Can't believe I nearly missed this
My favourite film is The Matrix, although I do realise it's not the BEST film ever made, a subject to which I have given less thought. Probably The Shawshank Redemption or Lawrence of Arabia.

Alt: I have a soft spot for "Just cos a fucker's got a library card doesn't make him Yoda" from Se7en

AltAltAlt: David Cronenbourg's Crash. Utterly pointless, except to serve as a disturbed wank fantasy, which I assume is why the Canadian mentalist made it in the first place.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 20 Sep 2011, 14:12, 1 reply, 15 years ago)

The Matrix is an absolutely excellent film, although it is dragged down when shown alongside the two sequels.
I've never seen Lawrence of Arabia though.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 20 Sep 2011, 14:14, Reply)

Agreed on all counts
When it was released it was a genuine game-changer, and if treated in isolation remains one of the best action movies ever made.

Lawrence of Arabia is a phenomenal achievement and well worth seeking out - but make sure you have a comfy chair to watch it in. And, ideally, a colostomy bag.
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 20 Sep 2011, 14:19, Reply)

The choreography of the fight scenes in the first one is just phenomenal
Especially the one in the dojo between Neo and Morpheus.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 20 Sep 2011, 14:22, Reply)

OK, that'll do it.
Matrix was sub-par at best.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 20 Sep 2011, 14:22, Reply)

You, sir, are wrong.

( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 20 Sep 2011, 14:23, Reply)

it was quite pretty and the action sequences were done well
But the basic premiss was fatally flawed, the acting was poor and there are far better films.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 20 Sep 2011, 14:28, Reply)

Excellent choice
Now you've said that, neither AA nor anyone else ever needs to take your opinion on anything seriously ever again
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 20 Sep 2011, 14:24, Reply)

You mean anybody did already?
amazing
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 20 Sep 2011, 14:29, Reply)

The action scenes are good. The plot device is fairly sound.
The dialogue on the other hand... When I went to the cinema to see it, I was on the verge of chewing my own knuckles off at the cringeworthiness of it.

The sequels are a monumental river of pish, though.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Tue 20 Sep 2011, 14:27, Reply)

The dialogue is pretty terrible
But for me, the fight scenes, and the concept are simply fantastic.

It's probably still the best choreography I've seen in any Hollywood film.
( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 20 Sep 2011, 14:32, Reply)

Must... not... argue... by... invoking... Fred and Ginger...
TOP HAT

Damn
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Tue 20 Sep 2011, 14:37, Reply)

I mean fighting.

( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Tue 20 Sep 2011, 14:38, Reply)

The concept has been done many times before and better
in books, which is probably why most people think the film was so awesome, they've not read the books. great fight scenes do no a good film make.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Tue 20 Sep 2011, 14:43, Reply)

I loved the concept of a computer generated dreamworld
I hated the idea that they could somehow use humans to generate electricity.

They'd use fusion. And if they did have to use animals as batteries why not cows? The dreamworld would be way easier to design and if any cow didn't play ball they could just bbq them.
( Peej, Tue 20 Sep 2011, 15:30, Reply)