Sometimes if you expect greatness better than average is a bummer.

Rating: 1/10 (15 May 2003)

I cannot tell you how disappointed I was by this film. To give you some perspective, I loved "The Matrix". I saw it three times in the theater and I own the DVD. I loved "The Matrix" because 1. It allowed a certain ambiguity. 2. It didn't spoon-feed the audience 3. It didn't take itself too seriously.
"The Matrix Reloaded" comes across as a typical Hollywood sequel: Repeat/Augment the successful scenes of the first film, Add some interesting characters and blow the whole thing with exposition and convolution. I expected more from the Wachowski Brothers.
I will be the first to admit there were some incredible visual sequences. Some fights and chases were executed in fine form, but I found myself thinking during some of the extended martial arts scenes: "Why am I watching Keanu Reeves in a wire harness in "bullet-time" when I can watch a true artist like Bruce Lee in my copy of "Enter the Dragon"? In light of the true nature of 'the matrix' all the fist-fighting and gunplay seems superfluous and ultimately filler until the next expositional moment in the script. In other words, sure there were some cracker-jack action scenes, but they didn't advance the plot a whole lot. A great action film usually requires a lot of suspension of disbelief on the part of the audience, but at some point the whole "jacking into and out of the matrix gimmick" requires a new level of suspension of disbelief. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" is an example of another film with many cracker-jack action scenes but the difference is the scenes actually advanced the plot.

Speaking of exposition, I kept waiting for Micheal York from the "Austin Powers" movies to show up. I mean, COME ON! Somebody tell the screenwriters that the high-school level philosophy class isn't impressing anyone over the age of 18. The first film did a much better job of avoiding making the audience feel like they should take dictation without coming across as shallow. This film does precisely the opposite by talking itself in circles and in the end appearing vacuous.
Also another suggestion to the filmakers: keep the power level of Neo consistent. In one scene he can disrupt the entire matrix with his "wake" and in another five dudes with less skill that Agent Smith keep him occupied for far too long. Either he is omnipotent or he is not. If he is omnipotent within the matrix you don't have much of a story. The Wachowski's seem to want to have it both ways.
OK, I admit I'll shell out the $10.00 to see the next one and ultimately that determines the financial success of a movie, but box-office receipts do not determine whether a film reaches it's potential as a classic series as "The Matrix" could have.