The Matrix Reloaded: With BLANKS!!!!

Rating: 1/10 (14 May 2003)

Never in my life have I looked at my watch so many times then I did in watching the Matrix Reloaded. For everyone who liked the first film for it's briliant blend of story and action will walk away from Part 2 I'm afraid with their heads down and stratching it while yawning wondering "what the heck happened"
The film is simply flat. This review will contain no SPOILERS!!!! and this means this review will be a little flat. The film picks up shortly after the events of part 1, and the film never gets going. We simply follow our cast around Zion listening in on conversations etc.... I will tell you that some of the images of Zion were very well done but nothing we haven't seen in Star Wars, Star Trek etc....
Just when you think the movie might take off after a big over the top speech by Morpheus the film drags on for another 10 minutes with a un-expected sexual montage.
The acting in part 2 in my opinion is not on par with the first film. It seems that the cast sat around the set too long while making this movie and just delivered their lines. The dialogue varies from simplisitc to very long winded speeches.
The Muscial score is probably the worst aspect of Matrix Reloaded. It's simply non-existent. No dramatic themes or exciting adernaline rushing music at all. The action scenes suffered from this the most.

The Special effects is nothing ground breaking unless you consider it really exciting to sit through a long drawn out street fight between Neo and 100 Agent Smiths??? You find yourself wondering is this fight going to end. There are really no epic shots in this film. I can think of maybe 3. By the end of the film your saying "been there done that" because frankly how much more interesting can the fights get when everyone is flipping around in slow motion or fighting 100 agent Smiths all day?
Some of the good things I liked in the film which are not many at all is once again the editing during the fight scenes is awesome. No shaking cameras or extreme close ups which I find annoying. They are well balanced but the fights are too long and over the top. The scene involving Neo and the Oracle is the highlight of the film in my opinion. It's clever and we learn a lot in that scene. The ending I wouldn't even classify as a cliffhanger rather it just leaves you hanging and saying "To be concluded"

In conclusion the film falls well short of the first film in more ways than one. From the acting to the story it all takes a leap backwards rather than forwards. You do learn more about what the Matrix is and what makes it tick and who is in control but the story overall is very weak along with many other mis en scene in the film. I give it a 4 out of 10.