Almost as good as the First, but not quite

Rating: 10/10 (29 July 2003)

Given the hyper surrounding this, after the phenomenally successful first film, it was always going to be tough expecting it to be as good as everybody wanted it to be.
We all wanted to be blown away again - taken on that same journey that we experienced in the first film and unfortunately that cannot be the case since this is a sequel and thus not original like the first film.
But, hats off to the Wachowski Brothers for creating another exciting roller-coaster ride with is pure entertainment from beginning to end. The special effects are even better this time round and the characters are developed alot further. We are also given teasing information on the construct of the Matrix, where it came from and how it all works.
The film ends on yet another cliff-hanger, a perfect introduction to the final part of the trilogy (Matrix: Revolutions).
The only problem with the film is the beginning - it seems to dwell for almost too long on Zion, before we get back to being in the Matrix where the action really kicks off. If they had shortened the first part, this would probably have been equal to the first film, but with it in, it does feel slightly laboured at points.
Still one of the finest sci-fi actioners around and please do go and see it on a big screen to fully appreciate the action, but not quite up there with the original.