The Matrix Reloaded Review
by Homer Yen (homer_yen AT yahoo DOT com)May 16th, 2003
"The Matrix: Reloaded" – Plug In!
by Homer Yen
(c) 2003
Consider "The Matrix: Reloaded" a significant upgrade to the cutting-edge, sci-fi, 1999 original. Happily, the film does live up to the hype. And the tone is darker and more epic in scope (although the plot's fine points are annoyingly crammed into the last 20 minutes of the film). In fact, for the first four-fifths of the film, watching this is wildly entertaining. It features a relatively easy-to-follow plot, a good-looking cast, monstrous effects, an apocalyptic soundtrack, and a terrific vision of a dark future.
Unfortunately, the last fifth of the film slows the film's momentum like an outdated modem trying to access the internet. After we've experienced all the excitement, the story shifts gears by providing an overly long exposition about the purpose of the matrix and Neo's true calling. While it is important to expound upon the lore, it felt like an episode of Dr. Who.
Picking up from where the first film left off, more minds have been freed from the matrix machinery, which has been enslaving the human race within a dreamlike state for countless years. However, with the increasing number of freed humans, most of them hiding as refugees in a hidden city, the matrix considers this a growing threat. An army of machines has been deployed to the human encampment to eradicate them.
While most of the humans are preparing to wage a seemingly futile war, Captain Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) hold faith that their key to victory lies within the talents of Neo (Keanu Reeves). Neo possesses unique and wondrous powers that better equip him to effectively challenge the enemy.
After receiving some important information, the film follows this intrepid crew as it navigates through improbable obstacles to find the mainframe of the matrix. They include the sunglasses-clad and monotone speaking Agents, who incessantly hunt for Neo. Mr. Smith (Hugo Weaving), the former Agent defeated in the first installment, returns to exact revenge, realizing this time that it'll take more than just one of him to succeed. And there are very cool twin henchmen that incorporate a wicked method of moving from place to place, making you wish that they appeared (and disappeared) more in this film.
Indeed, there are some spectacular visuals. Of particular note is a battle on a playground that pits Neo against dozens of his enemies. Another wild ride involves a superlative highway chase sequence that pushes the boundaries of your imagination and a film's budget. As the saying goes, "you've got to see it to believe it."
It's enough to make you say Keanu Reeve's trademark utterance, "Whoa!" Oddly, our hero never mutters that. In this film, he is growing and maturing. He is expanding his skills, trying to understand the meaning of his journey, and making and coping with difficult choices. Whether he succeeds or not isn't resolved in this installment.
Luckily for us, though, deciding whether to see this film or not is an easy choice. In the end, you'll exhort a lot of "Wows!" as well as a couple of "Huhs?" But there's no denying that "The Matrix: Reloaded" will grab hold of you. To miss this is to miss what the summer blockbuster is all about.
More on 'The Matrix Reloaded'...
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
