By following up their debut thriller Bound with the 1999 box-office smash The Matrix, the co-directing Wachowski brothers--Andy and Larry--annihilated any suggestion of a sophomore jinx, crafting one of the most exhilarating sci-fi/action movies of the 1990s. With mind-boggling, technically innovative special effects and a thought-provoking script that owes a debt of inspiration to the legacy of cyberpunk fiction, this is much more than an out-and-out action yarn; it's a thinking man's journey into the realm of futuristic fantasy, a dreamscape full of eye candy that will satisfy sci-fi, kung fu, action and adventure fans alike. Although the film is headlined by Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne--who both turn in fine performances--much of the fun and excitement should be attributed to Carrie-Anne Moss, whose Trinity flawlessly mixes vulnerability with immense strength, making other contemporary female heroines look timid by comparison. And if we were going to cast a vote for most dastardly movie villain of 1999, it would have to go to Hugo Weaving, who plays the feckless, semi-psychotic Agent Smith with panache and edginess. As the film's box-office profits soared, the Wachowski brothers announced that The Matrix is merely the first chapter in a cinematically dazzling franchise. --Jeremy StoreyIn the Box Set: That this Collector's Edition should appear less than a year after The Matrix's first DVD release indicates the degree to which the film has become an instant classic and set the initial benchmark for DVD quality and extra features. The chunky black box (about the size of the yellow pages) houses a slide-out tray containing the DVD, eight original lobby cards, an original one-sheet movie poster, six black and white photographs and a movie image card with the corresponding 35mm film frame attached. As with all such sets the whole is rapidly diminished by removing its parts, presenting the dilemma of whether to mount the poster and pictures, or leave them pristine but unseen in their original state.
The DVD included is the same version available individually, including extensive behind-the-scenes features on the film's special effects. Contrary to the advertised contents, however, the disc does not contain the audio commentaries by Carrie-Anne Moss, editor Zach Staenberg and visual effects supervisor John Gaeta, or the music-only audio track with commentary by composer Don Davis (all of which are currently only available on the American version). --Steve Napleton
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