Exciting, Draining, Confusing

Rating: 9/10 (15 May 2003)

Full of spoilers...
'The Matrix Reloaded' is a movie that is superior in technical aspects but some plot points made me scratch my head. Without a doubt, this movie is superior in its technology to anything that has been produced to date. I especially enjoyed Neo teeing off on 12 dozen Agent Smiths Receiving honorable mention is Morpheus doing battle with an Agent on top of an 18 wheeler. I can go on and on about the fight scenes, the "Upgrades", etc., but what I was really looking forward to was to be intellectually challenged. Instead, I left the theater a bit confused.
A couple quick points I would like to make:
1. What happened to Zion? Did the Sentinels make it to the city? The sloppy intercutting of Trinity fight scenes, Sentinel burrowing, Keymaster orating, left me throwing my hands up in surrender. 2. How exactly did Agent Smith make it back to the Matrix? As he explains to Neo early in the movie, Agent Smith is unsure how or why he is back. Sounds pretty plot convenient to me. 3. Anyone else have trouble keeping up with the Matrix Creator? This guy talked so monotone that I nearly drowned him out.
There are other minor hiccups that need a second viewing to get a grasp of what the Wachowski Brothers are trying to do, which I will definitely do very soon. But I warn you, pay very close attention to every word that is spoken. There is lots of data to gather, dissect, and - generally speaking - dismiss.
For the money, a very entertaining movie. Just be prepared to view the movie more than once for plot clarity. 3/4 Stars