Better as a sequel compared to X2.

Rating: 8/10 (25 May 2003)

I have just watched The Matrix Reloaded and I have to say that I liked it in general. Like X-Men 2, Reloaded is a good film on its own. But like X2, if you compared it to the original film, then you might have the tendency to nitpick on certain things.
So let's get the nitpicking out of the way.
In terms of the special screen effects, I thought there were no new breakthroughs except for the fight/chase scenes involving the Evil Twins. I guess the original Matrix film had really set the bar pretty high and so, in order top that, Reloaded really had to have something that's really mind-blowing. My personal view is that it didn't in general.
In terms of the plot, I thought the original film had more to say. But again, this is probably due to the fact that since The Matrix was the starting point of the story, it had to be meatier in content. Reloaded does take the story ahead (quite significantly so, if I might add), but it left me feeling that it could have been so much much more (again, this is due to the high standards set by the original film). Nonetheless, IMHO, it's not as bad as what some naysayers have made it out to be. Like I said, if you look and listen carefully, you'd realize that Reloaded is actually quite a significant piece of the entire puzzle. This, at least to me, show that the Wachowski brothers are truly geniuses. I just wished that they had gone a little deeper (more elaboration).
Other areas -
1). Was Neo's "Superman thing" an overkill? It was literally ONE too many - He did it four separate times. Three of those were necessary - Neo used them for functional purposes - and so these were okay. One was absolutely UNNECESSARY - we already had an idea that Neo could fly at the end of the original film - so no "introductory flight" was necessary. The impact of his flight "power" would have been greater if it appeared appropriately rather than just for the sake of showing it. And incidentally, I thought it Neo had some other "new" power, it would have made the show better - remember the mind-blowing bit that I said was missing? I was most likely referring to the lack of something new from our main man, Neo.
2). Was the Zion party too long? Hell no. It signifies the humanity and human spirit, in the midst of machine domination. This is one from the literature books...classic. But then again, in the country that I was watching Reloaded, quite a bit of the scene was cut...along with the scene with Neo and Trinity frolicking...was it too long? Damn, hell no, give me more of the bodies PLEASE!
All said and done, I gave Reloaded an 8 out of 10 to reflect the fact that I thought it was still good. The Matrix was a 10 - minus 2 for Reloaded for the above shortcomings. I'm hoping that Revolutions would be a 10.

Incidentally, I gave X2 a 7 out of 10 - the difference between the two sequels is that while I'd go watch Reloaded again in the theatre, I wouldn't go watch X2 again in the theatre (I'd wait for this to come out on DVD to catch it a second time).