Review – The Matrix

I usually don’t like to levy this particular criticism at films, because as a general principle I think it’s a reflex response commonly found in audience members with short attention spans. But let’s cut right to the chase here: this movie is way too damn long. It barely packs enough plot to sustain 90 minutes, let alone its actual length of nearly two and a half hours. The meandering “what is reality?” philosobabble that inundates most of the middle third of the film doesn’t help matters, either. When this film keeps moving it’s not too bad, but more often than not it thrashes around in techno-jargon and nonsense metaphysics. Further, genre aficionados will recognize big chunks of stolen plot from such unlikely sources as Tron, Videodrome, and at least a dozen other sci-fi and horror pictures. If you must see it, try to catch it either in the theater or in another venue with a big screen and loud speakers so the effects and soundtrack can better distract you from the cardboard dialogue and wooden acting. See if desperate