Review of The Matrix

This is one of the best films of 1999. As much as I love Star Wars, this film is better than "The Phantom Menance" and it's far and away better than the rest of the action films that Hollywood foisted upon the public so far. (It will probably be the best of the year.) It's the film that save Keanu Reeves' film career--if you've heard or seen "Dogstar", you know why that's important--and it's the second film to successfully splice the best of Hollywood and Hong Kong filmaking together. (The first was "Face/Off".)

For those who don't know the deal, you can get all of the pertinent information at "www.whatisthematrix.com". The summary is this: Neo (Reeves) is a programmer who lives by night as a hacker seeking "The Matrix". The answer sends him on a Campellian Hero's Journey, one with equal parts of science-fiction, fantasy, action, romance, and adventure. He emerges as a Promethian hero figure, ready to liberate the masses. It's a beautiful thing.

It's also perfect gaming material. Like "The Crow" and "Dark City", this is a wonderful World of Darkness movie. It's also perfect for HKAT! and Feng Shui fans because of the influence of action director Yuen Woo Ping.

For Mage, you get to see the Virtual Adepts, the Technocracy, and the Akashic Brotherhood at work. The whole VR angle, and the guerilla heroes of the film, scream "Virtual Adept!". The Agents of the film, the dystopian future, and the contempt for the masses, all bellow "Technocrat"--specifically, NWO and Iteration X--loud and clear. The use of wire-assisted martial arts is an obvious nod to the Akashics, and so is a lot of the philosophy behind the heroic rebellion.

HKAT! and Feng Shui fans get a rare Hollywood film that competantly shows the HK approach to filming fights. (All of the actors involved did their own fights- no doubles.) The blend and blur of genre lines helps breathe life into otherwise-stale settings, and Feng Shui fans get the addition of yet another distopian setting to use as a juncture. They also get another view of the Netherworld, in the form of the tunnels and such that the heroes' ship traverses.

As for other genres, the reality-as-illusion is very important to keep. The other key to retain is the distopian setting. If you can keep those two, then you've got the essence and the rest will come easily enough.

See this film. You cannot fail to gain plenty of inspiration from watching it. It's a film with plenty of repeat viewing potential.

Style: 5 (Excellent!)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)