The Matrix (1999)

I have seen this movie probably 30 times, and everytime, it is totally sweet. Neo, the one, teams up with Morpheus and his team to fight against the machines that have enslaved and basically farmed the human race. When this movie came out it was groundbreaking, both in concept and special effects. The idea that humans are all living in a dream world strikes a cord with anyone who has a love for science fiction. When I saw this movie as a teenager, my friends and I wanted nothing more than to learn Kung Fu by a computer and spar in The Matrix simulation room. The slow motion fight scenes, dodging bullets and defying gravity are now a mainstay of action films thanks to The Matrix. Keanu Reeves does not ruin this film the way he does others. His performance is similar to that in Bill & Ted's where acting like himself is all the acting that was required. Lawrence Fishburn is amazing in this film. The only performance of his that I have ever seen that is better than in The Matrix was in Branagh's Othello. The direction of this film is incredible; the hand to hand combat rivals any Japanese film and, as I mentioned, the gun fights are groundbreaking. Everytime I watch this movie, I enjoy it. I tried to make my wife watch it with me a few years ago, but she could not sit through the whole thing. I love this movie, and always will; I give The Matrix 3 and a half stars.