Although nowhere near its predecessor, Reloaded is still a good film with plenty of action and glittering effects, but the dialogue and kung-fun in the film just seem to go on for way too long or seem utterly pointless sometimes. Nevertheless,...
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Although nowhere near its predecessor, Reloaded is still a good film with plenty of action and glittering effects, but the dialogue and kung-fun in the film just seem to go on for way too long or seem utterly pointless sometimes. Nevertheless, they were still fun to watch, and some new characters were included in the mix, namely the Merovingian and the two ghost-like twins. The highway scene was incredible, especially the effects on the lorries as they crashed into each other, and Morpheus exploding the twin's car in incredibly cool fashion. Look past the incredibly long conversations between Neo and the Oracle (and the Architect to an extent), the ridiculously long sex scene near the beginning, and the over-use of the kung-fu, and you've got a great sci-fi film which delivers the entertainment in fast-paced scenes of special effects.

The Matrix Reloaded is one of the best Sci Fi Movies yet... The Matrix Revolutions just doesnt cut it for the action in this movie....
for me I prefer this in order...
Matrix Reloaded, Matrix Revolutions and then The Matrix.

I'm sure most of you have already decided whether or not you are going to see this movie regardless of what I say, but here's my take anyway. For those of you who don't know, this is a sequel to the 1999 sleeper hit The Matrix, which came out of...
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I'm sure most of you have already decided whether or not you are going to see this movie regardless of what I say, but here's my take anyway. For those of you who don't know, this is a sequel to the 1999 sleeper hit The Matrix, which came out of almost nowhere to break the box office. This is probably the most anticipated sequel in a long time. With two sequels (Reloaded in May and Revolutions in November), a very ambitious video game (Enter the Matrix), and nine animated shorts (the Animatrix) you'd think the writer/directors of the franchise, Larry and Andy Wachowski have ambitions of becoming the modern day J.R.R. Tolkien of the sci-fi world. Bring it on, I say!
While this film is by defanition as a sequel not quite as abstractly fresh as the first movie, I think it will do just fine. It takes place some time after the first one. Neo has had some time to develop his powers and is now in full control over the matrix. The humans have learned that the machines on the surface are digging towards Zion and are planning a full scale army to wipe them out. The military commanders are very busy planning a defense. Meanwhile, the Oracle tells Neo that he must find the Keymaker and go to the matrix system mainframe. And then of course there's Agent Smith, who together with Reloaded's albino, dreadlocked Twins, are serious contenders for the most bad-ass villians since Darth Vader (feel free to send me hate mail for this statement, if you like). While Smith himself tries to explain the reason for his return, it is somewhat weak. Basically, he's back because the first Matrix made Warner Brothers a ton of money. He is now more of an independant virus, free of the system. And as a computer virus, he can clone himself by taking over other programs. As the movie explains, programs like him and many other important programs in the matrix sometimes rebel and choose to become renegades when they are no longer needed and face deletion. I think this is why Smith is there. He is so filled with hate for and so bent on killing Neo that he violated his programming and stayed in the matrix when defeated. While not the best explanation, it makes sense to me.
Anyone who saw the action-packed TV commercials and movie trailers, however, know that the movie's main draw is the stunning action, and those who are looking for it will not be disappointed. With Neo's now tempered control over the matrix, we can finally see what he can really do. This allows for some very cool fights. The Burly Brawl has Neo fighting 100 Agent Smiths and the vaguely-dubbed "Twins" are part of the best damn car chase I've ever seen, taking place on a six-lane highway (specifically built for this movie) with both cars and a high-powered Ducati motorcycle. John Gaeta (visual effects supervisor for all three Matrix films) is truly a master of his craft, showing us impossible camera angles and taking bullet-time and virtual cinematography to the next level. Unlike the much-copied bullet-time, Gaeta has said these effects will be "uncopiable," mainly because they were too time consuming and too costly for anybody to be able to try. I was pretty disappointed that the Twins didn't have a bigger part, though, as cool as they are. The car chase is their only major scene. I hope they find a way to bring them back for Revolutions.
Action aside, this movie still has a plot to back it up. Even though there are a few small holes in between what happens (especially with secondary characters Niobe and Ghost), these are filled in by the video game and are not completely necessary. The game was written by the Wachowski brothers and follows Niobe and Ghost, the plot interweaving with that of the film.
Given what we already know about the state of the world, we begin to learn how the matrix works and what's really going on. Just like any complicated computer system, it has errors and anomalies. Repeated several times throughout the film is the concept of everything having a purpose, a reason behind everything, and choice. The reasons behind people's decisions are more important than the decisions themselves. The Oracle is also full of her cryptic answers. It's not clear until the end how all of these things fit together, let alone what they have to do with anything, but on second viewing, things make more sense. Anyone who has seen the first Matrix knows that these films do not talk down to the audience. The explanation at the end is a bit confusing and requires some thinking and maybe a second viewing. It is a big red pill to swallow (pun intended), but once things sink in and you allow your mind to wander, however, you realize that a new spin has been put on things that will probably have a big impact on Revolutions. The rabbit hole is deeper than even Morpheus knows.
One other thing I didn't like was that Neo is still sans personality, even more than in the first film. He may look and fight good, but the guy is impossible to have a conversations with. His meeting with the Oracle, while teaching us a little about the matrix and teasing about what's happening, left me with just as many questions as answers. You have a guy with no personality and a woman who answers with riddles trying to have a conversation. It's very frustrating. Oh well, the scene gets much better in a few minutes!
It's clear that the Wachowski brothers thought things through extremely well, especially with how the plot fits together. These films open up some great ideas for thought and philosophical discussion. But like I said, and in the words of the Oracle, you've already made your choice about wheather or not you're going to see this movie. You're here to understand why you're going to see it.

A good sequel whose biggest flaw is its misfortune in trying to live up to its absolutely perfect predecessor. I'd only seen this once in the theater back in 2003... I enjoyed it then, but I don't think I truly "got it." Watching it...
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A good sequel whose biggest flaw is its misfortune in trying to live up to its absolutely perfect predecessor. I'd only seen this once in the theater back in 2003... I enjoyed it then, but I don't think I truly "got it." Watching it again recently I realized how good it really was. The story gets a bit more confusing and hair-pulling but if you make it a point to pay attention you will understand what is meant to be understood: that being you will understand fate works in mysterious ways. We don't fully understand life itself, some things are meant to be interpreted differently by everyone. Why should Neo's predicament be completely black & white? In a way he always answers his own questions when he sees The Oracle, I loved their whole exchange (and the one with The Architect too). Very nice writing! I also liked the whole Frenchman scenes going into the highway chase with the Keymaker--no one can watch this and say the fight scenes aren't brilliant. I wish the last film was this good... oh well.