The Matrix Reloaded Review

by David N. Butterworth (dnb AT dca DOT net)
June 26th, 2003
THE MATRIX RELOADED
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2003 David N. Butterworth

** (out of ****)

    With 1999's "The Matrix," Andy and Larry Wachowski created a post apocalyptic
cyberpunk mind trip of a world unlike any we'd seen before. The film was fresh
and smart, combining Big Ideas with arresting, groundbreaking visuals in an experience that approximated an existential comic book slash video game (or "Alice in Wonderland" on acid).

    It was also the first movie in which audiences started taking Keanu Reeves's
(web) surfer dude seriously.

    "The Matrix Reloaded" is the eagerly awaited sequel that offers us more- but, alas, also less--of the same. With characters, worlds, modes of transportation,
bad guys, dress sense, and psychobabble previously established, the follow-up spends little time if any reaffirming these. So at 138 minutes there's a lot of ground to cover.

    The Wachowskis, therefore, fashion Part Two (of Three: the film abruptly ends with the ominous words "to be concluded") as a series of set pieces (i.e.,
finely choreographed, gravity defying chopsocky sequences) that quickly become repetitive, perfunctory--almost redundant.

    Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) is in love with Neo (Reeves) and they share some upgraded intimacy. Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) is still Beloved, but some are starting to doubt his Faith as a gazillion sentinels threaten Zion. That, plus his conversational style is starting to grate (ask him how he's doing, for example, and he'll reply "The question is more how are *you* doing?").

    And then there are these long patches--a Bacchanalian pep rally, a Keymaker
freeway chase, a restaurant encounter with a wacky French guy--that leave you scratching your head even more than in the original.

    If you opt, indeed, to "free your mind" you'll discover the series' "'Reloaded"
middle section comprises equal parts style and stupidity.

--
David N. Butterworth
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