Good...but not a paradigm shift

Rating: 10/10 (24 May 2003)

The first Matrix movie was incredible. Not only did it revolutionize the way we make films, but it opened discussion on a lot of topics people feel quite conflicted about these days. This movie is good, but not as good. The Philosophy is more interesting, delving deeply into causality, and the nature of determinism, but the graphics are nothing new. I remember four years ago when The Matrix came out- it was not only the first science fiction film to stir discussion since 2001: a Space Odyssey, but it had incredible graphics. This film has the same graphics. Nothing new. Nothing better. Unlike Two Towers which was an obvious improvement over Fellowship in most every way (other than points of plot, which second parts in trilogies rarely have developed versions of), the Matrix reloaded is an improvement only in ideology. The extended fight scenes were actually the most uninteresting parts of the film. 8/10 for causality, and Nietzsche-esque questioning of the dogma, 5/10 in the action department. Didn't make me go "woa", just "okay...cool..."