This Review Hightly Supports Reloaded

Rating: 10/10 (23 May 2003)

After seeing the original over three years ago, the rumors and speculation of a sequel to The Matrix not only intrigued me, it flat out excited me. As it became more apparent that the sequel was soon to be released, to say I bought into all the hype would be an understatement. I hung on every piece of news and went to see Anger Management just to see the theatrical trailer. Only after the 2 minute preview was over did I remember to breathe again, as I slowly applauded.
Because I hate to be crammed into a theater with a bunch of teenagers and college students, I did not go to see Reloaded until two days after its release. During that time, the nay-sayers, wanna-be critics, and genuinely disappointed came out of the woodwork. My enthusiasm for this movie dwindled and my hope for a wild ride faded fast. However, I decided I still had to see it, if only to make up my own mind.
Reloaded started out on a high note and never let up. Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), who was on top of her game throughout, set the tone for the high-octane, unpredictable, and quick moving plot. The fight scenes seemed fresh, well shot, and maximized to get the most out of them. Keanu Reeves as the searching Neo, portrayed his character as full of confidence, yet unsure of himself. The ultra-cool Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), was the leader, warrior, and rebel the film needed. The last crew member Link, played by Harold Perrineau, had me chuckling from the beginning to the end. He has one of the best one-liners involving Neo rescuing two characters. The numerous villains in Reloaded are stereotypical except for three standouts. Hugo Weaving played his Smith to excellence. The twins were the villains this movie needed in order to make a mark. My only complaint against them is that they were underdeveloped. Their boss, Merovingian, played by Lambert Wilson, was undeniably cool and had some of the best lines (including after Neo stops several hundred bullets, `Okay, you have some skill.')
There are two scenes that obviously stick out in my mind and help make this movie. The now infamous `Burly Brawl,' where Neo fights several Smiths, then several dozen Smiths, then several hundred Smiths is one. While this scene had a few obvious CGI issues, and wasn't resolved the way I was hoping for, the overall effect was amazing, with outstanding dialogue between Smith and Neo. Including in that, the fact that a lot of Smiths were all doing different things and you have a new standard in filmmaking. Speaking of new standards, the already legendary car chase scene is beyond anything, anyone has ever created or imagined. The crashes, the fighting, the explosions, the trucks, the agents, the guns, the motorcycle, the sword and the twins all amount into the best twenty minutes or so filmed in action movie history.
But, while Reloaded, like the original, will be remembered for its outstanding effects and action, we are looking at one of the most beautifully crafted, executed, and acted movies. Nowhere in this movie did the dialogue scenes feel just like set-up scenes for the action. Each scene, but one, seemed to have a point and were executed flawlessly. I still can't believe some of the cinematography I have witnessed and the musical score added to the overall effect.
The philosophies that made The Matrix famous were extremely prevalent in Reloaded. While all of the hidden meanings weren't all so hidden, and sometimes Reloaded felt like it was trying to hit you over the head with its purposes (like the scene where we found out we need machines as much as they need us), I don't feel like I truly know `how deep the rabbit hole goes.' The very fact I'm still thinking about Reloaded means it made its mark. And the twist that ends this movie, I never saw coming and I'm still reeling from. The character development, the character depth, and the plot added up to a smart and thought-out movie.
While I loved this movie, there were a few scenes I detested and do not want to watch again, especially the love/rave scene. That scene seemed purposeless and time consuming. Overall though, Reloaded pushes boundaries in filmmaking, has excellent plot twists and turns, and only enriches the world that is the Matrix. The Wachowski brothers have done it once again. Reloaded is a masterpiece.