The Matrix

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. (04/29/2006)

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. (04/13/2003)

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. (11/08/2008)

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. (08/22/2010)

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%. (07/14/2011)