Matrix (all 3) (Wachowshi borthers, 1999)

[Angie]

I thought that the first Matrix was excellent. I like the kung-fu, and the special effects. I have heard that Will Smith turned down the roll that Reeves had. I wonder sometimes how different the film would've been with Smith. I think the character Agent Smith is an excellent character and I love how he wants to be free of his duties.

The other two films I could do without. The big highway scene was pretty cool in the theater, very exciting. But that is what I mainly remember of the other two films.

Did anyone watch the Animatrix?

[Alex DeLarge]

I vaguely remember watching the first MATRIX when a friend suggested it for a "movie night". I don't remember much about it except the powerfull bass disintegrated my cheap tower speakers..but it was a good reason to convince my wife to upgrade! The concept seemed to me very Phil Dickian, that our reality is not what it seems, that somethine else lurks beneath the limits of our perceptions, something malignant, but overall I thought it a superficial and inane film with an interesting premise. I have no desire to see any other film in the trilogy and the Wachowski brothers have proved they make very bad films, RE: V FOR VENDETTA.

[Angie]

I don't know what happened to the Wachowshi brothers after the Matrix. Didn't they do Speed Racer? Even though that was nice to look at in the IMAX, the story fell flat.

I agree with Vicki Jean about having a simple program to learn how to do things would be fantastic.

Another thing for me that attracts me to the Matrix are some of the action scenes. I have a home theater and that looks marvelous on there. When Reeves walks down a hall with guns going off and concrete flying around everyone looks pretty damn cool.

Also Alex I am curious what grade you gave the first Matrix?

[Alex DeLarge]

Angie, I watched it years ago before I began writing about films. I would only grade the film if I watched it again but it's not high on my list. I will probably revisit someday soon and write a review. This time, my home theatre is fully capable of handling any high-def audio so my speakers are safe!

[Phillip]

the wachowski brothers went on to make V for Vendetta (oh, i see now that alex already mentioned that - sorry), which i liked quite a lot. natalie portman was in it, along with the guy that plays the chief detective in the matrix (hugo somebody....), but he wore a mask throughout the film, so you never saw his face. portman was really good in it, i quite like her work as an actor.

[Tera (TheBookishAbyss)]

I loved each Matrix film. I thought the whole trilogy was well-planned and fantastic. I only had some issues with some of the speech patterns of the characters, some of the lines seemed forced, but the whole idea behind this group trying to defeat the "system" was terrific and the underlying biblical themes running throughout the films were great. I did see Animatrix and I enjoyed it as well. Anyway, these are films that I can watch over and over.

[George]

I was especially fond of the original. everything you know, is wrong. There is no reality, it's all illusion, very Buddhist, in that respect anyway. The interesting character was the one who decided to opt for illusion. I enjoyed the other 2 on various levels, but it was all but impossible to resolve all of the dilemmas to everyone's satisfaction, and really, impossible to resolve the plot line to anyone's complete satisfaction. Lots of fine actors throughout, great attention to detail, what's not to like?

As for V, personally I liked that as well, although not nearly as much as the original Matrix. It's a comic book of course in origin, and retains quite a bit from that genre, but the general themes are pretty much reflective of what was done in Children of Men, although like most of you here I prefered that one. But there's lots of dark social commentary that reasonably fits our times.

But as for their most recent effort, it's hard to understand what was on their minds when they chose to make it, or why they even wanted to. I couldn't get past the previews myself.

[Phillip]

what's their most recent effort, george, is it really speed racer?


jeesh.

[George]

Nothing newer as far as I know, came out this summer. I see snippets on HDTV screens in various shops I've passed from time to time. I can't for the life of me figure out why they wanted to do it. I don't intend to run down to catch their next film, but whatever it proves to be, it has to be an improvement.

[Becky]

I also liked V for Vendetta.


I don't even know what to say about Speed Racer. I am really disappointed that Christina Ricci actually agreed to that movie. I am further disappointed that the Wachowski brothers made it into a feature length seizure/migraine inducing torture session.

I was never a fan of the original, and I would never, ever see the movie. Why bother if even just watching the trailer leads me to a silent, dark room for a week to recover?

[Phillip]

vj: exactly.

rob, i am of the same opinion as you on the matrix. i was dazzled by it the first time i saw it, but the love wore off pretty quickly. i saw all three, and wished i could have left the theater during the "rave" scene in the second film. the third film was a teeny bit better (mostly because i got to look at monica belluci), but that was about the extent of my appreciation of it.

[Tom]

Keanu Reeves has zero talent, so he's always a drawback for me. I posted the below on one of the other threads:

I rather liked the first of the MATRIX movies, despite the unspeakable Mr. Reeves and the rather too outlandish action sequences. Surely even in the computerworld of the Matrix it would take more than a cartwheel to outrun machine gun bullets. I did like the way the film took so many disparate elements from so many sources (Lewis Carroll, Exodus) and managed to make them into something current.

Alas, RELOADED and REVOLUTIONS were pretty silly, the seriousness of the first film gave way to a totally bogus High Solemnity that manifested itself in way too many goofy pronouncements issuing from wacky Archetypal characters. "I am The Architect." "I am The Merovingian." "I am The Locksmith." I kept waiting for "I am The Janitor."

I'll admit that there are some cool things in REVOLUTIONS, though. Hugo Weaving's final battle with Keanu was very impressive (guess who I was rooting for), as was the big attack on Zion. Alas, the void left by the passing of the sublime Gloria Foster, the one performer in the series to actually display a sense of humor, simply could not be filled by the grinning automaton calling itself Mary Alice.

[George]

Well, I think Keanu worked in the role as he seems to be convinced he actually is "The One." Will would never have pulled it off, although he's likeable enough in most of his other roles.

[Tom]

No, agreed, Will Smith would have sucked.

[George]

I reread your previous comment. You left out the long awaited "I am the Walrus."

[Jim]

Now here's a good Matrix flick. If the Matrix ran on Windows is a great short spoof.

[Tera (TheBookishAbyss)]

Okay, Jim...that was hilarious..

[Kandice]

I really enjoyed the first film, but only the first time. The other 2 were not at all entertaining and either didn't make me think, or left me not wanting to think. It's a toss-up.
I really enjoyed V for Vendetta. Obviously! the graphic novel was much, much better and deeper, but the movie was okay as far adaptations go. Hugo Weaving is a great actor. His voice is so mesmerizing ,I think people end up overlooking his talent.

[Esther]

Jim thanks for a good laugh.

I thought the first Matrix was excellent. The separate elements were not all original but the end result felt to me like something totally new.
The idea of this life being an illusion etc was quite mind blowing and the ultra-cool stylistic presentation kept me so detached from reality that the explanation didn't need to be believable.

I'm also a big John Woo fan so the action scenes made my heart go pitti-pat with joy.
It would certainly be near the top of my favourite films list.

The second film went deeper into the illusion, maybe too deep, but I felt it was a good first half of something. I liked Zion and the Highway chase scene pushed all the right buttons.
Number three was a big let down. Two had set the scene for something crazy but three was just meh.
I've had my fill of Christ analogies, thank you.

[Esther]

Kandice wrote: "...I really enjoyed V for Vendetta. Obviously! the graphic novel was much, much better and deeper, but the movie was okay as far adaptations go..."

I had several big problems with V for Vendetta but the less controversial ones are:
Natalie Portman - she is always your middle class girl trying so hard to be bad but not succeeding.
Guy Fawkes Night - It is a night to celebrate the fact that Guy Fawkes did not succeed in blowing up Parliament but was in fact caught and executed, effectively putting an end to the Catholic Rebellion in England.
Who would chose that day as a symbol of hope in the struggle against tyrannical government?