"Star Wars" Has Some Competition

by Jason R. Hewlett

"Star Wars: Episode 1" has its' first hint of competition for "Must See Film of the Year" folks!! "The Matrix," from the same duo who brought us the exceptional film "Bound" a few years back, is a dazzling sci-fi epic that makes you think as much as it blows you away.

I first caught word of "The Matrix" last year while overseas in Australia where the movie was shot (Sydney to be exact). Since then I had my eyes peeled for a glimpse of the film and when previews started appearing in February my appetite was truely wet. Of course, what looks good is not necessarily so but after viewing the film in a sold-out Midnight Madness this past Thursday I knew the hype was worth it. The fact that the audience was cheering and applauding along with me proved that even more.

To give away too much of the plot would spoil the fun. To answer the question of just what The Matrix is would ruin the movie. However, the film does deal with the notion of breaking free from the norm and living life as an individual. Neo, as played by Keanu Reeves (his best work since "Speed") has always felt that his life has lacked something. Even more so he believes that there is more to the world around him than meets the eyes and his quest to find out what the truth behind that feeling is plants a question in his mind: "What is The Matrix?"

Eventually he is contacted by a shadow woman named Trinity, who in turn leads him to a cyber-guru known only as Morpheus. The outcome of the meeting leaves Neo with a choice: stay in a "real" world where "the wool has been pulled over your eyes" or take the chance to see the nightmarish truth where you learn the truth about The Matrix. However, one cannot be told what The Matrix is. As Morpheus says "...You must see it for yourself."

When the audience finds out, along with Neo, just what The Matrix actually is the results are both disturbing and thought-provoking. You'll never look at a cell phone the same way again and that feeling of deja vu will take on a very ominous slant. If you're a Fatalist like myself you'll feel somewhat vindicated as The Wachowski Brothers (who both directed and wrote the screenplay) triumph the ideal that believing in yourself and your fate in life can overcome everything...even something as all-consuming as The Matrix.

This isn't to say that the film is all deep philosophy and existentialism. The Brothers Wachowski and veteran action producer Joel Silver dish up the most original and exciting action scenes to hit the big screen since "T2". Bullets and bodies are twisted and manipulated in ways never dreamed of before and a stunning gun-battle in a skyscraper lobby give John Woo and his Hong Kong Elite a run for their money.

The cast performs well too. As I said early, this is Reeves best work since "Speed" and I don't think he's ever been better-suited to a role...ever. Forget "Bill and Ted"! Carrie-Ann Moss makes for one kick-butt female role-model while Australian actor Hugo Weaving is so darn good as the cold, mechanical Agent Smith that he emerges as the best villain I've seen since Darth Vadar.

In short: finding out just what The Matrix is could be the best thing you do in a movie theater all year. See it!!

A definite 10 out of 10!