90s Movie Review - The Matrix

Director: Lana Wachowski, Lily Wachowski
Genre: Action/ Science Fiction/ Thriller
Runtime: 136 minutes
Year: 1999
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano, Anthony Ray Parker, Gloria Foster, Marcus Chong, Juluan Arahanga, Matt Doran, Belinda McGlory, Paul Goddard, Robert Taylor

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 4: FIRST MOVIE IN A TRILOGY
 
Description: When a beautiful stranger leads computer hacker Neo (Keanu Reeves) to a forbidden underworld, he discovers the shocking truth – the life he know is the elaborate deception of an evil cyber-intelligence.  

Review: The mysterious Morpheus recruits hacker Neo and tries to open his mind to the truths lurking within The Matrix.
Since 1999, “The Matrix” has been seen as an influential film that has left a big impression on the American film industry in terms of action/ special effects. The well-organized action scenes offer clear homage to martial arts films, and the many effects still stand strong after many year.
Despite the fact that this film was made in 1999, the film has passed me by all these years. I had seen bits and pieces, but never saw the entire film.
The concept is engaging, makes you think and contains plenty of philosophical issues appropriate withing the science fiction genre. Carefully, the rules of the world are first explained and revealed to the viewer. This brings endless exposition, but is absolutely necessary. Because it’s all quite complex. Later we focus on the action.
I understand why “The Matrix” has so many fans and is as successful as it is. And I’m happy I finally got around to see it. It will not end up on my favorites lists, because it’s simply not really my cup of tea. Even though I believe it’s a really good movie, I will probably never rewatch it.

Rating: 4/ 5

10s Movie Review - Pompeii

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Genre: Action/ Drama
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: Kit Harington, Kiefer Sutherland, Emily Browning, Carrie-Ann Moss, Jared Harris, Jessica Lucas, Adewale Akunnuoye-Agbaje

Description: A slave-turned-gladiator (Kit Harington) finds himself in a race against time to save his true love (Emily Browning), who has been betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator (Kiefer Sutherland). As Mount Vesuvius erupts, he must fight to save his beloved as Pompeii crumbles around him.

Review: Okay, I like honesty. The only reason I watched this movie is Kit Harington. Because I think he is perfect. And this movie definitely isn’t.
In Hollywood there is trendsetters and you have the ones that follow those trends. Directors like James Camermon and Ridley Scott are trendsetters. Their work has set the bar high for director of later generations. Like Paul W.S. Anderson, a definite follower of those trends. Most of his movies are lesser and more unoriginal versions of those films.
“Pompeii” is in fact a combination of “Gladiator” and “Titanic”. I love the first and hate the last, so that’s not good. And that’s kind of sad, because I think the Roman city of Pompeii deserves a good film. It has an interesting story.
You have to give it to him. Paul W.S. Anderson always has to work with a relatively small budget and they always make a whole lot of money. But they have never been very well received.
Since “Gladiator”, any movie about the Roman empire seems to deal with the concept of gladiators. And “Pompeii” is not any different. Kit Harington plays Milo, a Celtic gladiator, brought to Pompeii for a tournament. When he enters the city, he meets Cassia. She belongs to the Roman elite, but she someone sees through all the differences and off course they fall for each other.
The story is not special, the characters are one-dimensional and everything is really predictable. But Kit Harington is still perfect…

Rating: 2 / 5