Maybe I've been spoiled...

Rating: Null/10 (15 May 2003)

I loved the original Matrix. I was very much looking forward to the second film, Reloaded. I understand that many sci-fi films are not outstandingly noted for their scripts or general plots. But this film was a disappointment to me. SPOILAGE AHEAD! I have seen love stories in science fiction television shows and movies that were beautifully poignant. But the Neo/Trinity love story never seemed well-developped enough to justify his choice at the end of the film. His choice, to me, also compromised his standing as a hero. I am a fan of "Buffy", the television series, and have to say, season two, when she had to make the choice to save the world by killing her one true love, proved her to truly be worthy of "the chosen one". When Buffy sacrificed herself to save the world (again) in season five, she again proved herself a hero. This was what Neo seemed to lack; the ability to realize that as "the one" he might have to make sacrifices, and I suppose that this simply, let me down. I was also sorely disappointed in the regression of Trinity's character. In the first film, she kicked some serious butt. In this installment, she was Neo's girlfriend. To be honest, I would have a hard time believing Neo would still really love this woman since she had become such a wuss, and so far from the strong woman he had fallen in love with. I found this film to be lacking any strong female main characters to speak of. Niobe, while certainly a strong character was never given enough time on screen for the viewer to see her "strong" side, though I look forward to seeing more in the next film. Persephone was outstanding (I admit to some bias as I believe Monica Bellucci to be a phenomenal actress). I wish they had fleshed out her character more! The idea of a character like hers - a woman who cannot feel on her own, but must feel emotion through others is very intriguing to me. Overall, this may have been an important stepping stone to the third film, but unlike some other recent sci-fi series that have been made into films, this installment would not stand on its own. I would recommend it, as it seems needed for the third movie, but I admonish the filmmakers for making a film that was far too long for so little to have happened.