Um...wait, what?

Rating: 7/10 (16 May 2003)

I found myself saying this constantly throughout the beginning of this movie. After such a beautifully written script for the original, I expected something as seamless for this one. Now, I enjoyed the movie, but man did it start off slow. I think the first 45 minutes could have been told in 10 and, if it had, I might not have any other complaints.
Complaint 1: Diatribes. They were used to explain things in Reloaded where carefully crafted dialogue interwoven with action was used in Matrix.
Complaint 2: Too many characters, not enough development. There were so many new characters thrown in the mix, it was confusing. And I know each of these characters were supposed to be rich with history. But they weren't.
Complaint 3: I like sexuality when done right. But this wasn't "sensual, sophisticated Wachowski-bros ala Bound" sexuality. It was "Catholic schoolboy just found out what his wee-wee does" sexuality. It was distracting from the characters and the movie as a whole.
This movie does grab you and suck you in. But by the time it sucks you in, you may have already considered leaving.