FFWD Weekly
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| Film by Robert Tarry The Matrix For all its overcomplicated, tortured sci-fi pseudo-spiritual mumbo jumbo, understanding The Matrix is pretty simple. Do you like special effects? Then you will like The Matrix. Do you love special effects? You will love The Matrix. Do you read comic books about latex-clad women? Then you will cream your acid wash jeans over The Matrix. The rest is details. Tautly directed by a couple of brothers who – quelle surprise – used to work in comic books, The Matrix is full of comic-bookish eye-popping visuals and Mind Blowing Thoughts (i.e., what if The Incredible Hulk teamed up with Neitzche! Or, in this case, what if the whole world is just a computer simulation?). Actually, the Mind Blowing Thoughts at work here are much more interesting than the advertising may lead you to believe. The whole virtual reality gimmick – the cinematic equivalent of watching people watch TV and arguably the most boring invention to build a movie around since tile grout – is simply a tool for a larger, far cooler story. I won't spoil it for you, as half the fun of The Matrix is the way the story slowly unfolds. (Then again, it unfolds so slowly you might just wonder what the hell's going on – a full hour into it and the characters are still setting up the premise.) The story strands never really tie back together in a satisfying bundle at the end, but if you're into this sort of thing, the Hong Kong-style, chop-socky action scenes and trippy effects make up for it. The performances are a notch above the furniture that passes for actors in most sci-fi flicks (even Keanu Reeves sprouts a pulse... sort of), the overwritten script has only a few boner lines, and I only rolled my eyeballs twice. All in all, way more fun than it deserves to be. But take my advice: once the characters onscreen plug their minds into the Matrix for "the ride of their life," it'd be best if you unplugged yours. Enjoy the ride. |
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