Larry Wachowski & Andy Wachowski

The Matrix
*****
5/5

Keanu Reeves reclaims his action-hero crown in this super-smart science-fiction adventure set across two dimensions. Thematically complex, yet intelligently integrating eastern philosophy, Lewis Carroll and ancient mysticism, the film has Reeves as Neo, a reclusive computer hacker who may be able to save the world from the evils of cyberspace slavery. Taking a quantum leap beyond anything the fantasy sensation seeker has seen before in the special-effects department, Andy and Larry Wachowski mix ultra-cool visuals, vertigo-inducing kung fu and a deliciously paranoid scenario for an adrenalin-pumping rollercoaster ride of extraordinary vision and astounding power. This genre milestone pushed the boundaries of imagination and digital-effects technology further than ever before.

(1999)
US   Colour   136 mins


The Matrix Reloaded
***
3/5

Creating a sequel to the superlative sci-fi action blockbuster The Matrix was always going to be a Herculean task. The Wachowski brothers set themselves such a high standard to compete with, that the second chapter in their epic man-versus-machines trilogy was never likely to match the impact of the first. To their credit, the duo do succeed in equalling the original's awe factor here, adding a handful of fantastic — though underused — new villains and delivering an array of astonishing set pieces, as Neo (Keanu Reeves) and his associates fight to save Zion, Earth's last human enclave. Disappointingly, however, such elements fail to lift a film that suffers from stilted dialogue, cheesy scripting and a surprisingly plodding pace. Had the Wachowskis centred their storyline within the “anything's possible” world of the Matrix, as opposed to the drab and inactive confines of “reality”, they would have struck gold again. Instead, they produced a mediocre stopgap until the final instalment, The Matrix Revolutions.

(2002)
US / AUS   Colour   132 mins


The Matrix Revolutions
***
3/5

Continuing straight on from the events of Reloaded, the first hour of this more substantial second sequel plays like an extended version of the previous film: annoyingly cryptic conversations, overfamiliar acrobatic shoot-outs and inert pacing. But, in a great second half, the Wachowski brothers get the trilogy back on track, as humans in huge combat armour battle valiantly to protect their Zion stronghold against a million robotic Sentinels. Both technically and artistically, this extended siege is perhaps the most impressive set piece of the series, while Keanu Reeves's journey as Neo culminates in a gravity-defying, rain-soaked duel with Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) that is moody superhero spectacle par excellence. Performances are of a better standard than Reloaded, too, and although the perpetual vibe of self-importance and climactic slabs of cyber-cheese do undermine some remarkable film-making, the integration of action, emotion, plot and character arcs is more satisfying this time around.

(2003)
US   Colour   123 mins