Read the review, hopefully my attempt to cover all the bitchy points was successful

Rating: 4/10 (24 May 2003)

When `The Matrix' first came out in 1999, it had a similar impact on the world of cinema as Star Wars did in 1977. The reason these two movies blew the audience away was because of their visual breakthrough. `Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope' was loved by everyone and was a hit at the box office while the BEST Star Wars Film `The Empire Strikes Back' will only be the second best. Both, `Episode IV: A New Hope' and `The Matrix' set the basis for their next two installments. `Episode IV: A New Hope' ended on a happy note, because as far as the audience was concerned, the Death Star wars destroyed and the day was saved by some boy who seems to have some Jedi powers, but is only a good pilot. Similar to Episode IV, The Matrix ended on happy note because at the end Neo realizes that he is the one' and he has great powers within the Matrix and can do as he pleases. Now that we have set a base for the story, we can continue with the story WITHOUT going back and explaining everything again. `Lord of the Rings  The Fellowship of the Ring' had a VERY similar pattern to the Matrix and Star Wars Trilogy, and most people had the same complains about the second part of the trilogy: `Too much action, not enough story, not enough character development, not based on the book, etc'. My point is, that when something comes out of the blue and the audience is unaware of it, then it's liked, but when something is hyped and well known, there will be a great chance of most people complaining about the movie.
Some of the dumbest complains I have EVER heard about a trilogy: For those who think that every sequel should be a stand-alone; I'm sorry, it doesn't work that way. At the end of Empire Strikes back, Luke finds out what is really going on, Hutt kidnaps Han, and the ENTIRE story has a completely different twist to it and the movie ends without answering A LOT of questions. The Matrix Reloaded does the EXACT same thing as The Empire Strikes Back, it ends a point when the story I getting most interesting: that point is called the climax!
Purpose of a trilogy: In a trilogy, the second movie will always end with many unanswered questions and unexplained actions. That's the entire point of making three parts to a story: you can tell a LONG story in three parts without cutting out too much of it. Imagine all three Lord of the Rings books, all six Star Wars Episodes and all the Harry Potter books in one movie! It would be awful! Therefore, if there are unanswered questions and unexplained actions in Reloaded then they WILL be explained in the next one. Again, that is the point in making a trilogy: tell a long story without cutting out the detail! I am sick and tired of people complaining that this movie ended without an explanation. Doesn't anyone hit them with the stupid stick and tell them that part three of this movie will be out the SAME YEAR!
Other trilogies: [since everyone is comparing The Matrix to every other trilogy that's been out!]: Just like other big hit and successful trilogies such as: Back to the Future, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars [4-6, before Lucas decided to screw it all up!], Matrix Revolutions will finish off the story by explaining all the cliffhangers from Reloaded. As far as I am concerned, the Wachowski Brothers are the ONLY one to do that; release part three of a trilogy the same years as the sequel!
Conclusion: Either way, this was a great sequel, one of the best I've seen I might add, and I have no doubt that part three [THE CONCLUSION  for those who don't realize that part three will concluded everything!] will be another great cinema experience just like the previews two.
The Matrix: 9/10 -- The Matrix Reloaded : 8/10