The lengthy action sequences are motivated less by plot than by the need to have another action sequence, and though the story has a wobbly arc of its own, the finale feels as if it was arbitrarily cut to create a cliffhanger that's more puzzling than "whoa" inducing. Those expecting something as new and surprising as the first Matrix may also be let down by the sequel's lack of a truly dazzling effect on the magnitude of "bullet-time." Instead, the old effects are refined and reused in set pieces like an exhausting 14-minute vehicle chase and a CG fight sequence that comes close to replicating the look of reality. It's telling that one of the most entertaining action scenes -- the precise hand-to-hand combat between Neo and Seraph (Collin Chou) -- is also one of the simplest. But in sequel-land, simple is rarely good enough, and The Matrix Reloaded is ultimately diminished by its affinity for all things exaggerated. For the Wachowskis, no chase is too long, no speech too windy, no Bib...