One of the worst sequels of all time, despite a couple of entertaining action sequences.

Rating: 5/10 (1 December 2018)

'The Matrix Reloaded (2003)' is easily one of the worst sequels of all time, one that actively makes the first film worse unless you ignore its existence completely, and it seems to demonstrate a total lack of understanding as to what made 'The Matrix (1999)' such a success, and a downright classic, to begin with. There are long stretches of dull, exposition-filled down-time that only serve to give us more time with the picture's lifeless, unlikable, generally quite unrecognisable characters. Even the action-sequences - save one memorable and honestly quite accomplished highway chase - aren't all that compelling, focusing on an essentially invulnerable superhero able to do whatever he so desires and including some intangible, frankly horrendous, full CG body-doubles as well as relying far more on digital work than the practicality (or, at least, mixture) that the prior film was known for. It's a drag of a picture, one that dips straight into pretentiousness in lieu of actually clever writing, and it's a real disappointment, too. 5/10