Over-hyped, over-anticipated, and over-long

Rating: 5/10 (23 August 2003)

The tension in the air waiting for the sequel to The Matrix was, in some circles at least, so think that bullets really could pass by in slo-mo.
Well, not really, but you get my drift. Anyone who adored the first film - and that was pretty much everyone who saw it - was eager for the second, hoping against hope that it wouldn't be a let down.
And what a let down. Morpheus has become the reverse of his character from the first film. There is no tension, no threat (just who the hell could harm Neo now?) and even the rebels are starting to take on the agents - upgraded agents, no less, and survive, if not win! Remember Trinity's warning to Neo in the first film? Bear no mind to it for this.
Smith, too, has become a joke. The much-applauded virus-like smith scene with him replicating himself over and over to battle Neo, is, well frankly silly.
Whereas the first film was clever, but purposeful, Reloaded smacks of being complicated for complicatedness' sake. The much discussed Architect's speech, for example, is neither profound, nor deep, just very very heavy, in the worst possible sense. And for a film that is only supposedly one half of a much larger film, it's all a bit long winded.
But that all said and done, it's still not as bad as people are claiming... and I'm not being hypocritical here. The film-making is astounding, and the special effects are second to none. But the characterizations, and the storyline are a little pat, especially when held in comparison to the first film.
Part of the problem with it being an epic split in two pieces (apart from being a rip-off) is that it is impossible to judge this film entirely on its own merits. All of its failings may be accounted for... but then again, they may not.
As a stand-alone film (even apart from the first) Reloaded isn't a lot of cop, except to watch the mindless [in the characters own eyes] action. Four out of ten.