to see it again today, and I'm definately going again this weekend. --- A Keanu note--Mr. Reeves may very well have redeemed himself for JOHNNY MNEUMONIC (just typing the name of the film makes the bile rise). --Another note: I'm very glad I avoided all plot details before going to this film. It added so much to actually be surprised (and I was surprised at the relationship between the Matrix and people). This film represents the idea that cyberpunk influenced film can actually be a feasible reality. BLADE RUNNER, which really isn't cyberpunk, thus far represented the only hope for this genre until now. Because of THE MATRIX, I feel oodles of hope for the NEUROMANCER movie currently in development. This is one of my favorite sub-genres of science fiction. It's brilliant, and it's of ever-increasing relevance to modern society with our ever-increasing dependence and almost symbiosis with computers. This film asked big questions (though it wasn't as metephysical as, say, Pi), it wasn't afraid to pull punches, and yes, it looked as cool as all shit. The CGI was perfect. For once it didn't annoy me. It was the perfect balance between the appearance of reality and the psuedo-reality of the Matrix. Like everything else in this film, it added, it didn't detract or distract. Needless to say, I loved this film. It's on my DVD shortlist. GO SEE IT. Keep it high in the box office until THE PHANTOM MENACE opens. Like Harry said, thousands and thousands of words could be written on this film, but I guess I've had my say.
This sucks by kev	Apr 1st, 1999 06:23:05 AM
Dammit, this really, really sucks, i'm in the UK and i'll have to wait god knows how long to see this film......any ideas when its out over here???
What It Is, Brothers by mr_noodle	Apr 1st, 1999 06:54:19 AM
I thought that this movie was a complete blast. The special effects were great, the film had a definite feel to it, and (contrary to what some reviewers have stated), the script was awesome. I'm not sure if it's the sci-fi genre as a whole that doesn't get any respect by big-name reviewers (ie Variety) or whether they have a stigma against Keanu and / or films with a lot of action. This film rocked like crazy and I hope that people go see it so the Brothers W can keep making kick-arse movies with a decent budget. My only beef (and it's not too large) was the soundtrack that was put together. While most people aren't familiar with the stuff that was on there, I thought that at times it was simply too jarring, and the big names in music were used when other groups could have been more effective (if you want to know what I mean, check out the "Pi" soundtrack). Still, that's a small criticism. Go check out this film and tell people about it, because we've got to keep this genre alive. http://i.am/almostcool
Harry is RIGHT by Germster	Apr 1st, 1999 07:00:04 AM
harry, this is why you run such a kick ass site. You put what is almost impossible to say into such beautiful poetry. I saw this film last week and i, like you said, jizzed all over. It is SO fuckin KICK ASS. GET OUT THERE AND SEE IT.
this flick rocks by Whiskey Nick	Apr 1st, 1999 07:10:54 AM
THE MATRIX is so cool it's not even funny. This has to be one of the coolest flicks of the decade. I have to buy a DVD player just so i can get this letterboxed and watch it frame by frame and admire every detail. I loved DARK CITY and this is even better. It's a brillant combo of h-k action, sci-fi, eastern philosophy and the western mythological tradition. See it now. See it again and again.
GO SEE THIS... by rslifka	Apr 1st, 1999 07:35:11 AM
Jaw-dropping... that's about as well as I can describe it. Speechless I was (wtf Yoda talk). It gets you going with the opening scene, takes time to develop the plot, gets you going some more, and then doesn't let you down. 2 hours? Man... it seemed so short. I assume Starwars will be the same way =) - r
Is it just me or... by The Longshot	Apr 1st, 1999 07:51:56 AM
am I the only one who thought that this could have been better? I mean, the movie starts with a kick ass action sequence and then...it just drags for a while. I was hoping for more action than I got. Also, the ending left me with a "Huh?" reaction. Overall, I thought it was a solid film that, with a little bit of brushing up and pacing adjusted, could have been a great film.
Excellence in Filmaking.... by CaptEgo	Apr 1st, 1999 07:53:15 AM
Yaknow, I didn't know the W bros from a hole in the ground before this project and in one fell swoop they have launched into the stratosphere of 'Filmmakers' in the current crop of Hollywood mushroom farmers. To think that someone seems to 'care' about a wholisitic vision in their films and probably didn't send the thing once to any goddamned 'focus' group is a joy. Matrix managed to balance on that fine line of Bad-Ass coolness and Lame-Ass pretention (where I think DC failed...because it wanted so bad to be cool while Matrix just was). Kanoe was good, Lawrence (Dinna call him Larry!) was super smooth enunciating coolness and Ms. Moss was...well one word, Mrowr! All in all, I think Matrix will sit quite happily on the shelf next to Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell. Oh yah...If you haven't yet, like Harry said...GET YOUR ASS TO THE THEATRE!
The Wachoskis! by MACEJEDI	Apr 1st, 1999 07:54:00 AM
UN-BE-friggin'-LIEVEABLE! The very definition of cool! I went into The Matrix thinking that this would be an ok sci-fi/action flick. I liked Bound and thought the Wachowski's would do a decent job on their second outing. Boy was I wrong! What I got was worth more than the ticket price! I think I should have paid more. The Wachowski's have a classic on their hands. Pure brilliance is the only thing that comes to mind. No words can describe this masterpiece. My jaw was on the floor. I was speechless when the credits rolled. The first 5 mins will leave you breathless. Contrary to what some reviewers have stated, the story was actually very orginal, and intruiging. The second act was a bit slow (fascinating non-the less), but the final battle makes up for it... in spades. The climatic battle scenes will make your eye-balls explode! The shootout inside the office lobby after Keanu enters the metal detectors just screams DVD freeze frame! Flying debri never looked so good. You'll leave the theater asking yourself, "how the hell did they do that?!" From now on, this is what ALL future action/sci-fi flicks will be judged by. I cannot wait to see it again this weekend. The Wachoskis would be perfect for helming Superman, but alas.... they wont waste their talents on a dying franchise. Good for them.
What is the Matrix? by Jack Burton	Apr 1st, 1999 08:11:45 AM
Well, basically it's the most kick ass sci-fi movie since Blade Runner. Like that classic, it will re-define the look of science fiction and provide tons of films with sequences to rip-off and emulate. It has a couple of rough spots (the kung fu posturing was kind of dumb and some of the audience laughed), Hugo Weaving's delivery was irritating, until you realize why he talks like that, and it was a LITTLE slow in the middle. However none of that matters after you see the final 45 minutes. I haven't been so astounded in a film since Terminator 2. The Time-Slice effects are done expertly and beautifully. This movie is the real deal. There's no self referential humor, very few stupid quips (I loved "Dodge this!"), and a respect for the material and the rules that they invented. The acting was dead on and the special effects will be in the running for an Academy award along with Star Wars. See this now! For once a movie that truly DESERVES a sequel. So many questions left unanswered, and so many places to go (Zion). By the way, did anyone notice that the elevator in the lobby at the end says "Lift"? It was supposed to be Seattle, right? But they shot in Australia. Kind of funny.
Great Sci-Fi by TheCrawlingChaos	Apr 1st, 1999 08:12:14 AM
This movie was a great sci-fi movie. Didn't pander and hand hold you through the explanations (which would of taken too long to do anyway if they tried) and just showed you a great time. The effects were top notch the action was excellent (with a few nods to John Woo), so was the story. I also liked the fact that the Oracle wasn't some really old guy or some really young child or some really deformed whatever. Just a house-wife type.
You told me that "The Faculty" was good, Harry. by BlinkBoy	Apr 1st, 1999 08:26:04 AM
I'll give you the benefit of the doubt on this, but the last movie I saw that you gave a great review to was the shitfest known as "The Faculty". At least everyone and their brother is also giving this movie an incredible review and it looks fanking incredible, so I'm going to see it.
The Matrix Has You by TheMighty E.coli	Apr 1st, 1999 08:27:29 AM
I put up something yesterday about the coolness of this movie,it dazzles you and it intrigues you.I also love when patrons come up to my box and ask.What is the matrix about? I reply, no one can be told what the matrix is...you have to see it for yourself. Which everyone should do because all of those keanu bashers will throw their hate in the trash when he goes through the metal detector..those who have seen it know what i mean..Keep rockin and rollin and watching better films.
Cameron quality? by cookiepuss	Apr 1st, 1999 08:32:00 AM
Um...no need to put George Lucas down because you liked the Matrix. Cameron's films couldn't be made without George Lucas pioneering support of CGI at ILM. I like Cameron, Lucas and the Wachowski brothers. And, the Muppets. No need to tear others down to build others up. Without Lucas, the effects in Terminator 2, Titanic, Matrix, etc., would NOT be possible. Give credit where it is due. If you don't like what you've seen of Episode 1, then stay home on May 19th. Somebody else will appreciate taking the extra seat, no problem.
That Darn Matrix by mrbeaks	Apr 1st, 1999 09:04:28 AM

That Darn Matrix (Part 2) by mrbeaks	Apr 1st, 1999 09:15:33 AM
Let's try that again. Even though THE MATRIX borrows from various sources with reckless abandon, the Wachowski's have put their personal stamp on the cyberpunk genre, and delivered the best sci-fi flick since last year's DARK CITY. For those who thought it dragged after the great opening sequence; that "boring" section was a little something called "exposition." For my money, this is the best sophomore effort since Wes Anderson's RUSHMORE. I can't wait to see what these guy's do next.
Matrix just made my brain hurt by BackstagePass	Apr 1st, 1999 09:21:49 AM
I've been working on my review of this thing for almost a week after seeing the press screening last week. The biggest problem I'm having is trying to pare down said review to something shorter than the Magna Carta; there's too much to complain about in this thing. It tried to steal from just about every film ever made and cover it up with the contents of a high school philosophy course. There's nothing here that "Dark City" didn't do much, much better. The film is not without it's coolness but it far from being the life altering, penis hardening experience that Mr. Knowles makes it out to be. KJB http://www.backstage-pass.com
There is a God. It is the Matrix. by Graven The Jedi	Apr 1st, 1999 09:41:55 AM
I have GOT to agree with Harry. This movie pumped me up so much I was speeding home from the theater. I was doing the motions from the movie for two hours after it. And I'm 20 years old. So what does that tell you? The action was so awesome! The plot was great. When Fishy said, "Welcome to the real world", my jaw dropped. The FX were the best I have yet to see (though that WWWest preview was outstanding). This movie is soooooooooooooo cool. Sososososososo cool. That's all I have to say.
To JMS: ILM = Lucas = without him there would be no Matrix by MACEJEDI	Apr 1st, 1999 09:42:23 AM
I agreee with you somewhat about Cameron pushing the CGI envelope JMS, but that's all he did. You seem to be forgetting that Lucas started ILM with Star Wars and then all the copy-cat FX companyies started to spring up. Without Lucas there would be no ILM and without ILM there would be no Abyss (not the same FX I mean) and therefore there would no Jurassic Park, no Ep.1 and no Matrix...etc....etc.... I seriously doubt The Matrix would exist if not for Lucas
Matrix Matrix Matrix by 11811	Apr 1st, 1999 09:51:23 AM
So, I went to see the Matrix fully expecting to be blown away, and for once, my expectations were not let down at all. This movie is absolutely amazing! As a previous writer said, it is anime come brilliantly to life. I spent several hours after the movie digesting it, and really, the anime conclusion was the best summation of the movie I could find in my little head. It has two distinct styles of Hong Kong action (kung-fu and guns guns , which don't usually intersect in the same flicks as well as in this one), BIG IDEA sci-fi/cyberpunk, and some of the coolest visual effects since, well, since nothing! That combination of things is usually only seen in really good anime. Let's break this movie donw, shall we? The action was incredibly staged, almost as well as in a great John Woo film, and even included several of the same tricks. How many times have we seen two guys jump at each other with guns blazing, only to end up in the classic guns-pointed-at-each-other's-f ace-at-point-blank-range, and then have the, again, classic exchange on number of bullets left in the respective guns? Well, quite a few times, but usually the camera doesn't rotate under the combatant's jump SEVERAL times! Damn, that's cool shit... This may in fact be the best movie for that style of action since Face-Off (I did like Ronin, though, for its retro hardcore action). The kung-fu was cool, too, but I really can't make as many comments to the quality there. The effects were amazing, as well. I especially liked the slow-motion explosion in the high-rise with the bouncing door fragment (does anyone know if that was CG or just really cool high speed photography?) and the way the bullet dodge move was handled (MUCH better than in Blade). The sound mix was very well done as well, being powerful but never succumbing to dumbass loudness. As for the plot, which does unfortunately end up being sort of an amalgam of Dark City and Strange Days, it is very interesting, though the movie wasn't even half as intricate as Bound. Some reviewers (ahem, Ebert) complained about the ending in comparison to those movies, which sort of skimped on the cool ideas presented earlier and focused on the big action, but I don't really see this as a problem. Besides, DC ended in much the same way, only with "tuning" waves instead of bullets and kung-fu. I think the ending really was fun to watch and didn't harm the overall effects of the story. Now, for a quibbles. Some people may look at the production design and absolutely love it, but I am personally getting sick of all the movies sharing the same future-rot look. Blade Runner (still, along with Brazil and, more recently, What Dreams May Come, a benchmark) tempered the rotting city with the incredibly opulent and slick Tyrell building. What else? Well, the acting was ok. Keanu didn't make me want to hurl (this may be his kind of movie), and all the other players, particulary Hugo Weaver and Joe Panteliano, were outstanding. Also, as a born and raised Chicagoan, the numerous Chicago references were fun. In summation, go see this movie fifty times -- I know I will!
Harry: My words exactly. by HAL9000	Apr 1st, 1999 10:00:20 AM
Harry, I got a real kick out of your opening paragraph for the yet to be posted review of this film (or maybe I should call it an "experience"). That incisive breakdown pretty much summarized everything I was feeling after I viewed a midnight show of it last night. The Matrix is the definitive kick ass cool movie that we've all been yearning for. After months and months of crap like Batman and Robin, The Postman, Soldier, and The Avengers, the boys at WB finally got one right. Pure, uninhibited, bad ass filmmaking. No cheese infested one liners or predictable plot developments. I couldn't take my eyes of the screen, it was one of the most absorbing films I've seen in a long time. I don't think anyone will ever be able to bash Keanu with a straight face after seeing this, which easily ranks as the best work he's ever done. The guy is a decent actor! He will never win an academy award (let alone a golden globe) but when he's working with the right people, he can pull the material off nicely. I can't think of any other actor who could've been better in the role (well...Maybe Edward Norton). It was also nice to see a female character in an action film that doesn't sit in the corner groveling in fear while the men wage war with the bad guys. Anna Marie Goddard is a damn good actress, I'll be sure to keep a look out for her next projects. What can be said about Larry Fishburne? The guy is great! I've been a huge Fishy fan since the Deep Cover days, and it'll be cool to see him get recognition in a blockbuster film (it'll gross at least 100 mil, if not more) after a string of box office flops. The movie ultimately succeeds because of the genius that is the brothers Wackowski. The direction and visual fx are staggering, and they deserve extra retribution due to the fact that it's only their second writing/directing effort. Way to avoid the sophmore slump guys! I could ramble on for hours about this one, but I'll close with these few remarks: See The Matrix. Once you're in, it has you.
The truth about JMS! by bruce le	Apr 1st, 1999 10:03:55 AM
JMS is actually a former Lucasfilm employee.He got fired after they discovered that he was a spy working for Jim Cameron and that he was stealing memos and proprietary computer software so that Cameron could learn how to make a real movie.The true nature of his job there is vague,although somebody told me that JMS was responsible for making sure that the washrooms were clean whenever Lucas wanted to take a dump. Now you must understand how disgruntled an employee he is and the reason for his burning hatred for anything bearing the initials SW.
Cyberpunk done right finally by SixStringSammy	Apr 1st, 1999 10:22:35 AM
Oh wow. I saw this movie last Thursday at a sneak screening and I went and saw it again first show of the day Wednesday. There are no words for this film. However, I am gonna talk about it still. Carrie Ann Moss is my new obsession. She kicks ass as Trinity. Give her the claws and she'd have been Molly Millions. Lawrence Fishbourne. Hmm. He's working the "mystic know-all master" thing. Yoda meets Shaft. Keanu Reeves. He pulls it off. I know we were all afraid of him biting it, but he manages to get in character enough to not make you go "EXCELLENT!" every two minutes. Most of all, though, the effects. OOOoooooooohhhhh. They're seamless. No more cheezy crap like in American Werewolf in Paris. I was watching one of those specials on this film (I think it was MTV's) and they had the Wachowski bros on it. The interviewer asked them about their inpsiration for this film, and they said that they'd been watching a lot of anime and they wanted to do it live-action. And they did. They brought it in the forzen-action scenes you see in all the great mangas, they got the fight choreographer from Fist of Legend, and they trained the four main character for FOUR MONTHS STRAIGHT in martial arts. I apologize for my raving, but it's worth it. See this movie now. See this movie now. See this movie now.
"Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have by METHOS	Apr 1st, 1999 10:23:42 AM
I'm still shaking. I also noticed the Chicago references, but the previous post said something about Seattle? After the pure adrenaline rush of seeing this, I was left a quivering shell trying to remember how to operate a car. Cigarettes won't even help you after this. I think I'm gonna crack open Frank Miller's "Ronin" and "Hard Boiled." Some of you out there know what I mean. Man, I sure wish I'd taken the blue pill instead.
Chicago by 11811	Apr 1st, 1999 10:37:27 AM
The Matrix takes place in Chicago, sort of. The Wachowski brothers were raised in Chicago. Bound took place in Chicago (although was filmed in LA). But the street names HAD to be Chicago. C'mon, what other cities have subway stations at State and Balbo, or an intersection at Lake and Walbash? It's sure as shit not Seattle, although perhaps the Space Needle type building confused some poor souls. BTW, I do know about Miller's Ronin and Hard-Boiled (two of the kickassest gn's I've ever read). Sadly, they have nothing to do with Woo's or Frankenheimer's movies.
Surprised! by red5	Apr 1st, 1999 10:47:07 AM
I went to The Matrix last night with my brother, not knowing anything about it other than it starred Keanu Reeves (strike one), seemed to have some ultra-hip, sunglasses at night wearing, computer jock hacker story (strike 2), and a "soundtrack" with lots of pseudo techno and breakbeat stuff (the guy was right about the "Pi" soundtrack being far far superior). Strike 3. I went anyway. Why not. WOW! Glad I went. I was shocked. I was sure nothing this cool come come out of Hollywood with as much pre-fab baggage attached as The MAtrix seemed to carry. But I was very wrong. OK. So there were numerous wasted chances to insert good dialogue rather than tired one liners. It also seemed the editors could have done more work editing the actual film than the super cool fight sequences. Those are my only real gripes. I LOVED the anime style of this film. I think it's the first time American film captures that creepy other worldliness of anime. I also loved the numerous allusions to the Bible. Moses, Jesus, Judas, doubting THOMAS [Anderson], also the Who's Tommy (anyone else?), Neuromancer, Blade Runner. There were a lot of Dark City comparisons to be made, but that was a good film, too. So I can't complain. To sum up, go see this, be a little surprised it is, be a little forgiving, and have FUN! We need more films like this. And we will, in a mere 49 days!
You talked me into it by Foster Zygote	Apr 1st, 1999 10:52:05 AM
Well, having read all the positive reviews from seemingly intelligent folks I guess I must check this out this weekend. I'll keep in mind some of the potential weaknesses that a few have pointed out (remember that once Scott got to fix the studio created flaws, like the narration and the "happy ending", Blade Runner really was perfect, so that's a lot to live up to) but I'll keep an open mind. As long as it doesn't insult my intelligence and entertains me I'll be happy. After all Lost World had a weak plot, but for a cinema lover it was worth the price of admission just to see "real" dinosaurs. Not that Matrix's plot sounds weak from what you've said. I'll even forgive it's being a bit derivative if it's done well... As for my old friend JMS Forever: You really are sick aren't you? You really are obsessed with Star Wars? I mean you just can't shut up about it can you? You hate it so much and yet you visit every site about it to hurl junior high school insults at people. This site is about THE MATRIX and yet only the first few sentences of your post are about this movie that you claim to have enjoyed. Previously, only a couple of passing comments were made about Episode One, but you spent most of your MATRIX post slobbering about how much you hate Star Wars. Do burly men in white uniforms ever hold you down for injections? Man, the jocks must have beaten your ass pretty regularly in school for you to be such a warped little prick. Your comment about how "old" people were the only ones excited about Star Wars also revealed what I long suspected. You're a kid. Either an immature teen or a very immature early twenties. Probably too young for a lap dance (see the 60Minutes/Lucas talkbacks for an insight to JMS's "sex" life). So I'll say no more except that since you are socially retarded you have no idea how pathetic and childish you sound to real adults. This is my derniercri. So why don't you shut the fuck up and let people talk about The Matrix. I appologize to the others for going off subject.
Anime by Foster Zygote	Apr 1st, 1999 11:13:33 AM
Speaking of anime... What ever happened to the rumors I heard about Akira being made into a live action film? A while back I wondered if anyone could pull that off, but seeing the new technology I now know that it's possible. That would make an excellent "digital backlot" project. I got my copy of the "real" two hour, subtitled Akira back in '89. The Japanese actors do so much better than the Saturday morning "talent" in the English version. Also, can you immagine the reaction of some business major, Hollywood producer to Frank Miller's Ronin? I always felt that Millers graphic novels looked like great storyboards. WB should have made Dark Night Returns frame by frame. Man I haven't looked at some of that stuff in years but now I must go and dig it up and reread it. One rumor I'm glad never materialized was the Blade Runner sequel. That film was a perfect, self contained work with a perfect ending. A sequel just couldn't have lived up IMHO.
The next logical step.... by CaptEgo	Apr 1st, 1999 11:18:18 AM
Just a quick addendum to the posting of yon Sith Lord. My. thoughts exactly. Having been treated to the abominable (or a least utterly mediocre) treatments of Cyber-fare recently, I had begun to despair but with 'The Matrix' hope has sprung newborn into my heart. The deliverator, Raven, and Uncle Enzo may grace the screen without my having to groan in dismay. Now the next problem is to ensure that the project goes to someone who doesn't need a sugical treatment to remove their heads from their asses (that is to say someone like these wonderful Wachoski Bros). But like Morgan Freeman, I hope.
JMS by aeavery	Apr 1st, 1999 11:20:36 AM
As a man named the Wolf once said, "Let's not start sucking each other's dicks quite yet." JMS, you give so much credit to James Cameron for "creating" these new special effects for The Abyss and T2. Give me a fucking break. Neither Cameron nor George Lucas are solely responsible for making these effects. Cameron dropped out of college for christ's sake. You make it sound like he took Lucas' software and hardware and magically turned it into the T-1000. Maybe he had an idea, but IT WAS NOT James Cameron that MADE the freaking software. Give credit where credit is due--to the guys slaving behing the computers creating the effects that you whine about if they're from Lucas, and get-off on if they're from Cameron. Your constant bashing of Star Wars only helps to weaken your argument. Grow up.
Gimme the red pill and give it to me now! by buxley	Apr 1st, 1999 11:54:23 AM
Damn, this was a cool movie. I haven't felt a rush like this walking out of a movie theater since seeing Blade Runner, and Terminator. I gotta go see this again, tonight. See you in line! Oh, BTW, I also noticed that the elevator had a "Do not use Lift in case of fire." Cute. =)
The Matrix ROCKED!!! by JSG	Apr 1st, 1999 11:55:50 AM
Man what an eerie movie. The words I would choose to describe The Matrix are eerie, thought provoking, mind boggeling, a word that doesen't exist to try and describe the special effects and action sequences, amazing, fun, wierd, dark and it has a very high entertainment level. All in all the simple word that describes this movie the best is just plain COOL. I'll definitly be seeing this movie one or two more times. This movie compared if not betters every awesome special effect and action movie ever made. The Matrix is on my best list. GO SEE THIS MOVIE PEOPLE!!!
Reeves by Mushmouth	Apr 1st, 1999 12:26:57 PM
Keanu pulled it off. No complaints here. In fact, for those who have seen this monstrously cool flick, I think he was convincing in many tough scenes (the cubicle scene, ledge walking, "Goo Boy", etc.) So lay off my boy, he will keep getting big budget roles like this one as long as he keeps producing solid performances.
Dissapointment by PBMaX	Apr 1st, 1999 12:29:47 PM
If you want to know what the matrix was I
Unbelievably Kick-Ass!! by amywindsor	Apr 1st, 1999 12:47:09 PM
Went to see the movie last night-- my husband and I left in a daze, imagining ourselves walking around in slow-mo, wishing to god that we had floor length leather coats to wear and armed to the teeth with guns. This movie was so cool that though I went in with serious reservations about Keaunu Reeves, my first words after walking out of the theater were "Keanu has totally redeemed himself in my book." I do have one question which hopefully someone can answer.... Possible small SPOILER What do you think Trinity was talking about (in the subway near the end)about when she told Neo that everything the Oracle had told her had come true except one thing.... and then she gets whisked away through the telephone and Neo stays? Any thoughts??
Great movies by 11811	Apr 1st, 1999 12:59:08 PM
I have to say right off the bat that I feel that for me, a truly great movie is one that I can't stop thinking or talking about; that I want to dissect completely and disseminate all information about. This, ladies and gents, is that kind of movie. Now, more talking about this movie (and related topics). First, on my topic of production design: I am sick of the me-too production design used in futuristic movies. Most every movie featuring so-called notable porduction design seems to have come from the same, decaying template. This can be done well, as in Jeunet and Caro's DELICATESSEN and CITY OF LOST CHILDREN (these two films seem to have begat the look of DARK CITY, to some degree), but it seems to have been completely played out otherwise. Some movies, notably the FIFTH ELEMENT (which featured costumes by Jean-Paul Gaulthier, who made the costumes for CITY OF LOST CHILDREN), have featured bright and shiny future landscapes that are no less cool for their lack of gloom. Maybe filmmakers should try harder to present unique visions of the future world. The Matrix, apart from some cool ideas, like the immense pod towers, featured more recycling. Also, while on the subject of FIFTH ELEMENT, I was disappointed that the MATRIX seemed to echo the lame love conquers all theme (with the live-giving kiss between Neo and Trinity). That was a pretty poor way to forward the plot. What else? Well, I watched BOUND again last night. If you've never seen this movie, get it immediately. It is one of the most implausibly tightly scripted movies of all time. Also, the screening of MATRIX was my first opportunity to see the new PHANTOM MENACE trailer on an actual theatre screen. Wow! I really would like everyone to shut up about the potential lack of quality. Trust me, you'll end up loving every frame, including Jar-Jar (who I feel actually looks good on the big screen). So shut the hell up and enjoy the damn movie when it comes out.
Matrix by JaneDoe33	Apr 1st, 1999 12:59:55 PM
I don't think it was shit, but there were many, many problems with this film. The Wachowski Brothers have put together a really cheesy student film where every character is a testosterone-filled badass. The effect is embarrassing at times...very cheesy lines and over-the-top acting. There was no character development whatsoever. The exposition scenes droned on and on (a guy behind me was snoring - no lie, 9:30 Universal City theatre showing) for no reason. The plot was so convoluted that any explanation would be futile. Why bother? Instead they try to explain all these meaningless details, drawing the thing out for two and half hours! And just when you think they're finally going to end it, there's eight different climaxes...each more chessy than the next. These guys are talented with the action scenes, but they are not filmmakers. They have no subtlty, no discrimination in terms of cinematics. An action scene? Close-up, cut-cut-cut, close-up. A quiet exposition scene? Close-up, cut-cut-cut, close-up. Plus we saw all this same stuff with BLADE last year...slick packaging, several sequences of Kung-Fu fighting and a pulsating soundtrack by Prodigy (or whoever). But that movie played the cornball antics to the hilt...they were actually trying to be cheesy. The MATRIX is just the opposite...a fun little popcorn movie that takes itself waaaay too seriously. And all you guys are just eating it up, aren't you?
MATRIX STARTED OFF BRILLIANT, THEN TOOK A RIPE SHIT ON ITSELF! by Pookers	Apr 1st, 1999 01:06:00 PM
The first hour of this film was amazing, indeed, but then it resorted to shoot outs and ludicruous cliches--I don't know what the Bros. were thinking? It is the worst thing when a film's setup is pure genius and then it goes to the shitter. Oh well, another 1999 film down the shitter.
....WHOA! by TaleisenIII	Apr 1st, 1999 01:15:07 PM
Damn I liked this movie.. it just freakin kicked ass... sooooooo much.. yeah it was copied form lots of other movies.. but.. (and this is a big but!) it was done CORRECTLY!!! the way a movie should be done! When Neo (i love how all the names were so meaning-full and like double-entendre Neo=New= Keanu's charcter was "new" to the world as we were.. btw, does anyone know what the meaning of the ship's name was.. the ship was called "Nebuchanedzeer" which i know is from some myth.. i just cant remember which) awoke in the fluid-cocoon and looked up.. like.. my breathing stopped and i said "whoa"... just like that..whoa... this scene literally took my breath away! not because it was like surprising (because i had allready pretty much figured it out by then.. ) but because it was completely unexpected.. the magnitude of it.. the vast endless rows of cocoons.. WOW!!!!! god-damn!!!!! and the "Time-Slice" sequences ruled... in fact this whole movie ruled.. IGNORE anyone who says that the movie is slow.. they are just retarded and have zero attention spans. repeat after me: "STORY IS GOOD" "STORY IS GOOD" anyone who disagrees should take a look at a little crappy movie that came out last summer.. it was called Godzilla, and it sucked donkey.... You can't have it both ways ok people? if you want a story (which i know at heart you do!) then you have to have the attention span to appreciate the story. Nuff' said.
not The One... by VarietyWriter	Apr 1st, 1999 01:16:36 PM
SPOILER INFO (so don't read unless you've already seen the film): An observation and theory: Did anybody else besides me wonder if Neo really is The One? To me, it seems as if he's actually the GUARDIAN of The One. This makes lots of sense when you consider the Japanese samurai analogies and inspiration that make up the characters' relationships (the plot's setup seems to chronicle the arrival of a ronin who will one day protect a young charge). I believe The Oracle was right (and her vision of Neo having to choose between saving himself or Morpheus is an event that has yet to come), only this truth about his actual role would be revealed in a sequel. But I would have much preferred it if the Wachowskis stated this in the film. For example, when Neo comes back to life, it would have been kick-ASS if this revelation came to him: Head Agent (with shock and anger): "WHO do you think you are? (sarcastic) The 'One'?" Neo: "No, I'm not The One -- I see that now. (with newfound realization and confidence) I'm the GUARDIAN...of The One who has yet to come. In the meantime, I'm here to start leveling the playing field. I'm here to FUCK you all over." (Insert thunderous roar from the audience here.) Here's hoping "The Matrix" does well enough to warrant the two sequels already planned, and that this planned trilogy doesn't go the same route that the one for "The 5th Element" did (which is nowhere).
He is the one, The oracle lied by PBMaX	Apr 1st, 1999 01:38:27 PM
Morpheus says later in the film that the Oracle said, "only what he needed to hear." Meaning that she lied to him. Morpheus didn't have to die, but only the one could save him. She told him he wasnt the one, so keanu would think morpheus was more inportant than him and try to save him. By doing this he gains the confidence needed to beleive he is the one, and thus become the one. That's what happened. IF you ask me he's the one, One shitty actor that is.
You've got to love this by Evil Dead	Apr 1st, 1999 01:54:54 PM
I hear what everybody that says that they didn't love the movie is saying. The exposition in the middle was a bit too long, however it was essential for the plot. This movie definitely needs a seqeul. It feels like a trilogy. The ending for me represented that as the "One" Neo can break the boundaries of the matrix and explore space. Hopefully, liberating the citizens of Zion from living near the the core of the Earth. Neo's speech made me respect the character much more. Throughout the movie I was saying "Wake up. Except what you are and kick ass!!!" then I realised that I would be feeling the same thing he would if I found out the truth. This is a total fanboy film. It is a complete fanboy filmfest from frame one. From cyber-punk, anime, Woo, Hark, Li, and Lee. Sure some of the Kung-Fu posturing was a little funny(to those who don't realize that Keanu was doing real martial arts stances), but it was very accurate. The great Wong Fei Hong pose was great as was the Bruce Lee parody. Keanu immitating Bruce? The Wachoski's definitely set out to make a fun film and that's what they did.
Never said they weren't real martial arts stances.. by PBMaX	Apr 1st, 1999 02:13:15 PM
All I said was the keanu in the stance is a joke. You focus on his eyes, and all you see is a weakling. He couldn't fight his way out of a cardboard box. Why not have someone like Jet Li (he speaks just as good english as keanu, even if he would have to learn from scratch). Jet Li, could come across as weak and ignorant and unskilled in the beginning (especially to a US audience), then after he learned he would kick crazy ass. Let Jet Li get in one of those stances, then focus on his eyes, and you might just piss your pants. You know that just by the pure focus and intensity in his eyes that this IS the ONE. Keanu was just very unconvincing. I was laughing just watching him run at the end of the film.
in the money by johnb	Apr 1st, 1999 02:59:34 PM
OK, I have read all the posts and I am wondering why if this is such an awesome film, why I never heard jack about it except on AICN. I project about 50 million for Matrix, and about 650 million for Star Wars. That's where it counts. Trailer looked dumb, especially when Fishburne jumped off the building and landed on the other building and you lost sight of him so the stunt guy could come in...
Perfection achieved by Maul99	Apr 1st, 1999 03:06:03 PM
This movie kicked so much ass. Keanu Reeves has never been better in any film, and Laurence Fishburne is just....the man. The Brothers have created a science-fiction classic, something beyond cool. And, I'm officially going on record as saying that I am in love with Carrie Anne Moss. Hopefully, Joel Silver will continue to produce films such as this, films from young directors/writers who are willing to push the envelope in the action/adventure genre.
Matrix opens big - over 4 mill by BackstagePass	Apr 1st, 1999 03:16:39 PM
Well, regardless of whether I thought the film was the greatest thing since "Citizen Kane" or not, a lot of people went to see it on a Wednesday. Made a ton of money opening day. Question is, will it continue? Check out all of the grosses for yesterday at http://www.backstage-pass.com TheKJB
johnb by aeavery	Apr 1st, 1999 03:33:32 PM
Have you read any newspapers lately? Every one that I have has given The Matrix 3-4 stars. Go and see the movie for yourself before you start bashing it because people here liked it. And I don't think that was a stunt guy jumping over the buildings.
YES! Make Snow Crash by Destro	Apr 1st, 1999 04:30:24 PM
To the above who mentioned Snow Crash: I loved The Matrix, I thought it was a really good movie, but the entire time I kept thinking about how much COOLER a Snow Crash adaptation _could_ be. Now that would truly be a kick ass movie. If for no other reason than it would be an excellent tongue in cheek counter to all the paranoia elements of movies and shows like these nowadays.
whoa by dan-E	Apr 1st, 1999 05:25:12 PM
What an amazing film. I"m jaded to the point where I think "Titanic" was overrated (it was a good film and liked it, but come on... but it's just me so let's keep the flaming to a minimum :)) but this movie gave me multiple geek-spasms . Big ones. I may be the only guy out there who think that Keanu is royally cool given the right material, i.e. action films. No he won't win an Oscar, or a Golden Globe (he may be a contender for the Blockbuster award though...) but dang, he can light up the screen. He did more than "not suck" in this. In fact, the cast as a whole was like, incredible. You have give them points for taking three months to do some hard-core Kung-Fu and actually make it look good, instead of copping out with stunt doubles. And as a former martial arts student, I can say that those poses and moves are the actual ones taught in actual studios. The special effects were totally awesome. The hand to hand combat, the shoot-outs, the slow motion all rocked! Laurence Fishburne was cool, even though the zen-like pseudo-Yoda type dialogue did get heavy at times. And OH DUDE Carrie-Anne Moss is so so SOO HOT! I know someone said they're in love her but dammit, I saw her first! By the way, whoever said that this is supposed to be a trilogy? Oh gawd let it be so. Go see the movie!!!
Better then all summer films of 97' by Clockwork Taxi	Apr 1st, 1999 05:34:11 PM
THE MATRIX KICKS ASSSSSSS!!!! I need this movie on dvd!
About the cliches by Brian A Thomas	Apr 1st, 1999 05:35:52 PM
A great many clishes were played up. Why? Becouse the world is made by a computer AI who has no real concept of reality. The bad guys lack character development becouse they are software, not real people plugged into the Matrix. The brothers W are byond amazing. First they make Jennifer Tilly, not only survivable, they actually make a role for her that makes her look good. They have done the same with Kenu now. To sum it up, the Matrix kicks ass. I'll be buying it first thing when it comes to DVD, not to mention watching it several more times at the theater. See ya,
Matrix for Breakfast by bswise	Apr 1st, 1999 06:33:54 PM
Glad was I to have avoided the spoilers on this flick. That singular plot detail of what the Matrix actually is (and is not) makes the first act delicous neo-noir fun. Here, the Brothers W. take a page or two from Lynch, similarly obsessed with decrepit hotel rooms, disturbing phone calls and shiny black autos driven by viperous chicks in latex. OK, so just when you think you
It's Anime, without the animation! by Essemtee	Apr 1st, 1999 06:48:06 PM
It truly is a live-action Anime translation! It's what Ghost In The Shell would be, if the epic manga novel was translated correctly, instead of the okay but dull chopped up animated version. It takes itself seriously, it doesn't dumb itself down for the audience, the lead characters are smart, the plot is smart, the bad guys are bad-ass, the effects are amazing, the stunts are incredible. This is what Hollywood needs, it's what the beleaguered WB has needed for a long damn time! Carrie-Ann Moss is a goddess, Fishburne has theee coooolest voice and attitude for the job, and Keanu... well alright, I was impressed! It isn't Blade Runner for the 90's, it is The Matrix. And it's a damn good shot in the arm for inducing all the teen crap that plagued the theatres in January, February and March. Unreal.
90's movies suck by PoisonSkin23	Apr 1st, 1999 06:48:13 PM
The Matrix sucks and I don't even have to see it to beleive it. This weekend go rent Barry Lyndon or Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. I wish Hal Ashby was still alive.
More MATRIX thoughts... by Epsilon3	Apr 1st, 1999 06:48:47 PM
I just got back from having seen this film for the second time. Even better! And I take it back, there's nothing wrong with the pacing. To all the folks who are complaining about bits and pieces of the film being ripped off from other films I say, well no kidding. Every story has elements of basic plots that are as old as time. It's not ripping off. THE MATRIX owes a lot to DARK CITY (though it was written before BOUND if what I read was right), DARK CITY owes a lot to THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN, etc., etc. Films are texts like any other, and like all texts in the real world, they build off of what has come before. But that's not the reason I wanted to post again. I wanted to mention how seeing this film really made me sad that Stanley Kubrick died before making AI. I think that the time has come for serious consideration of artificial intelligence in film. Of course it's been done before (everything from METROPOLIS to 2001 to BLADE RUNNER to the TERMINATOR films, etc.) but I think it was time to move forward. I like what THE MATRIX had to say about networked immersive environments and the relationship between humanity and machines, but Kubrick's AI would have just blown it all out of the water. It was supposed to be based on Brian Aldiss' "Super Toys Last All Summer Long" which is a great short story. I don't know, it's just quite sad is all. Does anyone know if a script or even a synopsis of how Kubrick was going to expand the story exists? I know he and Ian Watson worked on rewriting the story for the screen.--- Kudos to all who mentioned SNOW CRASH. Though I want to wait until the NEUROMANCER film comes out before I'd like to see Stephenson adapted. Too much potential to screw things up-- And to all you guys who are drooling over Carrie-Anne Moss--Do you know any living, breathing women? I mean, yes, she's beautiful, but more importantly, Trinity was a great character, and Carrie-Anne Moss obviously worked very hard to pull Trinity off (I whole-heartedly agree with the person who said she could have been Molly!). There's more to actresses than beauty. It seems as if women actors aren't taken too seriously around here.
Why is it there's always someone who thinks they're "above" popu by Rico Suave	Apr 1st, 1999 06:49:55 PM
Anyway, The Matrix was a very good flick. Best think Keanu Reeves has done ever. Even the "whoa" was well placed, and obviously a dig at his Bill & Ted character. The FX were well done (I wanted to see more of the human "power plant" - freaky stuff), and the martial arts was top notch. Halfway through the movie, I realized that the entire story wouldn't be resolved. Let's hope for a sequel! FYI, "Nebuchanezzer" was a Biblical king. Not quite sure why the ship was named that - has nothing to do with that story.
I'm first! Whoo hoo! by Jobu	Apr 1st, 1999 07:20:07 PM
Okay, well, I got two words about this movie; "It Rocks!" It's more than I thought and not as bad as I had previously heard. I'm gonna vote a 10. It's my kind of movie.
HARRY YOU BIG FAT IDIOT by Scum Punch	Apr 1st, 1999 07:33:37 PM
Harry, you are retarded. Was the Matrix entertaining? YES. Was the fight choreography and effects kick ass? YES. But your shitty ass "mini-review" makes it sound like it is the best movie on the fucking planet, which it is NOT. Keanu's acting, some huge plot holes and the "love conquers all" shit ending makes it at best, an average movie. Don't get me wrong, I liked it ... but on the sci-fi geiger meter of movies, The Matrix was on the same level as The Fifth Element, which is no where near as good as you've made it sound. HARRY, YOU ARE A DUMB ASS. If I were fourteen, I would think that The Matrix was the best movie in the world. But I'm not. Obviously, HARRY IS THE BIGGEST, FATTEST FOURTEEN YEAR OLD IN THE WORLD. EBERT IS GOING TO RIP YOU APART!!!!!!.
MATRIX by retrostar monkey	Apr 1st, 1999 07:54:01 PM
Great film,runs a bit long in the middle but great fx and not bad acting. I Wonder if the boys will get into legal shit for plot theft ,not that i care theres not a fresh idea left in the world its all about marketing the last true art form. Mr Smith has my vote for bad guy of the year! WHOAH!! I KNOW KUNG FU!!!!!!!!
MATRIX by retrostar monkey	Apr 1st, 1999 07:54:20 PM
Great film,runs a bit long in the middle but great fx and not bad acting. I Wonder if the boys will get into legal shit for plot theft ,not that i care theres not a fresh idea left in the world its all about marketing the last true art form. Mr Smith has my vote for bad guy of the year! WHOAH!! I KNOW KUNG FU!!!!!!!!
Fun time by Tavis Bickle	Apr 1st, 1999 08:22:02 PM
Does every depiction of the future have to be monochromatic? The movie presents us with an intriguingly deep premise, then drops it for one over-the-top action sequence after another. The choreographed Hong Kong violence is fun and well done, but it didn't exhilerate me. It's the sudden, senseless, jarring violence of Scorsese that gives me a jolt. If you don't know what I mean, watch the end of Mean Streets.
What do you get when you cross Termanator and Dark City? by Musca_domestica	Apr 1st, 1999 09:00:45 PM
You get the Matrix, an enjoyable well-done movie. It is good but not phenomenal. It reminded me of the 5th element, it started out slow, speed up, reached a great climax, and then the ending bogged it down. The same exact "Love is everything theme" It defiantly is one of the top ten Sci-Fi movies released in the 90's but it could have been better. (on another note I just saw the Fruit Loops commercial that parodies Alien, does anyone else think this is just WRONG?)
Gripes. by TheCrawlingChaos	Apr 1st, 1999 09:49:55 PM
Well earlier I said I loved this film, and I do. But here are some gripes. Why did it have to have some stupid love-type scene? Did she even talk to the Keanu character for more than 5 [cumulative] minutes?? Keanu's acting did have some lapses. I forget the exact moments (2 or 3) but one, I believe, was when he just got into the simulation and everything was white. I think he sounded like a surfer spotting a really huge wave. Why oh why did they tease me with "drunken boxing" and all those other martial arts and not show any of them exept really really traditional styles?? I would of loved to see some drunken style stuff (I think I've seen it in a movie once but I can't remember which). And everyone that said the poses (while fighting) looked silly were only half-right. They looked idiotic. Especially when right before they posed they waved their (mostly Keanu, since the camera was on him most of the time) arms around like a windmill. That's all I can think of right now. But this doesn't change my feelings about the movie. Of course this does mean that the movie can every become "classic" because as time goes on those windmill-arm moves won't look any cooler.
B- (spoilers) by CASE	Apr 1st, 1999 10:36:50 PM
Any movie with Keanu Reeves in it automatically makes me want to avoid it. However I made it down to the illustrious Lowe's Uptown theater in Washington DC to catch a 4 o'clock showing of THE MATRIX. It was pretty good. I wouldn't give it the honor of being compared to BLADERUNNER however. THE MATRIX had some intense shoot outs, some decent fight scenes, so-so acting, an ambitious script, and some really impressive special effects. First, the shoot outs: There were some intense shoot outs that made you want to cheer, but not many. Most of the shoot outs consisted of people shooting an exponential amount of bullets at each other with little or no accuracy at all. Can anyone aim properly in the matrix? The fight scenes, while better than most Hollywood action films, still seemed slower than snail turd. Keanu kicks like a mule...a dead mule. His kicks could've been blocked by a quadriplegic goalie. A few more months of training were needed, but I was somewhat impressed. Perhaps more wires were needed instead. The acting in this film is sufficient. Keanu only mildly annoyed me. Only a few things in the film really bugged me. Neo broght back to life by the power of Trinity's love. Good god, how sappy can you get? The fifth element is love! ahem. Neo. The One. Neo...One. Did anyone else catch this cleverly (
Saw the Matrix by TC	Apr 1st, 1999 10:59:09 PM
HOLY FUCK!!!
Saw the Matrix by TC	Apr 1st, 1999 10:59:18 PM
HOLY FUCK!!!
Some of you weaker ones have it wrong..Mwuahaha!!! by Corran Fox Horn	Apr 1st, 1999 11:12:14 PM
I saw this Wednesday night, at the latest show possible...and this is the first movie to live up to and surpass my most incredible anticipation possible! This is my most favorite movie ever. Duh, it's a great anime/comic book movie made live-action. It full of intricate plot, high-concept, and also the base low-concept joys of geekdom -- coolness, sunglasses, black lethar, cyber-punk, post-apocalyptisim, Woo-esque action, Hong Kong martial arts, etc...This is an incredible world which completly immersed me, and need to be expanded. It was flawless, and wonderful. Everyone was there character, although none stood out too much except for Hugo Weaving in a wonderfully satrical parody of the government agent...these Men In Black make Sonnenfeld's MIBs look like little stick figures drawn by a four year old! This to me is what Star Wars was to many 22 years ago...and I'm one of the biggest SW fans and collectors ever (trust me), but this movie is better then Star Wars! Ebert complained about the last third...well ha! I nearly died when Keanu and Trinity whipped out the hardware and shot up the lobby, which reminds me - Keanu actually delivered a few funny lines. Hugo Weaving's Agent Smith picked up the rest, and good ole' Joe delivering a couple. Anyway this is just a litle rambling on a superb (and allegorical) movie! I can't wit to see it again and again...if this isn't a big hit I'll curse Warners for favoring Wild Wild West (too bad Star Wars will close Matrix's window of time...TPM will have to be expection-exceeding of all our dreams to beat the Matrix).
wake up Neo, the Matrix has you by Hotwire	Apr 1st, 1999 11:14:19 PM
why oh why must we complain? we are handed a most enjoyable film, one that left me with a 5 hour mainline-adrenilen rush after seeing, and we have to bitch and piss and moan. yes the "I love you Neo" bit was week, but thats realy the only problem I had. I think people who complain about everything after the 1st 30 min are realy upset that everything they though/beleaved/expected was blown to nano. I loved it, it was one HELL of a plot twist. btw, people who complain about keonu's fighting skills remember, YES he did spend 4 months of everyday training in kung fu but it was cinima kung fu, not the real deal. besides, it still looked damn cool. the guy earler who thought that the Agents wernt scary? not everyone is gonn thinks so, but to people who get into stuff like Xfiles, and consparicy theory stuff will see a bunch of MIBs as satan himself comming for them. the movie does borrow from Terminator, but it dosent realy steal from it. everyone from Hubbord, to Hinlen, to some of our curent sci-fi writers have done the man vs machine theme, its old as the computer, older even. btw thats somthing that makes me sad... somthing like this is done with such class and detication to story, and source. while Starship Troopers is torn apart to make a rip off of a movie that riped it off. back tothe story, the Orical told neo that while he might not BE the one, he had the POTENTAL to be the one, he was waiting for somthing and she didnt know what that was. I think that what realy happened was in that moment between life and death when his mind opened to the infinate he realised the power at his hands and used it to save his own life(well its better than "I love you dont dieL) anyway this is a exelent movie for someone who likes sci-fi its great for someone who likes a twisting turning plot. its a great movie for someone who likes a fun move. its not for someone looking for the holy grail of cinima. its not for someone who hates keonu. its not for someone with who will compair it to every movie and book they have ever read. go to the theator, watch the movie, enjoy yourself and stop complaining, its only a damn movie!
Mental Orgasm! by cleo	Apr 2nd, 1999 12:33:58 AM
Holy Smokes! That wasn't a movie, that was an acid trip! Unbelievable. I went to this movie basically so I could make out with this gorgeous red-head I met at this office, but I'll be damned if I completely forgot about her during the course of this work of brillant insanity! Who the hell are these brothers (the guys who wrote this film)? I think this film quite frankly is ahead of its time. I think most of the audience, including myself and the my female friend, were a little overwhelmed by the sheer amount of ideas that were stuffed into this movie. Well still got 47 days between now and the big one. That gives me time to catch the Matrix at least 47 more times, if not more...
It was ok by Cleese	Apr 2nd, 1999 01:47:01 AM
Well, ever since the accident known as Independence Day, I have tried to not get all hyped up about movies that look exciting (same is currently going with Phantom Menace with me) The Matrix I will admit, I got a lil slipped and somewhat hyped up about, and darnitt, Independence Day deja-vu, I left the theatre wanting to have liked it, but now, about an hour after I saw the film, I am thinking I was let down. It was alright though, I'll give you that though, I was entertained. I'll tell you this though, some guy sitting in front of me fell asleep, snoring and all. He more then made up for the humor that lacked in the film. Welp, I am glad I work in a theatre and get to see films for free, because if I had paid for this, I think I would have been feeling more empty as I left (unless it was a half price matinee, WOOHOO!!) Oh well, my lil ramble. 2 Stars.
Character names: coincidence? by dan-E	Apr 2nd, 1999 02:29:39 AM
One thing that I found humorous was the names of the bad guys. Now I know the Brothers Wachaowski wrote this script quite a few years ago so I'm going to chalk it up to complete coincidence, becuase I just know they wouldn't resort to blatantly cheesy humor. The CIA-ish men in black. They did have almost the identical attire as agents Kay and Jay from MIB. What I found funny was that Hugo Weaving's name was Agent "Smith" and one of the other agents was Agent "Jones." Anyone else catch this and get a chuckle over it? (The third guy is Agent Brown, if you're curious.)
Tarantino reaction to The Matrix by cookiepuss	Apr 2nd, 1999 05:53:12 AM
Sat next to the uber-cool Quentin Tarantino tonight at Mann's Chinese Theater for the 10:30 show. As well as confirming that he is a gracious, fun and down-to-earth individual, I can report here on the AICN talkback that he absolutely LOVED the Matrix. He laughed louder, whooped louder and started the applause several times after a few bravura showcase moments. And, best of all, his jaw was hanging open at some of the effects and fight scenes and shaking his head at the impossibility of what was on that screen. Sorry...but QT flipping out over this flick is better than "Two Thumbs Up" anyday of the week.
Snow Crash by Marvin Dorfler	Apr 2nd, 1999 07:56:55 AM
I can't believe only two people are running with the "Snow Crash" thread. Only three of us have read it? That seems outrageous! I haven't seen "Matrix" yet but judging from the previews and reviews, it seems an awesome new language has been developed for exposition. Someone needs to utilize that technology on behalf of Stephenson's kick-ass cybercool masterpiece. What a trip that book is - I can only imagine what the film would look like....
The Matrix!!!! by Nordling	Apr 2nd, 1999 08:04:00 AM
Oh, man, I had such a fucking blast at this movie. I needed this. The Matrix was so COOL! At last, for it's been a while that an action/sci-fi film actually worked. Yes, the Wachowski Bros. took a lot of themes from other work. I DON"T FUCKING CARE. This was a terrific ride, and what really surprised me was the story, and how well it worked. SPOILER And people might think the whole Trinity "my love makes you the One" thing was corny, well, fuck you, it worked for me, and your opinion is insignificant because of that. end SPOILER And to JMS, who feels the need to bash Star Wars when no one even brought it up...stop eating those mushrooms in the basement. Just because your keepers won't let you see sun doesn't mean you can take advantage of the situation. You must be the world's foremost expert on eating Cheetos and masturbating at the same time. But how do you keep that keyboard clean? I'm sorry, but the keepers must make you stay, the blasphemous imitation of human life that you are, so that society can live its normal life. So bye.
Origin Story by tv`snick	Apr 2nd, 1999 11:48:58 AM
The Brothers have said (I'm going with an _American Cinematographer_ article here) that _The Matrix_ is Neo's "origin story", like the beginnings of Daredevil or Spiderman. Anyway, this might explain some parts people thought were "slow" and the not-so-ending ending. I hope The Matrix makes a ton of money, cause then we can have a sequel with a true quest, battle sequences with giant, hyper-intelligent machines, the inevitable human-machine hybrid, and, of course, Zion. There was a lot of potential in the characters created in The Matrix, but the movie itself was just a 85/100 type flick. The 100/100 is hopefully to come. And, for God's Sake, replace Keanu. He can look like someone else in the Matrix, right? Make him look like someone who can act. John Cusack or Jason Scott Lee. Anyway, now there are a pair of brothers who can make good flicks consistantly whose names don't end in "Coen."
Snow Crash by Epsilon3	Apr 2nd, 1999 11:49:09 AM
Someone with the appropriate power in Hollywood needs to get on a phone with Neal Stephenson and the Wachowski Brothers and get a SNOW CRASH script in development and have the Brothers Wachowski turn it into a film. THE MATRIX has proved they could do it, though I'd rather someone else (Stephenson himself, perhaps?) Do the adaptation.
Neil Gaiman story at the MATRIX web site. by Epsilon3	Apr 2nd, 1999 12:01:54 PM
My friend just sent me this: there's a new story by Neil Gaiman (who is fucking brilliant) posted at www.whatisthematrix.com. While I had checked this site out before, I missed the story, so I thought perhaps others had too. For those who are interested: http://www.whatisthematrix.com /cmp/neil_g.html (I don't know if this site allows html or not in posts, so if it looks funny, that's why).
The Matrix was okay by The-0	Apr 2nd, 1999 12:47:08 PM

O V E R R A T E D !!! by utz_world	Apr 2nd, 1999 01:09:14 PM
if ever there was a more overrated movie to come out in my lifetime, The Matrix has GOT to be the one! (no pun intended) all the hype and the buzz about the effects and the action had me excited...but upon checking my watch a FRIGGIN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES INTO THE DOGGONE MOVIE i was wondering where all the action was. then i found it...and i was not impressed! The Replacement Killers had more action than this...Face/Off had more...and BETTER...action than this! when are you geeks gonna learn that great CGI and slo-mo action sequels don't constitute a good movie?! less story-more action would have given The Matrix a thumbs-up from me. oh well...a month and a half to go....
The Matrix was okay by The-0	Apr 2nd, 1999 01:10:55 PM
I saw the film last Thursday and I'm sorry to say I wasn't impressed as the majority seems to be. The pacing was entirely too unbalanced for me. Action, then a severe amount of time to build things up, so much so that when the action sequnces start, they don't give me enough excitement in proportion to the anticipation of the climax. I wasn't the only one feeling this way as the crowd seemed to be waiting for something that they never got. On the plus side, Keanu was decent and Fishburne was cool as a cybernetic shaolin monk. The effects were very well-done. The concepts were intriguing and somewhat frightening (especially the scene where robotic insects were harvesting humans in a field.) However, the development didn't do it for me. Also, someone pointed out how this resembled a couple animes and forgot a title. In a classic OAV series called Megazone 23, a young man is told by a computerized female program that the era (1985 I believe) he's living in isn't real, it's really 500 years in the future, and he has to help determine humanity's destiny before a race using weapons with flesh-tearing robotic tentacles kills everyone on board. Also, he has to deal with a big & ruthless military agent who kicks ass wherever he goes. Sound familiar? All in all, I'd give this two and a half out of four stars. Worth seeing once on a big screen for the effects, and that's about it.
The Matrix - One Of The Greatest Films of All Time by Cyrus	Apr 2nd, 1999 03:37:06 PM
The Matrix takes elements from Terminator, Dark City, The X-Files, anime, and mythologies and other sources and builds on them with it's own original concepts, creating a truly awesome cinematic masterpiece. The story has true meaning, is deep and shocking at it's core, and the characters are not simply plastic action figures. I find it really sad that some of you say it was too slow. MTV has truly rotted the minds of many of us. If it doesn't have machine gun cuts like Armageddon I guess it's a snooze huh. If you didn't like The Matrx you should at least appreciate it's attempt at greatness, which in my opinion it achieved and exceeded. It's stylish, well executed and moving. Unlike empty sci fi mass market pictures like MIB, ID4, etc it actually has meaning. This is art. And incredible art it is. Magnificent. It's been a really long time since I enjoyed a film as much as I have the Matrix, perhaps not since Star Wars. Don't mind the criticism, even Star Wars and Terminator, even Titanic was torn apart by some. That doesn't in anyway discredit their validity as incredible motion pictures.
The Matrix - One Of The Greatest Films of All Time by Cyrus	Apr 2nd, 1999 03:37:11 PM
The Matrix takes elements from Terminator, Dark City, The X-Files, anime, and mythologies and other sources and builds on them with it's own original concepts, creating a truly awesome cinematic masterpiece. The story has true meaning, is deep and shocking at it's core, and the characters are not simply plastic action figures. I find it really sad that some of you say it was too slow. MTV has truly rotted the minds of many of us. If it doesn't have machine gun cuts like Armageddon I guess it's a snooze huh. If you didn't like The Matrx you should at least appreciate it's attempt at greatness, which in my opinion it achieved and exceeded. It's stylish, well executed and moving. Unlike empty sci fi mass market pictures like MIB, ID4, etc it actually has meaning. This is art. And incredible art it is. Magnificent. It's been a really long time since I enjoyed a film as much as I have the Matrix, perhaps not since Star Wars. Don't mind the criticism, even Star Wars and Terminator, even Titanic was torn apart by some. That doesn't in anyway discredit their validity as incredible motion pictures.
Sorry About The Double Post - Said Doc Contains No Data by Cyrus	Apr 2nd, 1999 03:39:26 PM

BEST FILM FRICKIN EVER!! by Bob the Tomato	Apr 2nd, 1999 06:54:57 PM
Now, I am a filmmaker and I for one stood up and cheered, laughed and sat gawking in wonder at this incredible feet of filmmaking. Make Spider-Man please!!
Cameron and ILM by Vilos Cohaagen	Apr 2nd, 1999 09:28:27 PM
This crap about Cameron directing ILM into the CGI technology we have today is bullshit. Lucas and ILM started the development of CGI into live action with more realism with Young Sherlock Holmes which was done by Pixar, a division of Lucasfilm at the time. Lucas later sold Pixar because the overhead of the company was expensive and the call for CGI at the time wasn't big because it wasn't that great at that time except for the stained glass man scene in YSH. He used what he learned from Pixar and incorporated it into ILM. The morphing technology used in Terminator 2 was developed by ILM for Willow. Cameron had nothing to do with it. All Cameron did was push the envelope, but the envelope was developed by Lucas and ILM. Jurrasic Park set the standard for CGI that has really not yet been surpassed. Cameron is a good visualist and technical director but he can't write to save his ass and he's known as the biggest prick in Hollywood. His over inflated ego is even bigger after Titanic which means he'll just make another technically and visually great piece of pablum and make millions more.
My only complaint, and it's sooo valid! by mrmagwitch	Apr 2nd, 1999 10:12:17 PM
One problem wrogn with the damn flawless rompstomp called matrix, and it's the same problem i find in other movies like payback and mod squad.... THE PREVIEWS GIVE AWAY TOO MUCH maybe it's just me but it seems lately all of the cool action sequences are blown in the previews..anyone else have this problem or is it just my photographic memory? Magwitch of the Nine
What do you bet Harry never finishes his review... by Martin Q Blank	Apr 3rd, 1999 03:11:10 AM
C'mon, please do. (Note to Harry: Y'know, sorry to be vicious but if you're gonna be on Siskel and Ebert you'd better get some practise in, and actually write a review or two. I know it's not easy to run this page, but what do you do with your time?)
HOW FAR DOES JMS TAKE IT UP THE ASS? by JJB	Apr 3rd, 1999 03:15:15 AM
Excuse me, but what planet is this guy from? ILM was, has, and always will be the state-of-the art in SFX. Now actually ILM started the modern era of CGI not with YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES(although that's pretty close)but with STAR TREK II. Remember that little plot device known as "The Genesis Tape"? That happens to be the first CGI sequence in modern motion picture history, which being circa 1982 makes it roughly 8 or 9 years before Cameron's T2, which used ILM(as well as many other effects houses) anyway. Now for those less educated and just plain stupid(see the category JMS fits into?) there WAS NO SFX INDUSTRY WHEN STAR WARS WAS FIRST MADE IN 1977!!! It was only due to a guy named Lucas who took the risk to start his own SFX company that we're even having this FUCKING DISCUSSION IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! There, got that out of my system. Now speaking of THE MATRIX...Haven't seen it yet, but I'm thinking I should just play a lot of METAL GEAR SOLID and watch a bunch of Dennis Miller or Timex Watch ads. Or maybe I should just go see the Best Picture of the Year while its still in theatres...I'd hate to miss a chance to see Saving Private Ryan again.
To JJB by Vilos Cohaagen	Apr 3rd, 1999 08:37:15 AM
Your point about Star Trek 2 maybe right, but when I refered to Young Sherlock Holmes it was in the aspect of merging a computer generated character into a live action scene realistically and not like Tron or Last Starfighter which had bad graphics. Star Trek 2 just had the animation used in a demo scene in the film. It wasn't matted into a scene. The Sci-Fi channel had a special once about CGI and Dennis Muren and some others listed YSH as the turning point for CGI. You're right about Lucas creating the special effects industry as we know it today. The water snake effect in The Abyss which Cameron likes to take credit for developing was already in the works before him. The ILM guys just took a wireframe snake they were playing with and changed the surface to a water like surface. All Cameron did was come up with the idea. The technicians did the work and development. Well at least you, I and some others on this board have the wisdom and knowledge about what really happened so we can make sure the truth gets out.
The future by Foster Zygote	Apr 3rd, 1999 09:38:58 AM
As someone else already pointed out, the fun in Episode One won't be trying to figure out what's an effect but rather what's not. 95% digital images! Wow! Of course, as with any cutting edge visual technology there will be some elements which will work better than others. But the elements in this film (from what little we've seen so far) are far more seamless than anything that's come before. The days of filmed image composites are over. ILM will change the standard of film visuals forever. The stuff we saw in the Special Editions was just practice for what was to come. I for one refuse to criticize anything about the effects untill after I've seen the finished product on the big screen. After all, we know that the stuff we saw on 60 Minutes was in a variety of stages of completion. I'm basing my expectations on the stuff that was obviously complete. As for the future: As good as this stuff looks now, imagine what it'll look like by Episode Three, or twenty years from now.
Matrix, coolest pic this year by Unico	Apr 3rd, 1999 11:59:40 AM
I was intrigued from the first moment that I glimpsed the teaser trailer months ago. I certainly was not dissapointed once I witnessed the fully glory of this extraordinary work of cinematic art. Everything was well done and the film moved nicely. The special effects and action sequences are ground breaking and jaw dropping. The story is original and intelligent. It leaves one room for food for thought. The production design was excellent and the acting was impressive. I didn't mind the love angle because I knew from the first scene of the movie that would happen. Trinity was already half in love with Neo before they ever met up. She had been watching him for sometime. The part where Neo wakes up from his eternal slumber and the field of harvested fetuses were scenes that gave chills up and down my back. The thing that kept me thinking is this could potentially happen. It's just one path of the future in the realm of possibilities. Overall the Matrix was astonishing,Kicked major ass, was an incredible theatre going experience. Go see this movie ASAP in a movie theatre to fully appreciate the film as a whole. It will be a sensory event that won't be easily forgotten. In fact see it more than once for clarity.
I liked The Matrix by Dawson	Apr 3rd, 1999 01:57:23 PM
I have to admit, THE MATRIX was awesome! I was previously a nay-sayer about the Bros. Wachowski and their abilities. I may be alone in saying this, but I still hate BOUND. But THE MATRIX was just too cool to cut on. I won't even complain that they borrowed a lot from other movies. Who doesn't? This flick was cool, and I especially liked the overall Zen Buddhist idea behind it. These guys should stick with Sci-Fi!
The bets movie ever. by Corran Fox Horn	Apr 3rd, 1999 04:41:56 PM
These dudes sucessfully combined and JUSTIFIED without gratuity all their geek loves of cool shades, sexy black leather, martial arts, hong kong action(thank you Mr. Woo), comic-books, anime, cyber-punk-post-apocalyptism and big guns with a wonderfully intricate and unique world and storyline. A flawless blend of high and low concepts. And great special effects! My top favorite movie ever! I'm going to see it three times in the theater!
Awesome HBO Matrix Special! by cookiepuss	Apr 3rd, 1999 06:09:18 PM
Don't miss the HBO behind-the-scenes documentary of The Matrix - it's awesome! TONS of cool material - even better than the Lucas 60 minutes story.
Unbeliveable by the Orangeman	Apr 3rd, 1999 07:19:20 PM
Wow, oh wow. The Martix rocked. The most fun I have had in a movie in a long time. How do i know it was great, well it ran the Star Wars Trailer. So far I have seen the trailer 4 timews in the theater and after everytime the first thing out of anyone's mouth is "man that trailer rocked" not this time, in fact we forgot that it ran, we just talked about the movie, for three hours! Now after reading the talkbacks I have come to a conclusion, we Sci-Fi fans, are impossible to please. We will never be happy, so I say fuck it, just enjoy the ride. I am tired of people talking about plot holes or bad story HELLO the "Best Picture" acording to Oscar had more plot holes than the MAtrix, I am still trying to figure out Where Gwenith is staying in Virgina since the Britsh hadn't founded Jamestown yet! but that was forgiven, because it was a fun movie. Well I say let's not do the same thing for the Matrix in enjoy the ride. I agree with Harry. I have also desiced to stop thinking about Star Wars because we are over hyping ourselves, I mean we are arguing over a movie that has not happened yet. God there are going to be some nasty things said on this site come May 19th GO ORANGE
DON'T BLIEVE THE HYPE by Clock	Apr 3rd, 1999 08:53:31 PM
Either my standards have risen greatly, or I saw a different movie than everyone else. Personally, I thought this flick was lousy. Very much so, at that. Yeah yeah yeah, visually it's quite good (not great however. The stuff on the spaceship didn't impress me at all), but c'mon people. There's more to a movie than just neato special effects. The first 5 minutes were dynamic, I give it that. For that matter, "The Matrix" had me, so to speak, for its first 20 minutes or so. Up until we enter the "real world" and we're aboard that spaceship. Okay, what the hell is this? Where are they? (This is a rhetorical question, so don't bother answering) Who are these uninteresting people with stupid names (Switch, Sypher, MOUSE, for God's sakes)? If this is ingenious filmmaking, why are they recycling the Men in Black bit? Certainly there's something more menacing than guys in black suits and shades, right? Guess not... I know in an action movie (especially Joel Silver produced ones), the script is second-place, but here it's inexcusable, since the Wachowski Bros. insert SO many plot points and ideas into this mess. I mean, it's respectable to want to make it MORE than just an action movie, but follow through with your story threads, fellas... And this trick shot where the action stops and the camera whooshes in a 180 degree angle to resume the scene is quite tired. Cool the first time (I seem to recall it in "Buffalo 66"), enough-already all other times (when "Wing Commander" has your camera shot, it's time to think of something else). There's so many things that I could say "And what in the world was up with..." but I'm not gonna bother, even though I have hundreds of "MST3K" style quips. All I can say is, if Keanu Reeves, as robotic as ever (intentional irony on the Bros. part?)were our savior or "The one" (ooooh, how profound!), then humanity didn't deserve to exist in the first place. Oh yeah, and if it really were 2041 and we were immersed in goo-filled pods instead of good-old dreamy 1999, who the hell would want to be woken up? "Gee thanks Morpheus, this is MUCH better than looking at hot chicks in red dresses, yeah.... Um, how do we get down from here?" (Speaking of recycled bits, can anyone say "Fire in the Sky?"
The Matrix by Vilos Cohaagen	Apr 3rd, 1999 10:18:39 PM
Finally saw the film tonight and I have to say that it's a colossal letdown. All the cool visuals and scenes are shown in the trailer. It started off good for about the first half, then became tired before running out of gas near the end with the open ended finale. The visuals were good, but like others have said this territory has been done before with Dark City and They Live. It might be OK if you look past the major plot and logic gaps in the story. I mean one opportunity for more suspense and a good plot twist would be instead of the AI taking over other peoples bodies and they change into the Men In Black, why not have them just use the people as they are. That way you couldn't see them coming and it would be a trip to see some 60 year old bum kicking Keanus ass in the subway. They could have made it allot better if they put the time they spent trying to be hip and cool into the plot. They had a good premise but farted away the last half of the movie.
cool by Writer Man	Apr 4th, 1999 03:46:28 AM
cool flick...good review, Harry.
Nice Review Harry by Cyrus	Apr 4th, 1999 04:11:11 AM
I admire you for waiting a few days to let the film settle for you. I remember what happened with Godzilla, heh. Even I liked that dung pile the first time. I have seen The Matrix 3 times and I CAN NOT get it OUT OF MY HEAD. I have the soundtrack and a new Enigma CD which I am listening to right now. (BTW alot of people seem to be wondering what song it is that plays on the trailer, at the end of the original 2 theatrical ones, well it's The Eyes of Truth by Enigma and it is awesome). I don't think BTILC should be compared to The Matrix, I look at BTILC as more of a quirky camp movie, the absolute best at what it tries to accomplish. I see The Matrix as accomplishing the same, though it is far deeper and more meaningful than BTILC, but that isn't taking anything away from BTILC. I have seen many animes and HK movies, and I don't see why people try to justify their criticisms that way. I mean this truly captures some of the concepts of anime in live action which has never been done before. I don't see why that makes it any less enjoyable, it certainly doesn't for me. IMO The Matrix does even more than that, I enjoy it more than any anime or HK film. About Keanu Reeves character, definitely his best film yet. The film especially worked for me emotionally in that Neo had always felt there was something wrong with the world, and he was discovering the truth. Being a conspiracy freak, reality questioner I could relate to Neo. You have to respect Reeves, Fishburne, Moss (Love her!), and Weaving devoting a year to this film, 4 months for training. I believe it really paid off. The Matrix gave me a Star Wars like high, and that says a great deal.
Clarification by Cyrus	Apr 4th, 1999 04:16:03 AM
When I was talking about BTILC and The Matrix I meant that both films accomplished exactly what they were trying to perfectly, not that The Matrix was also a "quirky camp movie". -Cy
Thankyou for finishing the review by Martin Q Blank	Apr 4th, 1999 04:46:34 AM
I wasn't sure if you ever would. Oh, and does anyone know how The Matrix did after Wednesday? The information seems to be slow in coming...
Even more Matrix thoughts...Spoilers, I need to talk about speci by Epsilon3	Apr 4th, 1999 06:43:44 AM
I just saw THE MATRIX for the third time last night, and a thirty-page paper, a fifteen page paper, an Arabic midterm and the need to save money for groceries is the only thing keeping me from seeing it every night all month. I loved this movie because it was the first live-action movie that fulfilled the potential of cyberpunk. PI was a brilliant film with a brilliant story, and it, along with THE MATRIX, will hold up as the two best actual science fiction films of the decade. DARK CITY was brilliant, too. DARK CITY was the first DVD I ever purchased because the film affected me so well. But it didn't haunt me like THE MATRIX & PI. It's interesting, because true Science Fiction films don't get made that often. They're either special effects orgies with no plot (ID4) or fantasy films with no true originality (STAR WARS [and please don't flame me. this isn't an insult to STAR WARS, but if you've ever read Joseph Campbell's the Hero With a Thousand Faces or any of his other theory on myth, you'd know that George Lucas, who is a huge Campbell fan, lifted most of STAR WARS from Campbell's archetype portrayals). I think I liked THE MATRIX because though I love film, I'm primarily a reader of Speculative Fiction. Nothing on "the week that was" postings made me anywhere near as excited as reading in this month's Wired (which has George Lucas on the cover and tons on THE PHANTOM MENACE, BTW) that Neal Stephenson (of SNOW CRASH & THE DIAMOND AGE fame) has published a new novel & it's cypherpunk (cooler than I can possibly tell you). It's interesting because the plot holes in THE MATRIX people keep talking about don't seem like holes at all. For example, the bit about the Agents not looking like the people they take over: Morpheus said that the images of the people in the Matrix were called "residual self image." This is a kind of avatar system whereby the persons in the matrix determine how they look (I would guess if they knew that, everybody in the would look like movie stars and have cool-ass clothes like all of the leads). The Agent programs were probably written with the residual self-image of a generic secret service/MIB type because a person would see that and automatically think "authority figure." Most people would not doubt their authority...like how Neo went with them when he was arrested. To have a look of authority would serve the Agent progams well most of the time. And I would bet that they couldn't hijack a person's RSI without hacking their brain like they tried to do with Morpheus. Also the issue about the machine gun bullets not hitting Morpheus: they were in the Matrix--Neo was starting to figure out his power--he could manipulate the bullets' trajectories to keep them away from Morpheus. Why would that be so hard to believe? Trinity's love for Neo: Yeah, they hadn't had a lot of conversations, but was I the only one who thought that she had fallen in love with him before ever meeting him? Cypher, at the very beginning, accuses her of "liking to watch" Neo. She denies it, but I have the feeling that she had been watching him for a long, long time, and that she fell for him a long time before she ever met him face to face. It's interesting, because the only plot holes anyone has mentioned that I find to actually be a potential problem has been mentioned by a programmer friend of mine about a programming problem of programs aware of themselves. I don't have the language for it, 'cause I'm not myself a programmer, but that, along with my friend's assertion that the matrix had to be based on a GNU and not a UNIX system were the only kinds of problems I found to be a real issue, and these are in the realm of specialists. The sunglasses thing: if you read cyberpunk at all you'd know that cool-ass sunglasses are a mainstay of this genre. I mean the most influencial short story anthology of the genre, Bruce Sterling's MIRRORSHADES, is called mirror shades for crying out loud. It's part of the iconography of the genre. And the anime issues people had--what are you talking about? Yeah, THE MATRIX has a lot of anime vibe, but that's because cyberpunk and anime draw from each other all of the time, in print and on celluloid. And also, until now, the only film language from which cyberpunk could draw has been anime. The catalog of imagery is almost all from anime because anime has been the only realm of film cyberpunk for entirely too long. THE MATRIX draws from a rich literary history. I honestly think cyberpunk is the most important writing genre of the past 15 years because it's the only genre that really deals with where we're going as a society (with perhaps the exception of magical realism). Critics often ignore it because it's science fiction, but writers like William Gibson have managed to cross over into the mainstream imagination. Science Fiction & the other genres of Speculative Fiction concern themselves with thought (I mean, why else call it Speculative Fiction?). This is why SF film primarily sucks or fails at the box office due to a lack of public imagination (remember that BLADE RUNNER tanked [though in all fairness, that could have been as much the fault of the producers' meddling as public disinterest]) People pay tons of money for ID4, but bitch when THE MATRIX takes time to actually have a plot. I honestly don't understand it, to tell you the truth. It's interesting because a lot of people are complaining about a lack of originality in THE MATRIX (which I don't see. I think it's influenced by a lot of other films and stories, but it's not lifted from them). A lot of this site's most popularly referenced films (from STAR WARS to THE TERMINATOR [which was plagerized from Harlan Ellison--James Cameron has lost the lawsuit twice]) could be complained about in the same way. Storytelling does not exist in a vaccuum. The essence of story telling is to combine new ideas and plots with those ancient stories we've known all of our lives. THE MATRIX was a monumentally important film for the history of Speculative Fiction in film. The most important sub-genre of the late eighties, early nineties has made it successfully (finally!) to film. BLADE RUNNER realized the Philip K. Dick, new wave era. 2001 realized the golden age, grand masters' era, and now the SF of my generation is being interpreted in film. Bring on the cypherpunk (though SNEAKERS may already qualify, now that I think about it) and the Ribofunk, Nanotech madness (if you say VIRTUOSITY, I'll hit you). Viva la SF!--On a final note (and I'll try to keep from posting about this movie anymore) those of you who are griping about the Soundtrack saying there are too many popular artists or something like that and saying that the PI soundtrack was better, I say, do you listen to any electronic music on a regular basis? The artists on PI are all the best in their fields. They are all very popular amongst certain people, anyway, and are at least as well-known as the artists on THE MATRIX soundtrack. The soundtracks needed a different feel because they were different films. PI, being introspective and minimalist, benefitted from having a Drum & Bass and Ambient soundtrack (both introspective and minimalist genres). THE MATRIX, being more action-oriented, benefitted from an Industrial & Break Beat, heavy soundtrack. They both worked, very, very well. Sorry about this ridiculously long post, but I had to get all of that out. BTW, read a fucking book.
Yeah.. What Epsilon Said! by Shadowcat	Apr 4th, 1999 12:23:01 PM
I totally agree with what Epsilon said... the movie doesn't explain EVERYTHING but I doubt it really has to, seeing that most of the film is contained in The Matrix itself... the ultimate arena of suspension of disbelief. Sheesh! I'm not gonna go on record that this was the best film of 1999 (maybe top 25? I dunno), but it was LOTS of fun and a great ride. Yeah it moved like molasses through much of the middle, but (and I've seen it twice now) its not as noticable after you've seen it once I've found. Once you realize that the directors are just subtly building and building until they throw everything they have at you in the last 30 minutes, you kinda enjoy the backstory and start to notice the great way this world of theirs is presented to the audience. I enjoyed the movie MUCH more the second time 'cause I wasn't worrying so much about plot, and instead was concentrating on things that I missed the first time around.. and there was a LOT of it. What Episilon said about Cyberpunk and sunglasses is absolutely correct too. I've been singing the praises of The Matrix as the first REALLY GOOD and ACCURATE Cyberpunk movie (I honestly think its a lot more cyberpunk than "Pi" 'cause it has a lot mroe of the classic elements... Pi was cyberpunk because there was a computer and it touched religion, really. And a drill.) to come out of Hollywood. Anyone who's read Cyberpunk should be aware of the importance of "Mirrorshades" -- I can see you, but you can't see me... I can hide my emotion from you... you can't see into my mind. I was bouncing in my chair over the way everyone looked and acted. I went out the next day and tried to find sunglasses like Trinity's! :) God.. what about the Cyberpunk standby's such as the melding of technology with humanity, sentient programs, world-wide networks, the power of the hacker, body switching.. I can go on forever. Most of all, people seem to be complaining about the derivative nature of The Matrix... well, Cyberpunk is derivative as well! Cyberpunk takes elements from a wide variety of sources and puts it together into a whole new universe. I hope the rumors that The Matrix is the first of a trilogy is true.. 'cause I will definitely be first in line for any sequels that come out over the next few years...
Um... what was supposed to be confusing? by Justin	Apr 4th, 1999 12:27:36 PM
I followed the whole plot, beginning to end. I thought it was a Hell of a lot less confusing than Dark City. Also, it was way cool. Thoroughly enjoyable, and i'll probably pick up the DVD when it coems out. I have only two complaints (and Keanu's acting is not one): 1) There could have been more special effects sequences, especially at the end. I wanted to see Keanu kick major ass a la the end of Dark City. 2) Some of it was a bit predictable. It could be because I think like a comic book fan, but I totally called what the Oracle had told Trinity, as well as the whole thing with Cypher. But overall, one cool flick.
The Matrix is NOT a rip-off of Dark City by samuelk	Apr 4th, 1999 01:28:25 PM
I saw a post above that said The Matrix is a "Rock & Roll version of Dark City". I've also heard other people say it completely rips off Dark City. This is completely untrue. The only thing these two great movies have in common is that their central theme deals with the question of whether "our reality" is real or fabricated. Period. This is where the similarities stop. If you're going to say that one movie rips off another simply because it deals with the same theme and idea, then you might as well say that E.T. was a rip-off of The Day the Earth Stood Still because they both dealt with the idea of Extra-terrestrial life visiting earth. Just because two movies explore the same theme does not mean that one is unoriginal. And if you're going to suggest that Dark City deals with an original idea, then think again. This kind of "fabricated reality" debate has been going on for hundreds of years. Philosophers like DesCartes and David Hume (I think--dredging up old philosophy courses from college) have speculated about whether we can really tell what is real. Dark City and The Matrix take the central theme of what is real and what is not, and explore completely different possibilities. I would never believe that The Matrix was a rip-of Dark City. Just my $0.02 (no refunds)
Coooooollllll!!!!!!! by LeTo	Apr 4th, 1999 01:42:49 PM
Just one thing to say!!! I'm sooooooo excited!!! I couldn't stay on my seat during the movie...I wanted to jump and all! It was so great! Anyway, go see it!!!!!
I Can Tell You How Bad the Matrix Was... by JackStar	Apr 4th, 1999 02:07:52 PM
I saw the movie last night, making a serious effort to let it win me over if it could. And it didn't. From the get go, this movie, while well constructed visually, was awful. The acting was bland, the characters blander. What is is about Neo that signifies he is the one, besides the name? What is it that inspires such loyalty in Morpheus? Since the characters are so disengaged from the combat, why should I as an audience member care who wins or loses? One big problem I had as soon as the big secret was revealed, was that the rebels, who were supposedly fighting for humanity and human values- never seemed to mind that when they killed the police and guards by the hundreds, they were killing humans by the hundreds.( Fine, by the tens/) At no point did they show any real emotion themselves. I'm not talking about the Agents.. I'm talking about the disposable bobs blown away right and left, who didn't know what was going on, and probably could have been avoided if the rebel types gave a damn. Plus, there are so many little things set up, and left unexplained, but made important enought that they should be. How did the Oracle now the future? Since every time Neo was given a choice, it was binary- Yes/No, why didn't the writers make something out of him having a third choice his own decision? And if every sci-fi geek in the house could have come up with better hacks of the matrix in 5 minutes then Morpheus and the others did after years of experience, why didn't a crafty hacker like Neo until the end, regardless of whether he was the one or not? I did see the Dark City similarities very quickly, and while I don't this is total rip off, I would recommend DC over this with out hesitation. Finally, if all sci fi movies are going to be special fx extravaganzas, without a hint of character, I say let 'em die out for a while. I'd rather have to wait a couple of years for a film on the level of a Blade Runner, Star Wars, or 2001 then have Hollywood remind me that they have no clue about the genre.
hook, line, sinker by Marljay	Apr 4th, 1999 02:54:43 PM
I'm in. I am going to enjoy a hot and heavy with this film, an infatuation the likes of which I haven't felt since T2. I just want to thank those involved for not wearing cute when it was so clearly not the style, and for the crease between my brows, the half moons on my palms and the joyful afterglow. Thanks for the saticefaction. Now to rehinge my jaw...and experience The Matrix all over again.
ROCK ON!!!!! by bigguy22	Apr 4th, 1999 03:52:11 PM
I went to see the Matrix at a Matinee on the day it was released. I expected to see a few good special effects but probably be disappointed overall. However, when I left the movie I felt guilty because I felt that I had been given a BIGGER FREAKIN AMOUNT OF ENTERTAINMENT THAN WHAT I PAID FOR!!!!!!! THIS MOVIE RULES!!!!!!!!!! That's all I think I need to say.
Matrix = Dark City by purpleD	Apr 4th, 1999 06:15:39 PM
These movies were exactly the same except for the actors. I liked Matrix but I had already seen it when it was called Dark City.
I MUST BE A JEDI, 'CAUSE I WAS RIGHT!!! by JJB	Apr 4th, 1999 06:47:38 PM
I'm going to have to agree with alot of others that THE MATRIX was almost the same as DARK CITY. Sub those DARK CITY aliens(who look like refugees from the "1984" Macintosh commercial) for CGI jazzed up versions of Skynet HK's from the Terminator, throw in some technobabble, kung-fu(I've seen better), and a Duracell battery & you've got THE MATRIX. In fact the only thing that seemed to differentiate it from T2 is that they decided to bring the helicopter with them when they used the mini gun. Yes, there was an element from THE FIFTH ELEMENT at the end(although I think everybody can agree that Bruce & Milla were easier on the retinas), and the whole thing about Keanu becoming the "God" of this virtual environ was exactly like DARK CITY(now I feel like the chosen one). And please:THIS WHOLE MYSTERY OF "WHAT THE MATRIX IS" IS ONLY A MYSTERY IF YOU'RE 5 YEARS OLD!!! Or if you fell asleep before you were 30 minutes into the movie. I mean they only TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT IT IS FOR CHRISSAKE!!! 46 sem-odd days and countin'...

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