Overlong, poorly edited and largely superfluous to the tale it wants to tell.

Rating: 3/10 (30 December 2004)

Disappointing.
I always felt the Matrix would have worked better stand alone, with no zippy flying off thing at the end, or need for a sequel.
There are two fundamental flaws in this movie and inherent in this franchise.
1. Dispel the magic. Some movies work best on mystery. Some work well by exposing all the components. Like with, say Star Wars, the film works better when you don't have all the details but you are thrown in and then out media res. You come in the middle, you leave as fast and without firm resolution. Do we need all explained and to know all that happens after (or in Star Wars case, before)? Do we need to know the function of the Matrix so intimately? Do we need to know the nature of the Oracle? Do we need to see Zion or does it work best as an almost mythological refuge of man, left to our own imagination.
2. Does the duration hamper the impact of the film? This film is a schism between waxing low level philosophy and extreme visual effects. Both have their merits when woven well - the first film managed this. Reloaded seems to crave them into the story in long chunks. Too long scenes of action, too long, droning scenes of dialogue. This film would work far better with a more dynamic edit. There are scenes which are overlong, scenes which are superfluous. Overall, these scenes damage the good ones.
Aside from that, Neo remains unlikeable and thus is love relationship uninspired. Mr Smith is great and some of the dialogue manages to surface above the general trite philosophy.
Watch it if you REALLY want to see the end story of the tale of Mr Anderson. Beware, it's a hard slog, and when you commit to this film, you commit to the next... it's the nature of things Mr Anderson.. better off enjoying "The Matrix" and then watching something else.