A near perfect, thought-provoking film ruined by unthinking viewers

Rating: 10/10 (12 December 2003)

I was a fan of the Matrix series right from the beginning. I absolutely loved all three films. However, I do agree that the Wachowskis made a mistake with the second two films. It came when they tried to incorporate more philosophy into the series, overestimating the intelligence of their audience. The sequels were widely disliked by fans of movies like Mission Impossible 2, who's only purpose in film-going is to see cheap stunts repeated ad nauseam. Whereas those who enjoy well-plotted, geniously-crafted movies like "Memento" walked away with more satisfaction than Chris Farley leaving a pastry shop.
The Wachowski brothers are the Aristotles and the Joe Campbells of our generation, not mere action directors. Don't get me wrong, I love the action scenes in these movies, but they aren't what kept me coming back for each new installment. What I loved about the series was the way its story developed, its genius plot twists, it's incredible acting (especially Hugo Weaving, that guy rules), and, perhaps most of all, it's thought-provoking, philosophical dialogue.
Trust me, every minute of this film (along with Reloaded) is sheer genius. If you are ready for a movie that introduces a new approach to filmmaking, to see something that hasn't been done 1,000 times before, this is the movie for you. If you liked the first matrix solely for the action scenes, stick to "Charlie's Angels."
OVERALL: 10/10