The Matrix is a revelation. In a genre that was in danger of dying on its feet, this film breathed new life into its rotting corpse. The sci-fi action genre had been dragging its heels for years, with one Terminator/Robocop rip-off following another to the bottom shelf of your local video store. Word is that the Wachowski brothers took early footage of the Matrix to Warner Brothers execs. The execs were so impressed with what they saw that they doubled the movies budget there and then. They knew a good thing when they saw it.

The storyline to the Matrix isn't anything groundbreaking, similar stories have been told before, but never has the finished film been so well executed. The Wachowski's storyboarded the film meticulously, almost treating the film like a comic book. This can be seen on the screen as many shots are framed as if they are frames from a comic book, shots under characters arms, from behind characters heads etc.

Also adding to the comic book flavour is the introduction of flo-mo or bullet-time, as it is also known. Flo-mo allows the film to be slowed down AND the camera to move around the action as it moves. This gives a stunning effect, and one which has been copied to death since. Further adding to the mix is the inclusion of fight choreographer Yuen Wo Ping. Wo Ping is a veteran of the Honk Kong kung-fu movie and is a master of wirework. Wirework is the use of wires to suspend actors during fight scenes to give the illusion of flying/floating.

The film isn’t without its problems though. Whilst in the opening act and the last third of the film the action comes thick and fast and keeps the films pace very sprightly, the middle section sags a bit. What you get in the middle third is a lot of debate and a lot of chat about fate, destiny and other pretentious nonsense. The Wachowski’s clearly were trying to add weight to their film, but it just makes the middle section kind of boring.

Performance wise everyone does fine, except Reeves. He seems incapable of giving out any kind of emotion whatsoever. His wooden performance is practically the only thing wrong with this movie. Fishburne oozes a kind of knowing dignity in his performance. Moss is good in her biggest role to date. Hugo Weaving is worthy of note as the main agent. His sneering performance is perfect for the part.