All hype and no plot, makes Reloaded a dull sequel

Rating: 8/10 (20 May 2003)

As we all expected The Matrix Reloaded included some mind-blowing special effects as well as some not so good ones. And some very cool fight sequences, as well as probably the best car chase scene Hollywood will ever see. But all that aside Reloaded does not out-due it's predecessor. The original Matrix had a lot going for it that this doesn't and one is the always important element of surprise that most sequels suffer from. Second is the plot, the plot from The Matrix was one of the most original ideas in cinema history, Reloaded was packed with action that went by all too fast leading to the slow, drawling dialogues and explanations.
From the start it was evident that this would not be as original as well, the original. Reloaded jumps right into everything all too fast and doesn't bother to explain many new things at all. All the Zion scenes were mostly unnecessary junk, that got a little bit too Star Wars Prequel-like. And emphasis on certain things from the original is lost on this one, like how each time in the first movie they would have to struggle to find an exit from the Matrix, and show them going into it. Whereas in Reloaded, they're just in and out with no transition. Plus where it begins it expects us to understand the way things work in Zion andthat there was a fleet of ships rather than the Nebuchadnazzer being original, or how Neo has learned all of these new tricks in a very short period of time, and everyone on all ships know who he is now. The plot elements are lost and jumbled up as well, and some pretty stupid concepts are introduced during the architect scene. But even so some things were left very unclear. And the hyped-up cliffhanger wasn't really as powerful as it was made out to be. All in all, the action was awesome, the dialogue was mostly bad as well as Real World scenes. My Grades: Original Matrix (1999) 9/10 (3.5 *'s) Reloaded 6or7/10 (2.5 *'s)