Measures up to the hype

Rating: 7/10 (7 June 2003)

There have been many comparisons to The Matrix and Star Wars, so I know I'm not being very original when I point out some more. For one, like The Phantom Menace 4 years ago, The Matrix Reloaded has to measure up to very high expectations. In many people's eyes, it does not, but for me it worked well.
It is disjointed in some parts, particularly the dream scenes and the Zion celebration. And it lacks the mystery element of the first one, an inevitability of sequels. Still, overall, this is the right continuation of events and character arcs. Keanu Reeves is a stronger, wiser Neo, and he actually delivers the lines well, something he is not usually known for. Carrie-Anne Moss gives us the softer side of Trinity, although she can still kick her way through any number of enemies.
The most interesting and subtle parallel to Star Wars here is the use of love. Like Anakin in Attack of the Clones, Neo makes a decision that goes against what is expected of him, upsetting the design of things, all because of his love for a woman. Amidst all the special effects, The Matrix movies, like the Star Wars movies, are humanistic stories, dealing with the imperfections that make humans free.
The actions sequences are awe-inspiring. The car chase in the last act does indeed surpass The French Connection and Ronin before it. Still, in the end, it is the characters that make this a worthwhile movie.