More dialog, less action

Rating: Null/10 (23 December 2003)

My major complaint with the current trilogy trend is that there needs to be a recap of the previous movie. At least it's only a year between the Lord of the Rings' releases. It's been 4 years since `The Matrix' was released, and while I have a good memory, it isn't that good. While set 6 months into the future, `Reloaded' takes a step back and attempts to introduce some of the finer details of how the Matrix works. It's been so long since I saw the first movie, I'm not sure that this movie is completely consistent with the first.
Also, the action sequences go way too long. I can only tolerate so many repetitive karate chops, unrealistic flips, and special effects before my attention wanders elsewhere. They contribute very little to the plot. For example, the expressway scene could use a little cutting. The scene with all the Agent Smiths coming out of the walls was a waste of film. We see Neo doing his `Superman thing' at the start, and it was predictable that a similar move would be his only way out of this predicament.
Finally, we learn there are some good computer-generated characters in the Matrix such as the Oracle and the Keymaker. The scene with the Oracle is very enlightening. But two-thirds into the film, it got me wondering. If Neo and the gang can read the Matrix code and insert themselves into it, why can't they program an anti-Agent Smith, or some other viral characters that leads to the Matrix shutting itself down? Furthermore, like the first movie, the relationship between Neo and Trinity seems very wooden, sterile, and unexplored. I have a hard time understanding why Neo made the decision he did at the end.
`The Matrix' series introduced a world of alternate realities and warned us that not everything is as it seems. The special effects are amazing, and the plot is unparalleled. It is a great storyline and could probably be transformed into a successful TV show if the writers chose to do so. Despite my criticisms, this movie is still one of the better ones I've seen, but I have even higher hopes for `Revolutions'.