Better than I had any right to expect it to be,if not slightly better

Rating: Null/10 (16 July 2003)

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs
Having been underwhelmed by the highly praised original The Matrix in 1999,the prospect of the sequel didn't exactly thrill me beyond measure.Alas,because of the hugely successful flick it was,the sequel was inevitable (for financial reasons,more than anything) and now,four years later,we have it.At least it's not being resurrected from an old franchise like the majority of big flicks this year seem to be,but that's not guaranteed quality control.Alas,it cannot be denied,this is a hugely entertaining and worthwhile action adventure,with some amazing action/wire-fu sequences,a mesmerizing visual feel,an absorbing soundtrack and some unexpectedly brilliant dialogue.If only it weren't for a humourless Laurence Fishburne and a story that is simply too far fetched and fantastical to bother following,let alone care about.With the sequel coming later in the year though,it certainly knows something about continuity.Or profit.***