Take it as it is, not as you want it to be...

Rating: 8/10 (25 May 2003)

** MINOR SPOILERS **
I've been seeing a lot of negative comments about this film, but being a huge fan of the first Matrix, I wasn't going to let a few amateur reviews (amateur in the sense of "non-professional") stop me from seeing a film I had been waiting for for over three years.
Nonetheless, I went in with an open mind. I knew that a lot of people went in with extremely high expectations and came out disappointed, but hey, let's be honest - it was difficult to top the first film. In any case, the film still manages to achieve the same balance of philosophy, a deep, thoughtful plot and mindblowing action. I will quite happily say that I enjoyed this film thoroughly.
There were, however, two major points that really bugged me about MR.
The first, was Neo's newfound powers. The first film was all about the founding of Neo as "the One" - in quotes for reasons you will understand during Reloaded - which left him at times highly vulnerable and highly confused, searching to find himself and who he really is. This element in the second film is gone - here we have a superhero-like character who fails to be really tested, and although the Wachowski Bros have gone to some lengths to find some challenges for Neo, you can't help but get the impression that they seem a bit artificial at times.
The second is that so much of the plot unrolls in Zion, that the theme zone central to the first film which allowed so many of the incredible effects, feels at times a little sidelined and again, the Matrix scenes feel a little implanted.
But don't let these niggly points put you off. Don't go into the film with inflated expectations - sequels of landmark films rarely match up to the original. This is a great action film here with perhaps one of the best car chases ever seen on film - Matrix style, and Hugo Weaving as the reborn Agent Smith is excellent, as is most of the cast, even Keanu Reeves.
For those seeking deeper meaning, there are several layers to the film which explore the meaning of and the possibilities of the relationship between man and machine, as well as how division in a society can lead to failure - look how divisions of belief in the prophecy in Zion lead to its invasion, and how, as much as Agent Smith divides, each of the clones seem to be weaker than the original Matrix 1 Smith. A couple of characters to perhaps look out for if you want to look deeper are Councillor Harmann and the Architect - listen carefully to what they have to say.
So, all in all, I would heartily recommend this film to anyone who is not expecting the film that is going to reap every Oscar for the next thirty years - I would, however, also recommend that people take a couple of viewings and obviously, to watch the first movie a few times to really understand the workings of the Matrix - without it, you cannot understand the philosophy behind it. So you know what you have to do. Enjoy.