With over 2,000 reviews, there is no sense discussing the movie so I will just address this to readers wondering if the Blu-Ray transfer is as good as they, perhaps, have heard.

Yes, it is - it's incredble. I am not a particular fan of the film, especially the sequels, so I say these remarks with no bias. I just rented this first "Matrix" to see how it looked. Well, it Blu (pun intended) me away!! At this point, I've seen around 50 Blu-Ray DVDs and this is as good as it gets. I can't imagine how you could make it any better. It's so sharp, I just sat there mesmerized by it. The sound also is outstanding....another upgrade. I've seen this movie three times now and I swear I heard a lot of background talk and stuff I never heard before.

So....if you read that the audio and visuals are 5-star caliber - believe it; it's true.

The Matrix is an excellent movie that combines science fiction, shoot-em-up action, and philosophical questions about the nature of Reality. If you are plugged in to a computer, and that computer presents you with a reality that is completely indistinguishable from your own, is it any less real?
This movie has exceptional special effects, beautiful cinematography, an excellent soundtrack, well-crafted dialogue, and respectable acting. Keanu Reeves may be a lousy actor, but I think that the Matrix is probably his best performance to date.
The Platinum Limited Edition isn't really worth the extra money unless you're an absolute, die-hard, take the red pill, freak. I wish I had known that before ordering this product. It comes in a box about as thick as an encyclopedia, and is fairly large, so it won't fit on the shelf with the rest of your DVDs. Opening it up, I was rather disappointed -- most of the volume is filled with a cheap plastic tray that contains a celluloid clip of the film with a blown-up photo (decent, but nothing fantastic), a few postcard-sized stills from the movie, and a copy of the normal DVD in a normal case. Nothing fantastic. For this money, I was expecting a DVD with DTS sound, alternate angles, deleted scenes, etc., but just got the same old Matrix disc. A major drag.
Do yourself a favor. Buy the basic copy.

(What is the Matrix). In 1977, George Lucas changed the landscape of cinematic Science Fiction forever with "Star Wars," taking the genre light years ahead of all that preceded it. Such a momentous advancement would not be seen again for over twenty years, when, in 1999, the Wachowski Brothers raised the bar again, taking the genre at warp speed to an unprecedented level with their astoundingly innovative film, "The Matrix." Co-directed, written and produced by Larry and Andy Wachowski, it is an allegory of salvation and redemption filled with symbolism and metaphor (the Biblical references alone should keep theology students debating this one for years to come); a thinking man's action film, accentuated with moments that are no less than profound. In a world of the future, things are literally not what they seem, where it's Man versus Machine, Reality versus Fantasy, and few who know the truth; among those who do, is Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), who has long awaited the arrival of "The One," who it has been prophesied will be the salvation of the world. Enter Neo (Keanu Reeves), a computer programmer with an innate sense of discrepancy as to the state of things around him; he has questions, most of which are still in the process of being formulated in his own mind. (What is the Matrix). Morpheus has answers. And when they meet, it's Alice down the rabbit hole, and Neo's life is changed forever. Reeves is perfectly cast as Neo, the enigmatic young man who may or may not be "The One," and it's one of the best roles of his career. He conveys a sense of removed, distracted urgency that defines his character, infusing him with both a strength and vulnerability that coalesces as the story progresses into determination and confidence.Read more ›

This movie must be seen twice in order to be fully appreciated. The first viewing should be spent enjoying it for its eye-popping special effects, for its outrageous action, for its killer industrial soundtrack, and for the pleasure of watching Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss run around looking fabulous.
The second viewing should be spent contemplating the questions The Matrix raises about our perception of reality. It's hard to believe that such a slick, glossy production starring Keanu Reeves conveys such deep, mind-boggling concepts, but it does.
The directing Wachowski brothers (the guys responsible for the wonderfully outrageous Bound), have been influenced heavily by other filmmakers, authors and artists, and they don't try to hide it in the least. However, rather than a blatant rip-off, this plays more like a reverent homage.
Laurence Fishburne projects a powerful presence as the wise Morpheus, although it often seems that he employed William Shatner as his dialogue coach. Keanu Reeves is in his element. The Matrix maximizes his strengths (his ability to look completely dumbfounded and his unique physicality) and minimizes his weaknesses (just about everything else). The role of Neo is tailor-made for him. The real standout in the cast, however, is Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity. She is a real find, and while she is stunning in a shiny black cat suit, her purpose in this film is not simply ornamental. She is responsible for at least half of this movie's excitement, and she gives it its emotional heart.
The Matrix is two movies in one. One is a truly awesome action movie, and the other is a deep meditation on the nature of reality. It can be enjoyed equally on both levels, but maybe not on first viewing. See it at least twice.
Stay tuned after the credits for 4 behind-the-scenes vignettes, one of which shows Reeves, in full wicked-bad regalia, perform a hilarious, unintentional pratfall.