The Matrix DVD > Reviews > The ultimate conspiracy theory

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Outstanding
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Outstanding
Soundtrack	Outstanding

Advantages:	Story, Sound, Visuals
Disadvantages:	Not in DTS

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

One of the best films I have seen. I first watched this at the cinema and it made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end as I had heard nothing about the film before I went to watch it.
The acting is suitably moody and extremely effective with very little humour adding to the mood of this dark but action packed film.
It will appeal very much to techies and budding hackers who find solace in there PC and like nothing better than to “log on” of an evening, but it also appeals to a wide variety of other people (like me). I have talked to a few people who didn’t like it but they generally tend have only watched it once. It needs at least 2 viewings before everything becomes clear and the more times you watch it the more subtle hints to the Matrix become apparent (such as the slight green tinge to the movie whenever they are “in” the matrix – hardly noticeable unless you are looking out for it as it simply adds to the effectiveness of the film).

The sound effects are stunning on 5.1 surround and you can hear bullets ricocheting around the room, Some of the more subtle sound effects are the best like the sound of empty cartridge shells falling to the floor and the very subtle sound of Trinities footsteps coming out of the centre speaker when Neo finds himself in a strange nightclub.

The sound track is equally stunning and the music (mostly of the Rock/Grunge variety compliments the intensity of the movie. I purchased the soundtrack on CD too but it doesn’t quite give the same effect as when it is embedded into the movie.

The visual effects are equally stunning and the fight scenes are something to behold.
The “bullet time” sequences are extremely impressive (see extra’s for and explanation of “bullet time”.
The majority of the film, as far as I am aware, was filmed in Sydney and was meant to be a generic city with no name, which is why none of the landmarks look familiar (unless you know Sydney) all the background landmarks were edited out of the movie such as the Opera House. Either way, there is a feeling that all is not right with the world around us. The company Neo works for is called I seem to remember is called METACORTEX and the camera pans over the name on the building quite quickly increasing the subconscious awareness of MATRIX. There is also some more similar subconscious wording on a building (see if you can spot it).

Overall – This film alone justifies a home cinema system, if you have got a DVD player and you haven’t got this film, why have you got a DVD player.
Say no more – buy it!