Disappointing (possible spoilers)

Rating: 4/10 (19 May 2003)

This was a disappointing sequel to a great movie. The film lags once it hits the second sequence, with the ridiculous Zion scenes. First, how long after Neo finds out he is THE ONE (Neo, One, yes, not too obvious) and in love with Trinity does this scene occur? The reason for the question, they can't wait to "be alone." Weren't they sleeping together on the ship? Weren't they "alone" for a while? What's with all the various religious people (Buddhist monk, Punjabi woman, hey, where's the Hasidic rabbi?) offering gifts and asking favors from THE ONE? Can he do things in the real world like he can in the Matrix? Then, if the Councilman offers a prayer at the "temple" why are there so many different religions represented in the shot? Anyway, onward...the whole scene with Morpheus' speech (he's no Henry V) and the rave afterward were embarrassing. Neo and the Councilman's scene in engineering was only plant with little payoff and could've used some exposition to explain how Zion gets its air, water, and power.
Exposition. The boogie man of script writing. However, some exposition would help explain Agent Smith's ability to launch some kind of virus into avatars and would help explain Bing's actions throughout the movie. Of course, it will all be explained in Matrix 3, but it didn't help the movie going experience for Reloaded.
Many slow scenes, unlike the first Matrix, and an ending that's supposed to shock and whet our appetite for the final sequel's denouement; supposed to, it doesn't. My suspicion is that the last episode will be a peeled onion, just like Stanislaus Lem's "The Futurlogical Congress" where "reality" is just another Matrix.