The Matrix

Reviewed: June 16, 1999

It's been a strange summer at the box office so far.

The long awaited Star Wars: The Phantom Menace went for sudden death and now seems to be tailing off, with a healthy 300million dollars at the US box office.

Then along came Austin Powers 2 and knocked it off the top spot.

Amid these blockbusters (surefire, both of them) was The Matrix, a slow burner which took over $150million, and then some after seven weeks on the chart.

It opened in Britain last Friday and as a fan of comic books, good martial arts flicks, Carrie Anne Moss (as of last night) and Laurence Fishburne, I was frothing at the mouth, desperate to see it.

The result turned out to be a massive disappointment.

I won't rake over the story again - the tabloids have exhausted that avenue.

For me, here's the problems.

The movie takes itself far too seriously.

When Keanu has to clear his mind, you get the feeling it won't take him long. and the thought of him being the saviour of mankind? God help us all.

Keanu looks absurd doing martial arts.

It's incredibly grimy, not always a bad thing but it does tire after a while.

Hugo Weaving is not a bad villain but his slow patter also tires - Jeffrey Combs from The Frighteners would have been a better choice.

Reeves carries a little too much baggage to be convincing as the chosen one.

The relentless shootout is well staged but lacks style. Shades of T2, which has all been done before.

Now chances are, you'll be a little bored of all this slagging off by now so to be fair, the good points are as follows.

Laurence Fishburne is superb (as ever) playing Morpheus, leader of the resourceful rebels.

Carrie Anne Moss (trinity) is a slinky heroine who looks great and can act too. She may be the face of the new millennium.

The flo mo effects are superb - see the film now before the admen nick the gimmick. (Okay, so the Smirnoff ad did it two years ago but chances are every one else is going to jump on the bandwagon after the success of this).

The supporting cast are very good.

Excellent photography by Bill Pope

Fine soundtrack - any film which starts with a Massive Attack song has to be good.

At the end of the day, an entertaIning ride which offers value for money but seems strangely hollow.

rog crow 1999