The Matrix

I’m finally done with the entire trilogy. The first part is the most straightforward and intimate and the one works as a standalone film, but also as the beginning of a saga. A great idea, brilliantly executed and deeply philosophical (I would love to read the philosophy behind the Matrix universe, it could be very interesting. It addresses almost everything, from noetic questions about the possibilities and ways of human cognition, through the creation of one's own ontological system, to the problems of causality and the question of choice). In any case, the first Matrix is a groundbreaking and hugely important film and I could even be more in love with it if I had a fetish for the nice clothes the characters wear. (2010-08-22)

A masterpiece that indirectly established a new wave of action movies for the new millennium. Since 1999, countless directors have tried to copy the action from The Matrix, some were more successful, others less so. But I dare say that no one has been able to replicate the magic of this film. The action itself is excellent (perhaps occasionally overly effects-driven for my taste) and I truly enjoy certain parts of it. The excellent music, the cool costumes, and the overall style of the film suit me quite well. Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne overflow with charisma, and the Wachowski siblings' inventiveness is miles ahead. I wouldn't dare to say which part of the trilogy is the best, but the first one is undoubtedly the best-written and most original – and not just because it was the first... (2006-03-05)

This is the "daddy" of contemporary science fiction action movies. If you are a fan of science fiction and have not yet seen it, you have not lived. The stunts and effects were breathtaking for the time it was made, the actors were excellent – and the plot? Unprecedented and original. The only thing that bothered me a bit was the pacing of the movie – while Morpheus offloads a bunch of information about the Matrix onto you, and you do not know what he is going on about, however, you soon realize it all makes sense after watching the scenes that follow. However, the important thing is that by the end, all the information makes perfect sense and you can understand how complicated and treacherous the world of the Matrix is. A job well done by the Wachowskis. It is just a real shame that the sequels were not more evenly matched. (2008-11-09)

I kept The Matrix in the cool of my closet for a really long time (a decade, actually) and on the one hand it's good that I waited, because I might not have even understood it at the time, but on the other hand I was depriving myself of a perfect piece of filmmaking in terms of script and execution that is undoubtedly worth watching. I enjoyed all the visual and sound effects immensely, as well as the Matrix problem itself, which definitely had something going for it. Of the cast, I liked the badass Carrie-Anne Moss and the extra sleazy Hugo Weaving the most. In short, a film that didn't knock me off my feet like other films, but as far as quality goes, it has it in every way. (2011-07-27)

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. (2003-04-13)