Style over substance

Rating: 5/10 (23 May 2003)

When we are first introduced to Neo in the original Matrix he is a loner computer geek who knows there is something wrong with the world but can't quite figure out what. Then we are taken on a fascinating ride along with Neo to discover the world is an illusion and machines now rule the planet. A very enjoyable film. By comparison the Matrix Reloaded is an fx driven kung-fu film that fails to inspire or entertain. Character and story development are thrown out the window and we are given endless fight scenes, back flips, and bullet dodging.
Neo's powers have now developed soooooo much that none of the bad guys can lay a glove on him. The agents so feared in the first film are reduced to cannon fodder for Neo and his buddies to chew up and spit out. The film also lacked interesting side characters like Cipher, Dozer and Mouse. Every character we see in this film is a trendy dark clad sunglass wearing superhero. In fact the Humans are so cool and so powerfull you have to wounder how the machines manage to stay in control at all.
Despite some enjoyable fx and gunfights the Matrix Reloaded is little more than a glorified kung-fu movie and no amount of coolness or trendy sunglasses can hide that glaring fact.
4 out of 10