Mike Goes To Movies

4. The Matrix (1999) I would say that The Matrix is hands-down one of the coolest films of recent time, however, the fact that it spawned a fashion movement that is, at best, unsettling to witness may slightly detract from the awesome impact of the film and its reception after release. In truth though, The Matrix inspired all action films and VFX that came after it in ways that cannot be understated. The revelation of the techno-mix of VFX kung-fu with bullet-dodging, gravity-warping fight scenes, was like nothing that had been seen on-screen before and a certain game changer for the sci-fi action genre. The plot itself, though dystopian like many other science fiction stories, subverts the usual tropes of its genre. Though it technically does take place in the future, it relates back to our own present time (then-1999). The film throws the audience for a complete spin by innovatively calling into question the complete reality that Neo (and, as a result, we, the audience) live ...

Is This The New Legitimate Era of Netflix? Though Netflix remains the controversial behemoth that it is - loved and hated in equal measure - this past weekend at the Academy Awards, the streaming service finally won big time... like really big time. During Sunday's awards show, the Mexican feature, Roma , directed and written by Alfonso Cuaron won three acclaimed Oscars for Best Foreign Film, Best Cinematography and Best Director. Now, Netflix has been nominated in the past and has actually won before, all of the wins and most of the nominations being in documentary categories. But with Roma,  the implicit acclaim of the awards it received boosts Netflix's credibility, most notably, to the naysayers within the film industry who continue to pan Netflix and other streaming services for diminishing the 'film experience', arguing that such services' content should not be eligible for film festivals or awards. Well, this past weekend's awards have pretty much cl...