I'm sad...it was bad.

Rating: 3/10 (4 June 2003)

Possible spoiler below...
The Matrix was by far my favorite movie of all time. I waited somewhat impatiently for this sequel, and when it came out I refused to read a review of The Matrix Reloaded for fear of spoiling my own first impression. I expected that it could never top the original, however, I have to say that this movie was just plain terrible. It seems that all of the money allocated for this film was directed into the special effects, which were overdone to an extreme. In every one of these scenes I found myself saying "enough, already, we get it." I have read through some of the positive reviews here that mention the special effects and I'd like to know the ages of those critics. My guess is that only the very young who have grown up with the endless repetition of computer-game fight sequences burning permanent and unalterable pathways through their brains would find them mesmerizing. There was no character development. I left the movie knowing virtually nothing about any new character that was introduced. It seemed that any dialog and explanation was left as an afterthought to be squeezed in between the action sequences with the culmination of that being the rapid-fire explanation of Neo's real purpose by "the Architect." There was no magic, no charisma to this movie. In my opinion, the most important parts of it, and these are the parts that made me love the first one, were neglected for the all-important cash-in on the dead-brained public who love anything with a good car chase or some kung-fu. What a waste!