This engaging science fiction film is the brainchild of the Wachowski Brothers.Also known for their controversial criminal drama "Bound", the brothers wrote and directed this engaging cyber-punk thriller.With high-speed martial arts action, and groundbreaking special effects, The Matrix has truly set a new standard for science fiction films to follow.

Warning- The following section may contain plot spoilers. Story-In an indeterminate future, the world is controlled by robots that harvest humans.Neo ( Keanu Reeves) is a computer hacker who is rescued and recruited by a small band of humans (Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, and others).This group, led by Fishburne, believes that Neo may be the man spoken of in prophecy that will save the entire human race from the control of the robots.They must wage this campaign in an alternate reality created by the robots to keep humans in an unconscious state.The small band of heroes are constantly on the run from black-suited agents, led by newcomer Hugo Weaving (if you really want a treat, watch the making of feature on the disc to hear Weaving's real-life accent). This movie contains a high level of violence, but most of it is bloodless.There is not much gore to speak of, and the language is kept to a minimum.The R-rating is definitely deserved due to the violence, and some shocking sci-fi scenes.But overall this is a fairly tame R-rated movie when compared to some of the other films out there.

Picture-The extensive use of digital photography throughout this film lends itself well to the DVD medium.The colors are vibrant in the "digital " world, and toned down in the scenes of the "real" world.This contrast adds to the effect of the movie.The only reason that I didn't give this movie an A+ for picture, was due to some slight grain in some darker areas of the movie.It was not severe, but I would expect better from such a high-tech movie (ex. Shaded area under the desk in the phone delivery to Neo's cubicle). Sound-The 5.1 Dolby surround sound on this disc was flawless.From the soft spoken words of Fishburne, to the ambient techno tracks present in many of the fight scenes, I was astonished by the clarity and creativity used in this film's audio.For example, chapter 29 combines the sounds of multiple machine guns firing, with bullet shells and wall debris hitting the ground.Add the bass-heavy techno soundtrack, and you get an action sequence that is capable of getting the adrenaline pumping in even the calmest viewer (try it out on grandma just for fun).The directors have done a great job of immersing the audience in the environments they have created.

Warner has presented us with a wealth of features on this disc.The most innovative of which is called "Follow the White Rabbit".This extra allows you to step out of the movie at certain points to view a documentary on how the special effects in that scene were created.There is also a cast/crew commentary, audio-only track, a trivia game, and more documentaries.Add to that, some DVD-ROM features such as the screenplay or storyboards, and you get a disc that is worth picking up.

The Matrix is a great addition to any DVD fan's collection.The action is relentless, and the special effects break new ground (plenty of other movies are already using some of the visual strategies from The Matrix). This is a movie for anyone who enjoys science fiction or martial arts movies.If you are not interested in those genres, the technical marvels of this film will still likely draw you in, and you can count on the plot to put you on the edge of your seat for a couple of hours.