Mixed bag.....

Rating: Null/10 (19 September 2003)

I think that the first Matrix was a very good movie. It wasn't as original as many people say and the fighting scenes were rather boring if you compare them to actionscenes in movies like DAO - the Blade, Iron Monkey, Once Upon a Time in China or Red Wolf, but still it was an entertaining movie.
This Reloaded-thingy isn't as good as the first one. It's special effects are worse (I just HATE that scene where there's plenty of CGI Mr. Smiths fighting against CGI Neo... It just couldn't look any worse!), it's plot is worse and it's fighting scenes are even more boring than in the first one. The story tries to be very "deep", but actually it's just cheesy sci-fi nonsense... quite entertaining nonsense, but still pure nonsense.
One of the worst things in the movie is the very beginning. It's just horrible. Trinity rides a motorcycle -- Trinity destroys a building -- Trinity falls trough a window of some other building and shoots some agent. It's senseless, boring and the "bullet-time" just doesn't work in here like it worked in the first Matrix.
On the positive side, I really liked the "highway scene". It was fast and stylish. I also liked the interesting ending of the movie. I even liked the rave scene (which seems to be the most hated part of the movie), but those good points in this movie couldn't cover it's weaknesses.
If you want to see good martial arts action, look elsewhere. If you want to see interesting sci-fi movie, look elsewhere. If you want to see good Matrix-material, watch Animatrix. If you want to see entertaining mixture of sci-fi, Action, Real-Life-Anime and Monica Bellucci(!), you should give this movie a try.
(Three Stars) * * *