MADE ME WANT TO CRY

Rating: Null/10 (16 May 2003)

SPOILERS
As an avid fan of the first Matrix, I've been enthusiastically anticipating the sequels for a while now. However, I believe that my extreme adoration for the first movie did nothing but set me up for utter disappointment with the Matrix Reloaded.
I do like a few things about the Matrix Reloaded. For example, I appreciate the fact that we learn more about the Matrix storyline and that it proves to be a little deeper than what the first movie presented. I enjoyed all the pointless rhetoric and religious allusions in the film. Some may think it was a little overdone, but I think it's just what this movie needed. A sci-fi film of this magnitude that creates an entirely new world will need an in-depth story to back it up- even if it seems unnecessarily philosophical to us as the audience.
The other thing I like are the action scenes. Yes, there are times when they are over-the-top and not as seemless as we'd like, but the execution and sheer imagination of them is enjoyable.
The individual characters in the scenes, however, are trite and boring-especially those twins. I was very excited when I saw their cool, stylish character designs. Actually, all of the characters are designed well, for that matter. But the new ones, (Naiobi, the twins, Persephone, and the new agents) do not deliver enough for me to be impressed. I expected those damned twins to do something amazing-then I find out, all they do is go through sh*t! LAME! And the new agents do nothing different from the first movie. I'll get to Naiobi and Persephone later.
Perhaps what annoys me most with this film was the subtle sexism it got away with. Now, I know that sci-fi traditionally does that and you just have to accept it as part of the genre but the first Martix wasn't like that. Its female character (Trinity) was strong, positive AND sexy at the same time. Matrix Reloaded's females are nothing more than weak, sexual objects, artfully shrouded with big words and seemingly necessary plot elements.
I have a real problem with that ridiculous cake orgasm scene. What is it trying to prove? I understand the character who does it was trying to demonstrate his power or whatever, but I thought that could have been more tastefully executed. He could have had her do any number of things that would have had a more meaningful impact. Instead, she comes. It's totally unnecessary and quite juvenile. I'm sure that whoever wrote it has never given a woman an orgasm in his life.
I thought perhaps, that stupid scene could have been redeemed when Persephone debuted, but I was wrong. Again, I was expecting such a wonderfully designed character to do more. I totally thought we'd see her kick some ass. Nope. `All I want is a kiss from a big strong man, because as a woman, all I really need in my life is a man to give me some good-lovin'. In fact, that's all I'm good for anyway-being a mindless sex slave.' And her kiss doesn't even do anything to him! I thought she'd have some kind of poison, `kiss-of-death' type of deal and then fight or something. But no, it was just a kiss. Technically, it does nothing but slow the story down as it was too easy. It pales in comparison to all the other obstacles Neo and Co. have to face. Furthermore, if she is just a program, why the hell would she even need to be kissed by Neo so badly? Programs need good-lovin' too, I suppose.
Remind me, was Jada Pinkett in that film? I wouldn't have known. I expected her to be kicking ass like Neo and Morpheus. Instead, she is hardly involved in any of the action scenes.
Also, I could have done without the Zion orgie scene. First of all, I was already offended by their portrayal of Zion as some weird amalgamation of all these foreign cultures. Secondly, exactly what was the reason to show all these people sweating and grinding all over each other? Seriously, is it supposed to symbolize heaven or hell, because I didn't get it. I mean, the first Matrix managed to be sexy without showing tits. And are we supposed to be culturally elevated at the fact that the people in Zion are ethnically diverse? F*ck that, if they're going to be portrayed as sex crazed dancing fools, then they might as well have been all white as far as I'm concerned. The scene was distasteful and again, juvenile-- most likely written for that homely sci-fi kid who thinks this is what clubs and parties are like and hopes to one day build up enough courage to go to one because it is the closest he'll ever be to getting laid.
And don't think I didn't catch that subtle sexist comment the Architect made when he said Neo could rebuild Zion with something like 16 women and 8 men. `Of course! I'm a man and would love to impregnate more than one woman! There really needs to be 2 or 3 women for every man because that's just the way we are!' Friggin' disgusting.
I'm not going to get into the whole `Neo penetrating Trinity to save her life' scene because I've ranted enough. Also, it's kind-of reading into it to think that that scene had sexual connotation. Still, if I thought it, I'm sure tons of other people did. `Hey, since I'm never going to stick my penis inside a girl, I'll fantasize about penetrating her all Matrix-like, like Neo!'
Like I said before, I set myself up for a fall when I expected Matrix Reloaded to be amazing. I admit, it was entertaining to look at albeit completely socially irresponsible. Whatever, it's not like sci-fi movies are supposed to be culturally uplifting. even though I thought the first Matrix was.