The Matrix
The Matrix
From the opening scene, you just know that this film will rock. That the 15-year-old who is lingering in you is just waiting for the cue to shout "Cool!" You'll drool. You'll cringe. You'll want to see again, just to believe you've actually seen it. You'll begin to doubt yourself and say "No. There must be something wrong. A film this cool cannot be good." Well. It can.
P.O.I.: In this review I will use the word "cool" more times than I care to count. For that I am sorry, but when you walk out of this film you would be repeating it as well, so if you hate cool just insert your adjective where appropriate.
There is one thing that the late 90's has done to view on the cinema, and that is, when I hear the words Summer blockbuster, I run for cover. The majority of the summer blockbusters have been truly and amazingly crap. Armageddon. Independence Day. Batman & Robin. Godzilla. Everyone has their on list. Well. This is the best, ultra cool, kick ass, sci-fi, cyber-punk, kung fu, summer blockbuster that I have seen in some time.
Neo is a renegade programmer, who feels like something is wrong with his existence. Quickly he discovers the truth about his life and joins a renegade group of sunglass wearing, leather-clad freedom fighters, lead by Morpheus (Lawerance Fishbourne). Morpheus narrates us through the plot and the intricketasies of The Matrix. Neo is believed to be "The One", as in, the one who can save the earth. To go any further into the plot would spoil it for those who have not seen it.
Reeves has never made it big since Speed. Things have been bad, until now. He is a wooden actor, but he has a look, he has a quality that makes you want to watch him. The thing about him is that he does not come across as the big action hero who busts heads on a whim. We see him as being more vulnerable than anything else. Maybe because we are so used to seeing him get a hammering by the press. And it may be because of this that I believe he fits into Neo's shoes better than most actors could. He is puzzled and confused by the whole thing, right up until the end, and so is the audience. We get some comfort in seeing the main character as confused as we are and a bond is formed, with the audience and Neo learning together. Take a look at Reeves next films, Driven and The Shooter, in the In-Production Archive.
There was a time when Lawrence Fishbourne was the finest young big name black actor in Hollywood. He had some excellent performances, receiving an Oscar nomination for What's Love Got To Do With It. Then Pulp Fiction was realised which sent Samuel L. Jackson soaring right into his spotlight. After this Fishbourne has taken some small supporting roles and most of his big films got mixed reactions. But, Fishbourne has pulled out some of finest performances in his career, has anyone seen him supporting in Search For Bobby Fisher?, if not, do. Well while Jackson has taken the mantle of big budget star with films like Die Hard with A Vengeance and The Long Kiss Goodnight, Fishburne has become more of a cultish figure. Morphorus is cool, Fishbourne is as cool. Together they create one of the films coolest characters.
Any film that has good overcoming evil must have a bad guy. And that good bad guy is essential. The badder s/he is the more enjoyable it is to see him get his ass kicked. Here in the Matrix we get badest bad guy of the year. Agent Smith, is one of the MiB like agents trying to stop Morpheus and his crew. He does not care, he wants the job done, he is just like the both of the James Cameron's' Terminators, driven and unstoppable. He is played excellently by Australian Hugo Weaving, using a dead shirt and tie American accent and holds his syllables for that bit longer- "Gooodbye Mr. Anndeerson". If you have a fetish for nasty guys, Darth Vader, the bad Terminators, then see this guy and enjoy every minute he is on screen.
What has made the Matrix such a successful film is the care and attention writers and directors, Larry and Andy Wachowski, have gone to, to see that their vision is fully realised. This film is so strong and confident in itself. They wanted this film to be an experience and that is what a good summer blockbuster should be. Due to the directors amazing control over every single aspect, that is just what we are giving, a ride that makes you want to get back on as soon as it is over.
The script never strays from its path, taking one step at a time to realise the plot that has been woven through different realities right up the end. The special effects are of the highest calibre, for the first time the use of "flo-mo" has been put to cool use during fight scenes, especially in the first five minutes. The kung- fu one-on-ones are excellent, they will make your jaw drop and have you drooling all over the isle. Seeing Fishbourne and Keanu sparr is really impressive. When I say spar I don't mean that we get close ups when they are making facial expressions, then in the long shots we see some stunt doubles do the cool moves. No, Fishboure and Reeves actually fight it out, and they are good, very good. It just shows the determination the Walochskis had to make this film. They put everyone on a six month training course, in that six months all of the actors could have fitted another few million in their back pockets by making some other film, but they stuck with it and the result is impressive, most impressive.
Summer Blockbusters don't get much more entertaining than this, the hairs on your neck your neck will give a standing ovation, and a smirk will be pasted onto your face for a while. This film has set down the gaundlet for entertainment for the season, I can only hope that a little film called Star Wars can match it. We'll just have to wait for another 29 days.
