The Matrix

An unassuming film that changed sci-fi, changed action, and changed all of pop culture. A cult that I always enjoy watching again and that will always amaze me how everything fit together for Lana and Lilly Wachowski: characters you care about from the first encounter, a story that is not one hundred percent original but combined in a way that leaves you speechless, and special effects that will blow your mind: the helicopter, dodging bullets, and the final chase. A unique film, not a trilogy. There can only be one Matrix. (30/04/2006)

Of all the science fiction films that revel in imaginary worlds, in bending the laws of nature and physics, and in visually loaded, perfectly scored, and all-out action, The Matrix is the most imaginative, the most visually loaded, and the most auditorily bombastic. A visionary work where every detail is absolutely in place and brought to a timeless, seemingly unearthly perfection. 100% (18/04/2011)

The Matrix, a place where everyone wears sunglasses even in the darkest underground, a place where a group of mixed-race people of all shades, including a mulleted woman, jump ten metres high, and a place where hip flexibility knows no bounds. Episode 1: Absolutely fabulous, now a cult-classic, a great introduction to the universe and plenty of goosebumps. Episode 2: The first hour lags behind considerably, but then it's a 90-minute action ride that knows no end, the fight choreography is noticeably better, even excellent and euphoric in places! Along with the music, an absolutely unparalleled experience that at the time would have had me on my ass. The CGI is sometimes good, sometimes utterly awful (see the battle with Smith on the playground), but either way the action pulls the whole first two episodes up and choreography this long is something unheard of, I have no idea how anyone could learn and perform this. Episode 3: Boring, horrible and awful. This one went completely over my head and is so different from the previous two. Hours of empty dialogue are followed by a battle with digital machines instead of classic matrix action, and I search in vain for any hints in the final episode that connect it to the previous ones. The beginning is dull, the progression uninspiring and the conclusion unsatisfying. (14/10/2021)

I remember that during the premiere of The Matrix, a friend came with his eyes wide open and declared that he had seen the best film of his life. In the late 90s, The Matrix brought about a revival of the dying sci-fi genre, not so much in terms of content, but rather visually, in editing, and overall style that appealed to the young generation influenced by the phenomenon of computers and video games. It brought dynamism, action, and cyberpunk elements to the genre, which had long dominated the literary field of sci-fi. I would not classify The Matrix as a cyberpunk film, as it lacks the sophistication and depth of thought, which it replaces with flashy shootouts and martial arts fights, as well as bombastic special effects. However, I agree with the idea that it is a groundbreaking and style-defining film that has greatly influenced the genre, brought in many new fans, and led to many imitators. Unfortunately, the next two sequels did not confirm the creative ambitions, as they had a lazy script and terrible dialogues, and damaged the promisingly constructed alternative world. For me, The Matrix is a film that visually impressed me at first glance, but even then, I disliked the shallow elements of cheap action movies, and its image has faded over the years. Nevertheless, I will still give it a weak four-star rating. However, I must say that I would prefer if the Wachowskis took a less easy path and made a film based on a purely cyberpunk and biotechnological style, combining the views of H. R. Giger and William Gibson. There are a few scenes like that in the film, such as Neo's awakening in the power plant cell, but unfortunately, there are too few of them compared to the video game shootouts. Overall impression: 70%. (14/07/2011)

An excellent film that combines well shot action scenes with an interesting and original story, full of symbols. I got carried away by the action moments (although admittedly I found some of the kung-fu gestures ridiculous) and at the same time I didn't miss the emotions and some of the dialogue scenes were excellent (the scene with the bucket is not to be missed). On my way out of the cinema, I looked around feeling paranoid for a while. I hope that the next episodes will not only be a display of visual effects, but will also have something more, just like this one. (13/04/2003)