Successfully shatters its own illusions

Rating: 6/10 (24 January 2005)

By the time this film was released i was a Matrix-oholic, after Neo used his powers outside the Matrix and stopped sentinals in their tracks, leaving him unconscious. I was desperate to see this movie and was first in the queue at the cinema.
Neo somehow has entered a state of limbo between the real and the Matrix and then manages to get out - i forget exactly how, (it was a while ago and i haven't watched it again). Anyway, with sentinels (alot of them) closing in on Zion, time is running out for what's left the human race.
Neo figures out how he can beat the machines, but he's not letting us know just yet, so he and Trinity take a ship and set off to the machine city, so Neo can do what his has to do.
Meanwhile, the sentinels attack Zion (The best action sequence in the film, by far) it all takes place in the real world, but it is done with style.
As Trinity and Neo make their way to the machine city, SHOCK, Trinity dies; this worked well.
But, then Neo has a chat with the machines and gets them to plug him in to the Matrix to defeat agent Smith, who is running amok and threatening the destruction of both man and machine. Neo, now fighting to save both sides has a showdown with Smith that is at best disappointing (it was like Superman fighting the super villains in Superman 2 - not disrespect to superman, he can carry a fight like this off)) the effects were better but, it wasn't good. Anyway, Neo wins with the help of the Oracle and then he dies, and the machines carry him off like a hero.
I admit that my recollection of these events is a little vague, but the feeling they left me with was one of shattered illusions, they just seem to have ran out of ideas for this one, and it was a huge let down.
I have read a few good reviews, that say their is more than meets the eye here. So i will watch it again, because i would love to be wrong in my perception. If i am wrong i will post a new comment, but for now i'll leave you with this, Most of the film is outside the Matrix and most of these scenes did deliver, but inside the Matrix the fights were quite tired. One is a rehash of the lobby scene in the original and the other is a Superman style borathon. Additionally the story loses itself and its original motives, leaving too many holes and unanswered questions.
Just 6/10 and that's kind.