Great movie. Great sequel. Cop-out ending.

Rating: 8/10 (16 May 2003)

Possible spoilers here, so be careful.
The middle hour was an extremely intense non-stop action sequence that rivals any on the big screen. The "back-story" of going behind the matrix should have been anticipated, but most sci-fi movies ignore that aspect. Even the Terminators seem to forget the programmers side of the story somehow, or they gloss over it in this sort-of "Hollywood" way. I must give the Brothers credit for treating it like it really should be. A lot of details that are normally ignored in other Sci-Fi movies are actually addressed here.
Plus Neo's ironic existence sets up a wonderful conflict that I guess we have to wait 'till November to see resolved.
The action and the drama builds inexorably to this gigantic finish and then it doesn't deliver, making us wait till the third movie. Cliff-hangers are so cheap for a movie of this caliber. That's why I can't give it a "10" like it's predecessor. This movie can't even stand by itself. It feels unfinished.
The characters are great. The effects and action were of course fantastic. It's just incomplete.
I guess I won't be able to tell just how great Reloaded is until November.