Fight sequences and Zen

Rating: 8/10 (20 May 2003)

My observations:
No scenes that touch, move or inspired me on any emotional level. One glaring weakness of the Wachovski brothers is that they do not stage or direct love scenes well. Very mechanical. One doesn't root for Neo and Trinity as a couple as the Wachovski's gave their relationship no depth. Of course, maybe they wanted to give the whole film a "machanical" feel for a reason we might or might not learn in Matrix Revolutions (3rd in the series).
More Zen conversations covering freewill, choice, destiny, deja vu, life-as-game, betrayal, man's dependency upon machines, etc.
Great admiration of the special effects wizardry (very realistic) and equally high praise for the several extended satisfying fight sequences.
I don't quite understand the casting of Jada Pinkett Smith as a captain of one of the vessels; I couldn't spot her motivation. Some "red herring" former love interest of Morpheus who likes someone else. Big deal. Never fully developed.
Veteran character actor Anthony Zerbe was a sight for sore eyes as one of the counsel of Zion; he more than acquits himself as a paternal presence, a role that disappears for Morpheus in this second installment.
Several industrial music numbers were provided by Juno Reactor, Rage Against the Machine, and Davbe Mathews Band, especially over the endless credits. If you like that sort of electronica. Could have used more bass.
Not the kind of film that leaves you spent from any emotional outpouring. There is none. But intellectually diverting.
Carrie-Anne Moss is fun to watch. The love scene with Neo in Zion seemed contrived and unnecessarily long. Was it supposed to go somewhere?

Glaring plot holes may not be plot holes if addressed in the third film of the series. So it's hard to criticize when the film ends with the words, "To Be Concluded". Leaves you feeling you saw only half the film. That can't be satisfying in and of itself.
Stay through the credits to see a trailer for the third installment. The preview has a guy wearing a Robojox type machine he runs with his hands. Impressive.