Still a Powerful Double-Punch

Rating: 9/10 (15 May 2003)

Most of the reviews for this film have said that the action scenes are great but the plot is either non-existent or incomprehensible. I disagree. The plot is as straightforward as it was in the first movie--plowing straight ahead--but since most of the truly thought-provoking battle takes place on a philosophical level, it's not hard to see why it would go over most viewers' heads. You can watch the Matrix movies on two levels: the action choreography and the raging philosophical debates about the nature of existence. The original movie set us up with some hard-to-follow content on both counts, and my biggest fear was that Reloaded would disappoint on the second. It did not; I loved the continual raging battle between predestination and free will in it, and the layers of questions-within-questions. Reloaded succeeded, for the most part, though it did not surprise. Quibbles: they should have axed the Morpheus-oration scene, and the Morpheus monologue in the finale was a bit heavy-handed as well. I commend Fishburne for dragging heroically along under the weight of such dialogue. I was somewhat disappointed with the obvious computer-generated Neos that showed up periodically in the fight scenes. I couldn't help but wonder why Neo hung around to fight hand-to-hand anymore, but then we're led to believe that Neo still doesn't seem to realize all that he is capable of doing. The first mention of the "Keymaker" made me wonder when we'd be picking up the "Gatekeeper," and (to borrow from a hilarious review on AICN), the party at the beginning really did look like the Pottery Barn had a rave on the Planet of the Gay Apes. We're battling to save this pathetic remnant of humanity? :) There were a great many wonderful moments in the film though, in humor and action choreography and the occasional line of dialogue. I was getting annoyed with the number of flipped cars (why bother after the first one or two?), and the (now-tired, and in this case, somewhat over-used) device of pausing and doing 180-camera-turns in the middle of action sequences. What took your breath away in the first movie does not have the same effect in Reloaded. I thought the "trade you a kiss for the Keymaker" scene was a complete waste. The least they could have done was cause some bad thing to happen because of the kiss...but no, it was just so this one small character could irk Trinity. (Unless the woman's situation is supposed to be a possible future fate for Trinity...but still. It was the only completely and truly lame idea in the entire movie.) I had expected the ending of this movie since I walked out of the theatre after the first one, but it was gratifying to finally see it. In all, a wild ride that leaves you exhausted. Not as clean or as ground-breaking as the original, but certainly worth taking the time to think about and enjoy.