Disappointed, to say the least...

Rating: Null/10 (27 October 2003)

Let me first start by saying that I loved 'The Matrix'.

I thought the concept was fantastic. The film took a theme that has been hashed unsuccessfully in previous movies and made it into something original and exciting. It was a piece on reality that was shockingly clever. It gave you something that few movies these days can promise: something different.
So you can imagine my eagerness and anticipation for the next installment of the movie in 'The Matrix Reloaded'.
Well, upon seeing it for the first time last night, all I can say is "blah". My disappointment and dissatisfaction know no bounds. Whatever promise this series had has been terminated completely in a mix of over-pretentious dialogue, clunky acting, and a story that leaves you with zero enthusiasm for 'Matrix Revolutions'.
The killing point is the story itself. Rather than sticking to the more promising element of the actual 'Matrix' itself, the movie focuses more around the human habitation of Zion... which ultimately turns the film into a 'Star Trek' science epic as opposed to a play on reality. This wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, if what you wanted in the first place was a 'Star Trek' science epic.
Unfortunately, however, what made 'The Matrix' so engaging to the viewer was the focus on the Matrix itself, as well as the characters' interactions inside and out of it. Moreover, the themes discussed in the movie were much less complicated for the viewer to grasp than in 'Matrix Reloaded'. Almost 80% of the dialogue in 'Reloaded' is complete gibberish.
Added on to this is the complete lack of chemistry between the forever talentless Keanu Reeves and the distinctly older Ms. Moss (Who, for some inexplicable reason, looks ugly in this movie). I'm sorry, but it's impossible to sell people on the significance of a romance between two characters when said romance looks as artificial as Cher does.
(All I can say is thank goodness Keanu's role was reduced to him 'acting' as little as possible.)
In all fairness, the special effects in this movie are pretty impressive... but at times the fighting sequences make the characters look more like they came out of 'Shrek' than an actual Matrix movie. Regardless, the special effects alone cannot possibly save this movie from it's painful mediocrity. ...Which, in the end, is a shame, considering how much potential this series really had.
Gets the clowns_n_cookies thumbs down.