'I need reads......lots of reads.' (The Matrix (DVD))

Member Name: Moominpapa

Product:	The Matrix (DVD)
Date:	28/01/01 (185 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Just about every part of it drips with liquid excellence

Disadvantages: Very few

The most inventive sci-fi movie of the decade, and probably the best action movie ever made, a statement which The Matrix has the guts to back it up. A quick summary for the uninitiated. Suspecting that all is not right with his world, computer programmer Thomas Anderson (Reeves) begins to search the web for answers, and before long finds more trouble that he can cope with. In a headache inducing rush, he discovers that all that he knows is artificial, that his world is a computer-generated fantasy created by machines, and that instead of living in the year 1999, his body is actually a source of power for a computer dominated ‘future-world’. The artificial system that preserves his mental health, that ultimately controls him, is called the Matrix, and some, a few rebellious type led by Morpheus (Fishburne) have found a way to fight back. But first Anderson must break free of both his programmed environment and his mental inhibitions. Only then can he take his place as Neo, or the one Morpheus calls ‘The One’, leader of the rebellion, and its saviour. And Keanu Reaves has finally appeared in a film better than Speed, or possibly the Bill and Ted films. Reaves is also surprisingly good as the star, despite some of his awful performances in such films as Johny Mnemonic (how do you spell it). Lawrence Fishburne is brilliant as Morpheus and projects all of the memorable lines in the film (‘Welcome to the real world’) with the possible exception of 'I know kung-fu' (Reeves).

Special Effects
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The story sounds wild, and it is. You have never, ever seen special effects like this: the Wachowski brothers are big fans of Japanese fighting stunts, and their movie blends staggering John Woo-esque action set-pieces with breathtaking martial arts. Every character wears shades, and no-one does anything without pulsating music or slow-motion or ‘flo-motion’ camera trickery. The result is likened
to the most remarkable cartoon action brought to vivid life, with a blend of visual styles which namecheck Blade Runner and face/Off. There has never been a greater revolution in special effects technology, in Sci-fi complexity, or in thrill-ride action.

‘I know Kung Fu!’
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Startled to learn that through a simple download procedure, he can acquire new skills in the blink of an eye, Neo opens his eyes to reveal that he now knows kung-fu. A smiling Morpheus asks to be shown his new abilities and in a flash, we’re transported to a Japanese-style training room, and what follows has to be one of the greatest martial arts showdowns ever. Although some camera trickery is used, the most impressive aspect of this sequence is that both Reeves and Fishburne did it themselves. Both actors spent months perfecting various martial arts, and the result looks extraordinarily convincing. The fact that it’s set to techno music helps too, of course.

Some interesting facts
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Those of you who have already seen the film may be interested to know that when the police bust in on Trinity in the opening scene the room number is 303 (“trinity,” 3) and since Neo is The One his room number is 101. Neo is also an anagram for One and Anderson, Reeves’ real name, means ‘Son of Man’, as Jesus is often called. Hhhmmmm. Also, Carrie-Anne Moss (Trinity) played Liz Teel in the TV series ‘Matrix’ (1993). Coincidence, I think not!


The fantastic DVD
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Picture Quality
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An astounding effort has been made by Warner Brothers to ensure that the picture is crisp and pin-sharp. The film was deliberately shot with a green tinge, which fortunately causes no colour bleed at all, and all the other colours come through bright and bold. The effect is dazzling, and really shows that if a film company reall
y puts a lot of effort into their DVDs the results can be spectacular. It’s just a shame that so many brilliant films on DVD have been quickly knocked up over a weekend, and look blurred and grainy, but fortunately The Matrix is not amongst these.

Audio
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As many DVD owners will know, although Surround Sound is a great thing to have with your player, pumping up the volume always has a major effect on the quality of the audio. The entire film will blow you away if you do, and even though the neighbours will complain like hell, it is so worth it. Every note of the soundtrack and every word which leaves the actors’ mouths comes across with utmost clarity, so that nothing is missing from the cinema experience.

The DVD’s features include superbly animated menus, frame grabs, and Cast & Crew information. The Making of The Matrix documentary provides many interesting insights into ‘fly-by-wire’ camera work and how some of the spectacular stunts were pulled off. The Matrix also features some hidden extras, which can be accessed through the ‘Follow the White Rabbit’ option. When this is activated, a rabbit will appear when a hidden special effects documentary is accessible. Taking the ‘Red Pills’ scattered around the menus will also start some hidden documentaries. Those with a DVD-ROM drive on their PC gain access to different features, including the ‘jump to a fight scene’ mode called ‘Do You Know Kung Fu’, which whisks you straight to your favourite action scenes. There are also links to the website, the entire screenplay and story boards, and the ‘Are You The One?’ trivia quiz, which tests you on the plot and on some of the hard-to-notice aspects of various scenes. They all come together to form one of the most crammed-to-the-brim DVDs on the market.

The Verdict
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If you’re a fan of Sci-Fi, or just action, this f
ilm is a must-see, and you will not be disappointed. Reeves is not a fantastic actor, but his talent is successfully resuscitated in The Matrix, changing many opinions for the better. If you haven’t seen it yet, get yourself down to the video shop and buy it, preferably on DVD, for the fuller experience.

'Nobody can be told how good the Matrix is. They have to see it for themselves.'

Summary: