A disappointment...

Rating: 7/10 (12 August 2008)

Now, I'm a huge fan of the first Matrix film, and my friends had recommended that I see the sequel. And so, seeing this in the bargain bucket at a supermarket I eagerly picked it up, expecting more great storytelling mixed with great action sequences, but I was disappointed...
The whole 'we're all living in a computer' theme from the first one is almost entirely gone, and is never explained to people who have not seen the first film. Instead we get something that seems like it's been pulled out of a 'Sci-Fi story machine'. The story now involves the last human city being attacked by giant robots, which, I'm sure you'll agree, is nowhere near as groundbreaking as the first movie's story, which was unique.
Even inside the Matrix, the plot isn't saved. Instead of running from the agents, as in the first film, the heroes now have to deal with 'programs', super powered beings who live in the Matrix. This is very confusing, taking away from the entertainment.
The fight scenes, however save this film (apart from a few badly CGI scenes, for example the fight in the Oracle's courtyard). As well as the brilliant martial arts and 'bullet-time' that featured in the first movie, we now get scenes of Neo, the protagonist, playing at superman, and some of the new 'programs', called 'the Twins', who seem human, but can transform into ghosts who can travel through solid objects, are very cool.
In conclusion, the action sequences save this film, but I'd stick with the first movie.