I don´t know what to say...

Rating: 3/10 (23 May 2003)

I don´t know what to say...
about the Matrix Reloaded. At first I guess i have to explain what i think about the first Matrix, because i don´t want to be misunderstood when it comes to this very innovative universe and its possibilities: during the last weeks i´ve seen a lot of fighting between two film freakgoups that have set their favourite flicks in comparison: On one hand we have The Matrix, a movie that deals with the idea of a virtual world that keeps our minds in prison, on the other hand we have Equilibrium, a movie that presents a sterile society where emotions are extinct by a nerve drug. Both Movies feature a similar setting: the future is a perfect looking place what is established by a perfect lie. The villains are in control of this world but their might and their power of oppression is threatened by a brooding resistance that goes up this status quo, both movies have a philosophical undertone and the action is presented in a mix-up of Hollywood High-tech Exorbitanza and Japanese Anime Impossibilities. While I really enjoyed both Flicks and watched them multiple times I could always say that Equilibrium is a great B-Grade Action Version of Fahrenheit 451, while the Matrix is Revolution in A grade Filmmaking and maybe the most influential movie since Blade Runner when it comes to intelligent Science Fiction storytelling and visual effects in general. So I went to cinema last night with some expectations, not about the story in particular, but in terms of style and mood, especially since I´ve seen " Bound`, the Wachowskis first Brainchild, and a clear statement of their imagination and their understanding of filmmaking. But even The Matrix was flawed: Despite it´s great ideas and the Bullettimemadness i missed some more complex characters, interestingly Agent Smith was the deepest char, by being more a human than a programm. But i had hope for the Wachowskis on MR: Like Spielberg and Kurosawa, the two great masters of handling story, entertainment and intelligence, ( while Spielberg has gone a bit down to Mainstream Middle Class, and Kurosawas became very introvertive in his last works) i know that the only things that were missing in the WK Brothers Perfect World were a great conclusion and most important living, breathing characters. By including this they could even rival the old Star Wars Trilogy and LOTR. But back to the MR Screening itself, to which i went with friends, some of them liked the first one even better than me, the others didn´t see more in it than in the new Sandler comedy next door: So it was a perfect audience for an objective viewing and analysis of MR: Hardcorefans who are trusted with the material and usual Moviegoers who just wanted to be entertained, oh and myself, the selfproclaimed nitpicker. Unexpectedly after 138 Minutes the Wachowskis had shown us that we really differ from machines because of emotions: ALL of us were disappointed, angered, somewhat paralyzed and we felt like been treated like idiots: Please beware of +++++SPOILERS+++++ahead, I have to use specific scenes of the The Matrix and The Matrix Reloaded to bring up a fair review and to explain what has happened to us:
It seemed like the WK Bros have forgotten everything they had established by the Matrix: Simple, but intelligent story construction, meaningful dialogues and monologues where every word counts, apocalyptic darkness in the real world, sterile perfection in the digital construct. The story itself begins with a dream of Neo where he foresees the inescapable death of Trinity, he awakens and in a short trip to the matrix we become trusted with the mainstoryline: 250.000 Sentinels are marching to Zion to wipe out the entire human race once and for all. So the only chance is to shut down the matrix immediatly and end the war. Then we are introduced to Zion. Right from the beginning, the movie establishes every single weakness that could happen to a movie: The effects surrounding Trinity´s death are simply awful and could rival the blue screen amateurism of SW Episode 1 and 2. There is absolutly no chemistry between the new Characters like Link, the Council members, the Zion citizens and the established Characters. Worst of all you can´t care about them, they are as one dimensional as the digital backgrounds, desperatly trying to show the old boring mad max world. Our heroes ( Trinity, Morpheus and Neo, and unfortunately Link) are kicked around by the Zion High Class, who don´t believe in the prophecy and who are not very interested in supporting the chosen one. After Morpheus´ mindless speech and the awful, far too long rave scene this part of the plot is completly lost, it´s like we´ve seen another short Animatrix clip. Finally we get in the Matrix, because Neo has to contact the Oracle; after a boring fight against a completely unnecessary character called Seraph, the movie delivers its final death blow: Loooong dialogues that are circling around the same theme over and over again and worst of all using the same word over and over again, I think I´ve never heard the term "programm` so often in such a short time . But thank god, Neo´s getting into battle after all, against Agent Smith, a character who has returned from the dead, cloned himself a hundred times, and who could appear in this movie or not, it wouldn´t make a difference. Maybe it makes sense in Revolutions, but that doesn´t require another ten minute plasticpuppet battle in chaotic choreography, gone are the great moments of tensioned atmosphere between this two characters and the great powerful impact every punch generated. I have to leap a bit forward to explain the battles in general: Every time Neo is fighting someone, it is never a single person and there are rare moments of the the surrounding camera effect, all the other time Neo´s arms and his enemies are blocking the camera, you have to sit through the scenes at least five times to figure out what the hell is going on. Morpheus gets it lot better, because he has to fight the megacool, absolutley not storyrelevant twins, there´s also a lot of chaotic camera work but I am ready to take that, because this scene leads to the highway chase. Unfortunatly there is no real tension during this scene, but despite the total lack of visual beauty compared to the first Matrix during the rest of reloaded, we can find some moments of everything that makes the WK Bros. Cult Stars four years ago: There is a wonderful spin through some bridges and around the truck where Morpheus and an Agent are fighting on, it looks truly convincing. The mass car crash is just nice to look at, splinters and big objects flying around without any control. It all ends in a big explosion, again in horrible CGI terrorism. Everytime I see somthing like this i have to think of Peter Jackson and the Balrog, still the best effect I´ver seen, and most imortantly used in the right environment and the right moment. Okay back to the story: I have to say that the ideas of the Reloaded are great, it is the execution of the ideas that hurts the movie: The Triangle of the evil Programs: The Architect, the constructor of the matrix, the Mergovinian, an arrogant Neo aquivalent? and agent smith, the pain in the ass The Wildcards: Persephone and Oracle, there is no way to figure out which side they´re on The Unknown Theories: The Twins and the "Fallen programs` like Vampires, Aliens etc. The Matrix Layers: Is Neo really capable of using his powers in the real world or is Zion just another layer of the Matrix? Sounds good? I think so too...but now, let´s see how they´ve done it...
The Triangle: The Architect is cast with a total uninteresting actor, i had a hard time listening to him, the stuff flickering on the monitors, especially Neos " Bull****` Outbursts are plain ridiculous The Mergovinian: An idea so good the whole movie could have revolved around it, but the french speech was again so horribly comedic, as was the cake and the hot girl scene, nearly the whole audience around us was laughing.
Agent Smith: What is he doing there? Multiplying. Then going home. Ugh.
The Wildcards: Gloria Foster has a great presence, You really want to listen to her, and despite the bad lines written for her , she remains the most interesting character besides the Matrix part one Agent Smith Persephone: Monica Belluci also has a great presence but for another, obvious reason. But instead of using her great acting skills, the WK Bros only use her great physical skills to team her up with Neo in a kissing scene so unnecessary and bad executed I was ashamed to be in this movie.
The Theories: Shortly mentioned, and forgotten, please let them show something of it in Revolutions
The Matrix Layers: Again a question that can only be answered by the next installement. Let´s hope they have something clever in their backpocket.

Oh , and the Keymaker....everyone wants him, he says his lines, then he dies, noone cares....

I don´t want to tell you the ending , but let me say that they tried somthing like the Godfather crosscutting and the result is confusion, followed by an underclass cliffhanger. In the end, I have still hope for Revolutions, even knowing that both movies have been made simultaneously and even by seeing the trailer at the end of the credits. Matrix Reloaded is a disappointment for followers of the Matrix Universe and for the usual moviegoer. At least Für all the fanboys our there: It´s always good to have a movie with Miss Belluci in it, and godddamn, "The Mergovinian` is the coolest name since "Col.Kilgore` from Apaocalypse Now!
Oh, and give the Twins a Spin off!