Smiles of delight and gasps of shock

Rating: 9/10 (16 May 2003)

I thought that this would have to be predominantly action-driven, because the first one revealed everything. I was wrong, and that's what makes Reloaded so damn great. I think it's better than the first one, and I mean this honestly, after having slept on it for 24h.
I loved the pacing. The first third or so has been called slow or pointless, but it made me admire the Wachowskis all the more - this is not average Hollywood. It's moody, dark and ominous. You need this atmospheric piece to set up the tone of Zion and the events for the rest of the movie. It's then followed by some INCREDIBLE, stylishly choreographed and shot action sequences. The last third brings Major Revelations (tm), but they're not forced or cheesy. The superlative action is surpassed only by the expansive plot.
I'd say that this one messes with your mind more than the first one, and this is from someone who knows the universe of the original inside and out. But being the middle part, this doesn't need to wrap things up neatly. It gives you a glimpse of just how deep the rabbit-hole is; unlike the first one, you don't see the end of it.
Though it was written in a trilogy, Matrix didn't have any guaranteed sequels, so it needed to have a sense of closure. All the loose ends were tied at the end of it, which is one of the reasons why it's a less challenging and less interesting experience than Reloaded. This one's truly a mind-f**k, and the third one will need to bring some major revelations. In many ways, this is shaping up to be the Empire Strikes Back of the Matrix trilogy.
I'll see it again this weekend to absorb it some more. I'm not a huge fan of the first one, I didn't admire its pseudo-philosophizing. Yes, this has some cheesy, self-conscious dialogue, and some of the action is over-the-top by normal standards. But within this stylized world, it all fits together into an immensely satisfying experience.
9/10