HELL YES

Rating: 10/10 (15 May 2003)

I'm usually pretty cynical, and I was as hyped up as anyone that this would be the most amazing movie ever (ok, maybe not as hyped up as the guy who showed up dressed like Trinity...). But despite how ready I was to get disappointed this movie not only met expectations but set the bar even higher!
Most of the effects meet the standard set by the first Matrix, and you couldn't possibly expect more. But then more is exactly what you get and a new standard is set. Absolutely amazing.
The story line does not disappoint either. In fact it gets cranked up even more than the action does over the first film. Flat out, if you think you know what the world of The Matrix is all about, what's happening and what it all means... think again! Like the characters you're in for a rude awakening and another mind-bender even bigger than the original.
I can see a lot of people being disappointed or frustrated by the story. But I think they need to realize that this movie is a continuation of the exact same story started in the original movie and that the shifting of perceptions is one of the major themes.
My friends and I had no shortage of conversation on the hour and a half ride home after this one. Discussing everything from plot points and themes in the movie to real-life philosophies about AI, free will, and destiny.
In short, it's an amazing film that is at least an order of magnitude greater in both visual and mental stimulation than its predecessor. I think it's very easy to say that this is one of the absolutely greatest movies of all time. And that is no understatement.
Luckily we'll have the conclusion in a few months!