Very disappointed!

Rating: Null/10 (19 May 2003)

Warning, spoilers below. Of course, the script itself is so spoiled it stinks.
I saw The Matrix Reloaded this past weekend. I must say I was very disappointed. I am not a fan of Science Fiction. I think sci-fi far too often relies on the fact that "this is sci-fi, don't worry if it is plausible" and this leads to my disbelief in the feasibility of the story. For me, this is the downfall of most sci-fi movies. The Matrix was one of the few sci-fi films (in my opinion) to do such an outstanding job in terms of story, that it crossed that barrier for me. It is so subtly possible, who among us can even deny it may not be true and happening as we speak. Couple that with the innovative filming, like the shoot-em-up scene so stylishly choreographed and musically scored where Neo and Trinity are tumbling through the halls dodging bullets and destroying their adversaries. Just an amazing scene, and an amazing, innovative story.
Four years later, yeah 4, The Matrix Reloaded was a huge let down. As I said, I am not a sci-fi fan, but I have been waiting for this movie for 4 years with great anticipation.
They should have spent more money on script and less on effects. All hints that Neo was a hacker are gone. For me, part of the attraction is here is a guy I can identify with. A geeky coder that wins the affections of the hot, leather-clad Trinity. That happens to me all the time. This changed from the real person involved in real life that gets caught up in something bigger than himself, to a superhero involved in a massive rebellion (a la Star Wars?). Totally different concept, and in my opinion, done to death and tired.
The effects and fight scenes were very repetitive. One scene in particular, the fight scene in the courtyard with Agent Smith(s), once Neo grabbed the pipe, I noticed some pretty poor CG where the freeze frame image of him didn't even look real. It looked like a computer image. Thought I was watching a video game at that point. This happened several times during this fight sequence. Additionally, the fight scenes ware totally lacking something ... passion. For example, the scene with the Oracle's guard before Neo meets the Oracle. I felt the fight scenes were sterile. It looked more like dancing than fighting.
And, this brings me to one of my biggest disappointments in the entire script. I felt like I learned in the original movie, that the true power NEO has (and I see no reason none of the others could have it too) is the realization that he can do whatever he imagines. It is his imagination and belief system that controls what happens. An example of this demonstrated in the beginning of the movie is when he gets shot at by several people, he just holds up his hand, and the bullets stop in mid-air. He drops his hand, and the bullets fall to the ground. So, if this is his power, why does he even need to fight Agent Smith(s)? Why can he not just 'believe' they all fall down dead? Or that they are not there? Or any other better escape than continually fighting more and more agents?
Here's one for the script. Why is it that Trinity can jump from a tall building to the ground on a motorcycle and do a back-flip off if it landing on the ground in a truly amazing split, yet the implication when she is falling and has been shot is that when she hits the ground, she will be killed? If this is not the implication, why the necessity for Neo to swoop in and grab her? In fact, why does she even allow herself to believe she has been shot or that a bullet will hurt her?
This movie is just full of inconsistencies like this where one minute, the characters are superheros and can do anything, and then the next, they are totally human.
I did like the scene where the French guy came off as a totally arrogant piece of crap. Makes me wonder if this was written in more recently, or just the luck of reality? I also liked the tie in of "when programs go bad". Tieing in something that happens in reality to an explanation in the Matrix is important for believability. This is reminiscent of the connection between deja vu and the matrix from the first movie.
Another transition from the original is for Morpheus' character. In the first movie, Morpheus is the man (next to Neo, potentially). He is respected and the main leader. Second movie, just one of many captains, and the laughed at and ridiculed rebel. After all, by now, he is just another poor peer-to-peer file sharing client. :-) Perhaps he would have had more respect in the second movie if his name was Captain Kaaza?
Finally, this movie failed my most basic movie test. Did I look at my watch? Yes, twice in fact. I found the movie boring. So did my wife. While there are some amazing effects, the story became implausible and in my opinion, stupid. It lost its credibility and believability. Man am I bummed!