The worst of the series

Rating: 5/10 (6 November 2003)

The fight with Agent Smith and flying scenes are amazing. The special effects are wonderful. Now if they only spent more time with the story, the movie would be much better.
Dialog is better than the third since the third just reiterates comments from the first. But this movie has to be judged by its three major flaws:
1) limitations put on Neo (he doesn't seem as super-powered as as it was suggested in the first movie) 2) the rave/sex scene 3) the dreary design of Zion
The first problem is due to the fact that while ending given at the end of the original Matrix made it sequeable, the problem remains on how do you sequel a movie with the powers that Neo is given. Its the same problem that Superman faced and the results seem as unsatisfying as Superman II but without the comedy. The problem is that Superman always had some limitations (Kryptonite, Magic, etc.) while Neo is given none of these in the first movie. So in order to there to be some conflict, his powers seem to be initially less than in the first.
The second problem just is an editing problem. This long scene was unnecessary, makes the Zionites look like just a bunch a hedonists. Contrast that with the first movie's implied view that hedonism was a construct of the Matrix to keep control and a seduction even those who know it is illusion. The violence of the first movie was more of a video game violence and the movie could be shown to children under the age of seventeen with caution. However, it is obvious that this movie should not.
However, the third and worse flaw of the movie is design of Zion. Words do mean things and Zion is the mount to where the Temple of Jerusalem was placed; the word Zion also is often used for the Jerusalem and Israel itself. With the technology at their disposal why couldn't Zion seem something like Hobbiton: a true alternative to the dreary Matrix skyscraper world and reality of how the earth now exists. Instead we are given a world that seems inferior the skyscraper construct of the Matrix and makes us think that Cypher's choice in the first movie was immoral but understandable.
What the creators of the Matrix don't seem to realize is that people fight for what is behind them: their families, friends, towns and country, not what is in front of them. The first Matrix movie could get away from this because we could imagine Zion as a wonderful place. However its reality makes it a much difficult to imagine people wanting to fight for it.