So What is the Matrix?  Just like the movie tag line, I can not tell you what the Matrix is, it must be seen, to be understood.
As much as I would love to give a rundown of the film,  it's best to stay mum for anyone who hasn't experienced it already (shame on you!! :-)
At any rate, you have Keanu Reeves as Neo, computer geek by day, computer hacker by night, Laurence Fishburne is Morpheus, this movies equivalent of a Jedi Master, Then there's Hugo Weaving, who plays possibly the most evil character ever to grace the screen, To counteract the overload of testosterone, is Carrie-Anne Moss, as the computer hacking kung-fu babe, Trinity.  Last but not least is Joe Pantaliano (Cypher), who will no doubt become a Wachowski brothers film regular.

The Matrix is the Star Wars for the new Millenium, and kicks its arse way into it.   That incredible sleekness and style used throughout the awesome Bound, is carried over into the Matrix.  These guys have the gift when it comes to visual flare.   Overhead crane shots, unique points of view, and their best trait, slow motion speed changes in the middle of an action scene....Someone simply opening a car door and getting out in slowmo has never looked so damn cool.

So How Does This Transfer Hold Up??
This is the second Roadshow DVD to be authored by US based WAMO (The Matrix was another joint venture with Warner)
Anamorphic and framed at 2.35:1, this is essentially a killer looking picture.   Though there are a few hints of grain (which generally seem confined to the beginning of the film on walls in the background as well as some sign of grain on peoples faces, (most likely due to the intentional filtering to enhance the "green" at this point) The very unique look is perfectly captured for this DVD release.  Sharpness is virtually dead on throughout, and this picture also shows great depth and detail.  Colours are strong and vivid, while at the same time remaining faithful in their look, with respect to the intentional saturation of green and blue, relating to scene locations.
Any signs of alaising went pretty much unnoticed, and what I did see, was well, of no real concern , it was very well under control throughout.  (thank god)
This chocka block DVD is dual layered with the movie split over the two layers.  the layer change occurs at 59:12 from chapter 18 to 19.  It's probably the only place in the movie were everyone is taking a moment and is not at all disruptive.
When I saw this film...just a few times...at the movies, the picture quality for all viewing was bloody awful, it was riddled with so much grain It almost drove me nuts (especially the interrogation scene...nasty) and since getting into DVD I have in the middle of the movies thought to myself ....self, you must get this on DVD , and my fingers were crossed that the DVD version of the Matrix would be in pristine condition, and it almost is.....

The Dolby Digital 5.1 English only soundtrack does nothing but TOP the superb picture quality on offer here.  I have no doubt that this Region 4 DVD will become 'the new' Demo disc in Australian homes and stores.  The Audio is reference quality from start to finish.   If your neighbours have ever hated you before, then I suggest you pack up your toys and move now!!!!
The Matrix has the sort of soundtrack that sounds better and better the loud it's played.   The sound-mix is so complex that you really need to crank this baby up to hear ever little detail (and there is so much happening it's not funny...no wonder there were reports of people getting sick from watching/hearing this movie at the cinemas)

To complement a great picture and awesome sound is a collection of goodies that no doubt will be fighting it out with the Ghostbusters special Ed.

The feature that was most impressive on this DVD was "Follow the White Rabbit"
Have you even wondered how the hell they did 'that' stunt in a movie, well with this feature, when you see such a stunt a White rabbit appears on the lower right side of you screen, when you see it, you press the ENTER button on your remote and you are taken to a behind the scenes Featurette that will show you exactly how it was done. 
This feature is utilised throughout the movie to show all the major stunts, and each Featurette generally runs about 3 minutes.  Once the Featurette is over, you are returned to the movie from the point you left.  BRILLIANT BRILLIANT BRILLIANT
To activate this feature you MUST goto the Special features menu, called The Dream World and select the option from there as it DOES NOT show up during a normal viewing of the movie .  The white rabbit feature is contained on Subtitle track 2 and is NOT directly accessible thru the subtitle options, in fact for normal movie watching, the Matrix is located on TITLE 1 of the DVD, whereas the whiterabbit feature uses TITLE 6 (though the movie has not been encoded twice)

The second audio track of this DVD contains a running commentary with Special FX man John Gaeta, Actress Carrie Anne Moss, and Film Editor Zach Staenberg (who also edited Bound)
While there are quite a few dead spaces during the comm track, there is still some very interesting info divulged about the making of the Matrix, it's a pity that Carrie Anne disappeared for a large chuck of the commentary as when all three where talking it was the most fun to listen in on.

The third audio track is an isolated music only track, with Composer Don Davis's commentary during the silent moments.  It's a pity he didn't actually talk more, even over the audio (would defeat the purpose of a music track but hey), as he told some great stories, and it was very informative. 
The music itself was great to listen to and I was amazed as to how much of the music goes unnoticed when mixed with dialogue and sound effects.  Definitely worth a listen, even if you're dottering around doing something else at the time.

This is Roadshow first DVD to use Hidden features, by finding the Blue and red pills, you will see 2 features
What is bullet time - in which FX man John Gaeta goes thru the process of creating a bullet time sequence (runs about 6 minutes)
and What is the concept (a montage of conceptual artwork backed with audio)...found this one pretty boring actually (runs about 11 minutes)

Making the Matrix is well, the making of the Matrix.  this is a great behind the scenes look with cast and crew interviews, and lots of other goodies.   it runs about 26 minutes and is encoded in Dolby Digital 2.0 surround (sounds great to)

Finally on the DVD player side of things is a selection of Cast and Crew Biographies (the one on the Wachowski brothers is quite funny)

Oops, no there is also the Dolby City Trailer...sorry (and you won't find THAT on a the region1 version either)

If the above list of extras doesn't impress you (please take a moment to check your pulse) then you'll be pleased to know that This is the first Roadshow DVD to include DVD-Rom features (PC based only, not Mac, sorry)
Thanks to my slow arse Pentium, some features are not accessible (it's too damn slow), however, I was able to suss out a far bit of the ROM based goodies as they are mostly HTML based. 
So, what I was able to look at from the main menu was
Matrix Events which is the on-line chat.  Unfortunately it was run on the 6th November, but the on-line transcript is available.
The One, a game in which you must answer a series of questions or be kill by the sentinels.  You get to view sequences from the movie that have the clues in it, but again (my slow arse PC wouldn't allow me to view this, so I had to guess the answers(which most I got right, as luck would have it))
Alternate Realities a series of local and on-line articles relating to the matrix and it's influences, etc
Programmed Realities - view the screenplay with either storyboard stills , or the actual movie, OR goto your Favourite Kung Fu sequences with the movie.
Original Website - you can see the Matrix Website where the very original version is on the DVD-ROM or you can instead goto the current Live version on the web