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

00s Movie Review - Memento

Director: Christopher Nolan
Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2000
Starring: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Mark Boone Jr., Joe Pantoliano, Jorja Fox, Stephen Tobolowsky

Description: Leonard (Guy Pearce) is a man with short-term memory loss and is trying to track down his wife’s murderer.

Review: Leonard Shelby is on the search for the killer of his wife. This search isn’t easy for him, since he suffers from short-term memory loss and can’t make new memories. To remember things, he shoots polaroid photos of important people and objects and writes notes on them. He also collects important facts that he later tattoos on his body. During his hunt for the killer, he gets help from a guy named Teddy, but also a woman named Natalie. But with his condition, it’s really hard to trust people and see if one is lying or not.
The story is pretty basic. It’s the way the story is told that makes “Memento” a unqique one-of-a-kind film. The story is told starting from the end, going all the way back to the beginning. Director Christopher Nolan is really screwing with your mind and us viewers know just as much as Leonard does. Each scene ends with the moment the previous scene starts with. And all the pieces of the puzzle eventually come together. And all though it sounds very confusing and you need to keep your focus, it’s not as complex as it sounds.
“Memento” is definitely one of the most original films I’ve ever seen and after seeing it multiple times you appreciate it more and more. It’s an unforgettable film 😉

Rating: 5/ 5