 The Animatrix (2003) Turns out, however, that I can. While I loved the original film and Matrix Reloaded, this anime claptrap is so specifically geared for younger and nerdier fans that it left me rethinking my devotion to the franchise. It's exactly the kind of thing that those who hate The Matrix would point to as an essential proof of how shallow and commercial the series is. Which is not to say it's unwatchable. The visuals are consistently engaging, and some of the storylines do shed some light on Reloaded's more ambiguous moments. There are nine short segments in all, none but "Final Flight of the Osiris" particularly groundbreaking visually, and most of them just rehash the same man vs. machine bullshit that every sci-fi flick has been doing since The Day the Earth Stood Still. But then, if you like this sort of thing, you'll like it. Just don't go into it looking for some kind of definitive anime experience. Even as a point of entry into that convoluted world, it's second-tier. Mostly I felt like I had spent the afternoon at Best Buy watching teens play videogames.
Review by Ann Finch |