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The Matrix | 
 enlarge | Directors: Larry Wachowski, Andy Wachowski
Actors: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $12.98
Buy Used: $2.22
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Rating:  2953 reviews
Sales Rank: 1976
Format: Ac-3, Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Special Edition, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
DVD Layers: 2
DVD Sides: 1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 136 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.5 x 0.5
MPN: D17737D
ISBN: 0790742616
UPC: 085391773726
EAN: 9780790742618
ASIN: B00000K19E
Theatrical Release Date: March 31, 1999
Release Date: September 21, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: GOOD CONDITION
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Amazon.com essential video
By following up their debut thriller Bound with the 1999 box-office smash The Matrix, the codirecting Wachowski brothers--Andy and Larry--annihilated any suggestion of a sophomore jinx, crafting one of the most exhilarating sci-fi/action movies of the 1990s. Set in the not too distant future in an insipid, characterless city, we find a young man named Neo (Keanu Reeves). A software techie by day and a computer hacker by night, he sits alone at home by his monitor, waiting for a sign, a signal--from what or whom he doesn't know--until one night, a mysterious woman named Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) seeks him out and introduces him to that faceless character he has been waiting for: Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne). A messiah of sorts, Morpheus presents Neo with the truth about his world by shedding light on the dark secrets that have troubled him for so long: "You've felt it your entire life, that there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is, but it's there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad." Ultimately, Morpheus illustrates to Neo what the Matrix is--a reality beyond reality that controls all of their lives, in a way that Neo can barely comprehend. Neo thus embarks on an adventure that is both terrifying and enthralling. Pitted against an enemy that transcends human concepts of evil, Morpheus and his team must train Neo to believe that he is the chosen champion of their fight. With mind-boggling, technically innovative special effects and a thought-provoking script that owes a debt of inspiration to the legacy of cyberpunk fiction, this is much more than an out-and-out action yarn; it's a thinking man's journey into the realm of futuristic fantasy, a dreamscape full of eye candy that will satisfy sci-fi, kung fu, action, and adventure fans alike. Although the film is headlined by Reeves and Fishburne--who both turn in fine performances--much of the fun and excitement should be attributed to Moss, who flawlessly mixes vulnerability with immense strength, making other contemporary female heroines look timid by comparison. And if we were going to cast a vote for most dastardly movie villain of 1999, it would have to go to Hugo Weaving, who plays the feckless, semipsychotic Agent Smith with panache and edginess. As the film's box-office profits soared, the Wachowski brothers announced that The Matrix is merely the first chapter in a cinematically dazzling franchise--a chapter that is arguably superior to the other sci-fi smash of 1999 (you know... the one starring Jar Jar Binks). --Jeremy Storey
Description
Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells of a computer hacker (Reeves) who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth. The computers are powered by human beings...DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Commentary by C. Moss, J. Gaeta, & Z. Staenberg
Featurette:"Bullet Time" Featurette (6:01) "What is the Concept" Featurette (10:50)
Music Clips:2.0 Music only with commentary
Other:HBO 1st Look Special: Making the Matrix (25:48) "White Rabbit" Clips (22:22) [4x3]
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2948 more reviews...
 Two Thumbs Up from a Non Sci Fi Guy September 5, 2008
J. The Bigdaddytoy (everywhere, USA)
As annoying as Keanu C. Reeves can be, this is his ultimate role! The 44 year old Canadian actor whose middle name is Charles plays Neo who is most unlike his character in the 1989 comedy Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.
Released in 1999 and written and directed by the Wachowski brothers this film takes the viewer into a dismal future for mankind in the year 2199. As ubiquitous as today's World Wide Web is, this film goes in a direction that takes electronic machines and their artificial intelligence to the extreme in which they take captive 99% of humanity.
As dependent on machines, the internet and technology as we are - could all of that become greater than us and in turn rely on us for its survival? You decide, this movie is in my personal top three movies I have ever seen!
"No Fear, No Doubt, No Disbelief." September 4, 2008
V.L.Sullivan (Oakland,California)
When 'THE MATRIX' first came out, I resisted the hype that began to surround it once all of the reviews--by laymen and professionals alike--started coming in.
About a year after it's cinematic release, when it was available on pay-per-view, on a night when I was bored stiff, with absolutely nothing else to do, I invested $4.99 just to see what all the hyperbole was all about.
Excuse my French... but, M***** F*****! Induct the Wachowski brothers into the movie making hall of fame right now!
If they never make another film, (which they obviously have, considering that there's now a 'Matrix' trilogy. UGH!)this one fantastic movie, of it's own accord, justifies their having a place of prominence in the pantheon of the all time great producers / directors in cinematic history.
Being an intelligent, thoughtful, highly analytical and conscious individual, the mental stimulation which I derived from this finely nuanced film was enough to make me giddy.
In essence, this film was really just one long testament to my favorite philosophical axiom, which states that, "The person who thinks they can, and the person who thinks that they cant, are both right." For all the characters in this movie, it was all about one thing: 'belief'.
"SOUND BYTES"
NEO: "So what are you telling me... that I can dodge bullets?"
MORPHEUS: "No! When you're ready... you won't have to." When Neo just says "No!", you will literally jump out of your seat and stand up and cheer. nancy Reagan
The Greatest Science Fiction Movie EVER September 1, 2008
Zachary Koenig (Fergus Falls, MN)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Wake Up, Neo".
With those three seemingly simple words, the entire concept of the Matrix is born. Part science fiction, part philosophical musing, part action-adventure, "The Matrix" is, pure and simple, the most well-crafted science fiction film of all-time.
The film, set in a human future where machines control the human race and use humans much like we currently use batteries, centers on the fate of one man, Neo (Keanu Reeves), who is awakened to this terrible existence. Much like the viewers of the film, Neo must figure out what is real and what is not, who to believe and who to fight.
The real gem hidden within this film, however, is its commentary on the CURRENT human condition, or specifically how we continue to design smarter and smarter machines that may one day be our downfall. Plus, the absolutely unbelievable/horrible future that awaits us is so unforgiving that viewers can't help but cheer for the protagonists, even if we will go back to our AI the next day at work.
The acting in this movie has been much-maligned, but the characters (while truly not very emotive) are almost MEANT to have a sort of philosophical tone to them. Neo is the confused savior, Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) is the unflappable leader, and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) is the experienced sidekick. Also, the villainous "Agent Smith" (Hugo Weaving) will make you want to see him absolutely annihilated (the sign of a truly good villain!).
Of course, the special effects in this film are absolutely stunning, what with the use of "Bullet Time" (where the lightning action is slowed down to miniscule movements without losing any clarity).
Overall, this is a masterpiece science fiction film, combining an extraordinarily engaging plot, very able-bodied protagonists and antagonists, as well as special effects that, at the time of the film's release, were cutting edge. So, if you are looking for a film that will have you deep in contemplation days after viewing, but will also make you say "Whoa" (to quote Neo) while viewing, this film is for you.
One of the great Sci-Fi movies of all time... August 31, 2008
Neal W. Grant (San Diego, CA)
What more can I say? Nothing like this movie had ever been seen before. It revolutionized cinematography wth "Bullet-time" and created a multi-million dollar franchise that spawned two additional movies, a video game, an animated film...Great story, great effects, if you haven't seen this yet, where have you been?
Simulacrum and Simulation August 25, 2008
Count Orlok '22 (Maine)
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
WARNING: This review contains spoilers! DO NOT READ THIS UNTIL YOU'VE SEEN THE FILM!
Every once in a great while a film comes along that changes everything and revolutionizes the way films are made. It happened with Fritz Lang's Metropolis, Orson Welles' Citizen Kane, Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Steven Spielberg's Jaws, and George Lucas' Star Wars... now we are given Andy and Larry Wachowski's The Matrix. The Matrix not only has a cool, cyberpunk, hyper stylized look and jaw-dropping special effects, it also features an intelligent story that is often overlooked by the mindless action junkies. The story unfolds at a feverish pace while we, the viewers, are given the thrill ride of a lifetime.
Thomas Anderson worked a menial desk job at a major software company. In his spare time he leads a double life as Neo, a computer hacker, and it is as Neo that he gained the attention of some very strange people. One night, after falling asleep in front of his computer, Neo wakes up to find a message flashing on the monitor. "Wake up, Neo... The Matrix has you... Follow the white rabbit. Knock, knock." Not two seconds after reading this message, the door knocks. It's only one of Neo's friends stopping by to pick up a disc, or is it? Neo notices that his friend's girlfriend has a tattoo of a white rabbit on her shoulder, so naturally when he's invited to go to a rave he agrees out of curiosity. Once there, Neo is overwhelmed by the blaring rock music, the flashing strobe lights, and he's just considering leaving when a beautiful woman dressed in a slinky black outfit approaches him. She introduces herself as Trinity, a name that Neo is already familiar with. She's an expert hacker and an ally to Morpheus, a mysterious man that the authorities are after. Trinity tells Neo that he's in danger, that she understands him and his growing feeling of disenchantment, that she can help him, and that Morpheus can answer the question that's been eating away at his subconscious: What is the matrix?
The next morning Neo wakes up and realizes that he's late for work. When he arrives there his boss lectures him saying, "You have a problem with authority, Mr. Anderson. You believe that you are special, that somehow the rules do not apply to you. Obviously, you are mistaken." After his reprimand his day only gets worse. He receives a FedEx package containing a cellular phone, which immediately begins to ring. When he answers it he hears, for the first time, the voice of Morpheus. "I don't know if you're ready to see what I want to show you, but unfortunately you and I have run out of time. They're coming for you and I don't know what they're going to do." Over the phone Morpheus gives Neo instructions to on how to escape the building without being seen, but Neo fails to follow these instructions. He's taken into the custody of several strange agents, who interrogate him and plant him with a "bug".
Neo wakes up the next day believing that all the events of the previous day had been a dream, until he gets a phone call from Morpheus who cryptically tells Neo that he is "The One". They agree to meet at a safe location. When Trinity picks up Neo, she asks him to lift his shirt because she thinks he may be "bugged". Trinity reveals a large, awkward, high tech contraption that she uses to locate and remove the "bug". She then takes Neo to an old deserted building where he finally meets Morpheus face to face. Morpheus asks Neo if he wants to know the truth about the Matrix. He explains that no one can be told what the Matrix is, that they have to see it for themselves. Morpheus produces two pills and then offers Neo a choice: Take the blue pill and his life will return to normal, but if he takes the red pill Morpheus will reveal to him the mystery of the Matrix. Neo, with a little hesitation, takes the red pill and his world begins to dissolve, literally. The next thing he knows is that he's naked, covered with cords and wires that are plugged into his body, and that the vat of amniotic fluid he's been sleeping in is suddenly drained away, pulling him down through a series of tunnels and depositing him in a lake of waste. A large airship comes to his rescue and removes him from the grimy water. When Neo reawakens, Morpheus tells him that his entire world, his entire existence was fabricated, that he had been subjugated by an illusory reality designed to keep him compliant. The real world turns out to be a nightmare and the nightmare a reality. In the real world, the machines have long ago developed artificial intelligence, and taken over the surface of the planet as they use human beings as their energy source. The Matrix, as it turns out, is nothing more than an elaborate set of programs meant to deceive human beings so that the machines may parasitically feed off their semi-conscious bodies. Neo's life has been an empty dream world... but there is hope.
Morpheus has been leading a band of freedom fighters who live in the real world and hack into the Matrix through a pirate signal, to free humanity from the clutches of the machines. Morpheus tells Neo of a techno-mystical prophecy that one day a man will be born who will liberate humankind and end the war between the living and the mechanical. Morpheus trains Neo to become their champion in a virtual reality simulator, where Neo learns martial arts. He is also taught how to adapt his mind so that when he next enters the Matrix, he will be able to fortify himself for protection as well as bypass the laws of physics (mainly gravity). But they also face great obstacles, both in and out of the Matrix. In the real world they must deal with Sentinels, robots that are squid like in appearance and armed with a deadly arsenal. Within the Matrix, there's the threat of the Agents who eliminate any dissenters. Of these Agents, Agent Smith is the most dangerous for his programming was flawed. He is capable of experiencing human emotions such as ambition, pride, and a general contempt for all organic living things. Soon Neo, Morpheus, and Trinity have begun a revolution from which there can be no turning back. They will either end the tyranny of the machines or be crushed in the attempt.
The concept that our perceived reality is a mere illusion is by no means revolutionary. Since ancient times, philosophers and scientists have suggested the possibility of alternate realities which are only accessible through the mind. What makes The Matrix so fascinating is that it combined this metaphysical idea with modern technology, contemporary politics, social counterculture, and martial arts action. The film also has an underlying spirituality and frequently makes references to world religions and mythologies. The iconic characters are played to perfection by a talented cast including Keanu Reeves as Neo, Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus, Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity, Joe Pantoliano as Cypher, and Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith. Though it was released in 1999, The Matrix has often been cited as the film that ushered in the new millennium. It is a high energy, thought provoking modern masterpiece.
Also recommended:
Philip K. Dick: Five Novels of the 1960s & 70s
The Philosophy of Science Fiction Film
Metropolis
2001: A Space Odyssey
Star Wars Trilogy
Blade Runner
The Terminator
Brazil
Dark City
The Matrix: Music From The Motion Picture
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