Could kick myself for watching this

Rating: 1/10 (21 May 2003)

I knew I should have stayed away from the theaters on this one. I knew that I would somehow be disappointed...but I never realized the magnitude of that disappointment. This movie was awful compared to the first one and mediocre on its own merits. It had none of the respect/seriousness of The Matrix. I understand the writers desire to delve more deeply into the personal interactions between the characters...but I felt that they strayed too far off the original concept and "cheapened" the experience.
When The Matrix first came out, I remember everyone talking about the intelligent philosophies integrated into the plot. It was smart, witty, and surprised audiences. Reloaded did none of these things. With its over-the-top and stereotypical villains, over reliance on CGI effects, needless emotional baggage, and really crappy jokes...it reminded me more of what I would expect from The Mummy 2, Blade, or some other campy flick. Which would have been o.k. except that we all expected more than that.
Oh, and in addition to the bad jokes, be prepared to see a T and A filled danced scene straight out of Blade 2, line/scenario repeats from the first Matrix (which aren't as funny or cool the second time around), and some suck-face/sex scenes between Neo and Trinity (who had tons of chemistry between until the writers put them into needless soft porn situations). I'm not being a prude about it. There are plenty of movies in which nudity is essential or conveys chemistry and longing...but in this case it did the opposite: it trivialized what was already there and which needed no "spicing up".