The Matrix

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%. (2011-07-14)

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% (2011-04-18)

In my opinion, this film has started something... Its impressive visual rendering and stylistic polishing are still copied by many action films today, and (unfortunately) few take the time to invent an elaborate plot that would have a fairly solid philosophical footing (I don't mean the spawn that the flock of furious interpreters of every little thing have created around the film). The Matrix worked as an action film (the fights are simply a treat!), as science fiction and as a film with a deeper idea. It's certainly not cyberpunk, as many unlearned people claim, and it's certainly nothing original – most of The Matrix's "source" files are not commonly known to our culture, although all you have to do is go through the relevant sections of Japanese cinema. The Matrix is one of the first messengers of the "new hi-tech" film with everything that it encompasses, the messenger of a new futuristic conception of the action element in the story. At the same time, I won't be far from the truth when I say that it will always be a cult film – just as it's hard to take it out of the family of classic sci-fi films. (2004-02-05)

One inconspicuous film that changed sci-fi, changed action, and changed the whole pop culture. A cult that I always enjoy watching again and it will always amaze me again how everything fit together for the Wachowskis: Characters that 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 tricks that will blow your mind: the helicopter, dodging bullets, and the final chase. A unique film, no trilogy. Matrix is just one. (2006-04-29)

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)