Don't listen to the critics..."Reloaded" is, in some ways, better than the original (spoilers)

Rating: 8/10 (20 October 2003)

If you saw "The Matrix" one time and understood exactly what was going on (like I did), you'd know why I think "Reloaded" is, in some ways, better than the first film.
To put it bluntly, "The Matrix" was predictable. It was basically a Judeo-Christian messiah story with guns and kung fu. The effects were ground-breaking, sure, but the story was essentially nothing more than Plato's "The Cave" mixed with the Terminator movies. There were few plot twists, and after two viewings, one basically understood everything about the movie.
Naturally, the Wachowski brothers could have simply rehashed this. You'd have Neo exploding/kung-fu fighting hundreds of agents as Trin and Morph lead a desperate last stand against the machines. Eventually Neo would win a hard-fought battle, bring down the Matrix, unplug everyone, and power down all the machines at the same time (all peppered with one-liners). Easy, right?
The sequel turns this all around in a single scene, oft-criticized by the masses. When Neo gets to the Architect, according to the laws of the first movie, the story should end.
But it doesn't.
"Reloaded" turns the entire mythos on its head - the "One" isn't much of a One at all, the machines have always been in control, Zion is about to be destroyed, the Oracle and the Keymaker really aren't Neo's allies, and the prophecy that pervaded the first movie is total junk. For these characters, it's the equivalent to the Second Coming being a sham. How's that for surprise?
Don't like the talking in Zion? It's necessary to give some exposition. The first "Matrix" was essentially exposition for half an hour, as well. The only difference was that Keanu and Larry were doing the talking, not some little known actors. People don't have patience with non-stars any more, I guess.
Yes, the Zion rave is bad. Does it bring down the whole movie? Nah.
Have problems with Neo and Trinity's sex scene? Grow up. That's what people in love do.
Yes, that last part of the Burly Brawl looks fake (of course, no one ever talks about the first five minutes, which are absolutely enthralling). Can you think of any other way to film 100 identical Agent Smiths facing off against Neo? It would have been impractical and even dangerous to the people involved to have 100 people flailing around on a set, no matter how well-planned the choreography. The CGI solution was the ONLY way.
I'm sick of the Matrix-bashing, just as I'm sick of the LOTR-bashing. Can you honestly say you've seen an action movie with the depth of "Reloaded"? Certainly not one made this year. I'm certain we'll all laugh at the criticism after "Revolutions" puts "Reloaded"'s dramatic twists in perspective.