Not better than Matrix, excellent fight scenes (SPOILER ALERT)

Rating: Null/10 (16 May 2003)

The first movie, The Matrix, was virtually flawless. It laid the groundwork for great expectations. Matrix Reloaded does not deliver.
Matrix Reloaded begins with an action sequence that turns out to be a dream - bad choice.
There are at least three times when the characters indulge in periods of extended exposition that are rather complicated and that most people will not understand. The first movie had a simple message: Free Your Mind - the Matrix has you. The entire movie repeated this message until almost everyone in the theater had at least some idea of what the Matrix was. The Matrix Reloaded introduces many new ideas and revelations, none of which are ever completely explained.
The first movie ends with a definite message: Wake Up. Free you Mind. The Matrix Reloaded ends with "To Be continued".- bad choice.
There is a one fight scene in Matrix Reloaded which literally looks like it was plucked straight from a video game. In a video game it would have been great. In a movie it diminishes the presence of the actors: Keanu Reeves and Hugo Weaving.
In the Matrix there is one villain and he is great. The Matrix reloaded has a minimum of six. This is not a strength.
The net sum of the above is a cross between boredom and confusion.
I do have to give Matrix Reloaded credit for excellent fight scenes but better editing would have eliminated many scenes that seem to have no purpose and just confuse and detract.
I would like to think that Matrix Revolution will end the trilogy with all of the things that made the first movie a classic. Since Matrix Revolution was made together with Matrix Reloaded, my expectations are not high. Sigh.
Despite all of this I still recommend seeing Matrix Reloaded. On a second viewing (unplanned) many of my criticisms were still present but seemed less severe.