Rating: Summary: Why sequels shouldn't be made. Review: This movie is a perfect example of why sequels shouldn't be made. Nearly no story, laughably lame and predictable love story between people with no onscreen chemistry together. If only there had been maybe 20 more Mr Smiths.... it would have been blatantly farcical. I'd compare having to sit through this movie to having to sit through Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, but this experience might have been worse. The only way I'll watch the 3rd in this series is if it's the Matrix Reformatted.
Rating: Summary: A Philosophical Masterpiece Review: To start, I come from a background in philosophy (currently an undergrad) which certainly does bias my view of _The Matrix_ series. With that said, _The Matrix Reloaded_ was a true masterpiece of philosophical intrigue, not to mention an intricate plot and dialogue. It is understandable that many do not see this; the majority of the most enjoyable aspects of the movie are hidden in a single sentence, a complete scene, or interlaced throughout the entire movie. In line with the above, _The Matrix Reloaded_ is not for those who dislike a lack of finality in a movie: by the end it raises more questions (on many different levels) than it answers (apparently in line with the designs of the Wachowski brothers). For these reasons, claims about a lack of plot is understandable; without seeing the finer aspects (or having interest in the topics) _The Matrix Reloaded_ is more like a shoot-em-up action thriller with expensive pyrotechnics than a psychological and philosophical work. Thankfully, the world needs both types; if everyone were interested in philosophy the world would be worse for it, in my personal opinion (though I think most, if not all, could definitely use some instruction in general logic and fallacies).Along with the above, I also felt that the sex-scene between Neo and Trinity (though quite tame according to today's common movie standards) was not needed. Some I have talked to say that it (along with the dancing in Zion) demonstrated the 'culture' in a post-apocalyptic world, but I don't see it (it is probably also related to my own personal aversion to 'hard' music, like what was played during the scene). Carrie-Anne Moss is beautiful, granted, but I personally would prefer to view her with a little more covering. For those who have not seen _The Matrix Reloaded_, here is a list of the philosophical topics it deals (or continues to deal) with: the nature of reality, the limits of AI, indeterminacy in human action, determinism (interestingly enough, as articulated by a computer program), multiple realities, self-defeating programs (see the most recent trailers for more on this), identity, and multiple worlds (i.e. modal semantics). Some of the above are subtle in the movie itself, but you can find them (and probably more) if you look. On a related note, if you haven't seen the philosophy section at The Matrix website, do so (I particularly liked the Dreyfus and Dreyfus paper). In short, I would suggest _The Matrix Reloaded_ for those who don't particularly like to go to movies to stop thinking (or for those who like to do such, but also like the occasional movie that makes you think). If you focus more on the plot and dialogue (something that most other movies are lacking), you will probably enjoy it more (though the computer graphics are very well-done). For those who are 'techies' or 'computer guys,' you will probably like it as well. For the others, more power to you; just avoid the movie (and probably any discussions related to it).
Rating: Summary: Incredible set up for 3rd Matrix Review: I loved this movie, it wasn't as original as the first, but of course, that would have been impossible. What this movie did was explain with (hold your ears "action junkies") WORDS, so much that we didn't know with the first Matrix. This movie just gets you salivating because you know things you WANT to happen, you know things that COULD happen, but you don't know what WILL happen to end this all, because things that are SPOKEN and explained in this movie. Just for the record, the Freeway chase scene is worth watching this movie ten times!
Rating: Summary: WHATEVER. Review: Let me summarize my overall thoughts about this film for a general audience: if you liked the first one you'll like this. At least that's the way things SHOULD be. Some people seem to have not exactly been thrilled with this movie. 1) If you're bothered by Neo being Superman-like in this film, that means you assume the end of the first film didn't happen. Keep in mind that these stories happen in sequence. The whole point of the first film was his development of these powers. Why should he start over simply because you've forgotten? 2) There's a reason men liked this film more than women ( in general ). Consider: the agent stating that Trinity "means nothing"; the re-evaluation of the Oracle as potentially being a part of the machines' control system. At the end, Neo's actions with regard to Trinity should be found encouraging by both sexes. No confirmation on this, however. 3) "Just a collection of fight scenes", etc. Here's one of the oldest and most B.S. movie criticisms, the "no plot" myth. News flash for those who tune out as soon as such scenes start : what's happening in a fight/chase scene is PART OF THE PLOT and influences the later direction of the plot. 4) If you're confused by the ending you weren't paying attention earlier in the film. 5) More numbered points later, if I can reach a drop point. It's time for me to forage for food, so I'll end with: this was THE summer movie as far as I'm concerned. I honestly fail to understand anyone claiming to have liked the first film but not this one. Ciao!
Rating: Summary: crud Review: This film is really really boring and only has one thing good about it! That being the 14 min car chase, and that's it! Bad...
Rating: Summary: Why buy, or why don't buy the Matrix: Reloaded Review: Most of the reviews I read seemed born of frustration with an admittedly not-perfect sequel to the Matrix. The product isn't out yet, but I had to think hard about why I would pre-order or wouldn't pre-order a movie I both enjoyed and found dissatisfying. Some reviews here paralleled my ambiguity; others seemed to be tantrums of disappointment. So here is why I think I will wait to buy Reloaded. The first movie was a lot of fun. The first half was rather slow and built a foundation for the latter half, keeping you interested just with the hints of weirdness and suspense about 'the truth.' The second half carried the subject of the background and completed the mythical creation of a hero. Cool. The Matrix, as far as I'm concerned, is a satisfying stand-alone experience. As I understand it from following fan-sites, etc., is that there is only one sequel movie, split into two parts, Reloaded and Revolutions. Reloaded, like the first half of the Matrix, provides backstory. Action exists to keep that portion of the audience is not interested in complex, intricate plots but rather were hooked on the Matrix by the over the top action of the first movie. So from Reloaded I got some satisfying, though some unsatisfying, background. Not of the hero-to-be, Neo, but the war into which he as thrown as flag-bearer and champion. After all, the Iliad doesn't start at the walls of Troy; Reloaded starts far enough before the machines reach the walls of Zion to explain background but still remaining fairly close to the climactic battle. For example: is the Matrix a virtual reality within true reality? or is it a virtual reality within another virtual reality? Will I see Revolutions and realize that the apparent cliffhanger in Reloaded was no cliffhanger at all, but instead that all the 'secrets' of part 3 were already hinted at in Reloaded? Sure, Morpheus' speech isn't as good as the St. Crispin's day speech, or Bluto's Germans Bombing Pearl Harbor rally speech. The 100 Agent Smith fight was too much, maybe, and nothing new, but then the freeway chase was a thrill. Trinity doesn't turn all guys on, but hey, we got Monica Belluci and others but the girls only get Keanu and Fishburne (guys got the better deal, in my opinion). Lots of people in these reviews rant about the shoes, but hey, try to make yourself a pair of shoes from stuff you have around the house that won't wear out or fall apart quickly. The glimpses we get of Zion would suggest that Zion doesn't have big leathery cows or alligators to kill for shoes or rubber plantations for the soles, and probably they have the same machines and probably hydroponics factories to spread the same resources thinner over a growing population. Anyway, when I noticed small details like an absence of shoes, my mind filled in details; watching the movie was more interactive than most 'action flicks.' Friends of mine who enjoy a more passive movie experience on the whole disliked the Matrix. Ok, so I overall enjoyed Reloaded. Then why not buy it? Because it's the first half of part two. If Revolutions proves Reloaded to be a big head-fake, or deflates my expectations set after watching Reloaded, then I won't buy it. I'd rather be content with the first Matrix as a self-contained hero creation story, and forget a forgettable 'hero goes to war' sequel in two parts. I hope after Revolutions I'll be avidly going back over Matrix and Reloaded to look for clues that foreshadowed the revelations in Revolutions, but I will wait until November to decide.
Rating: Summary: The Matrix Reloaded one too many times..... Review: K Bros...what were you thinking... Anyway, I'm going to give you what I thought were the pros and cons of this second installment to The Matrix series. Pros: 1. More action and suspense than the first movie. The digitally enhanced scenes were spectacular. 2. Ummmm....ummmmm....lets go to the cons Cons: 1. More lines were given to Keanu. 2. I don't think Zion was protrayed correctly. It looked more like a 3rd world country than the technological epicenter it was so claimed to be. What baffles me is how they have these hover ships and electromagnetic weapons, but thier entire city is run by outdated technology and the citizens look like they just walked off the Planet of the Apes set. 3. The entire dance/sex scene was uneccessary. I'm not exactly sure why the K Bros added this in. I think I speak for a vast majority of fans out there when I say we could've done without seeing Keanu's [behind] 15billion times. I've seen better screen chemistry in vintage low-grade German porn videos. 4. The speech. It just degraded Morepheus's character. He was no longer the mysterious intrigueing guy you left us with in The Matrix. 5. The extended fight scene with 300 Agent Smiths. Yea it was cool seeing Neo flip them into walls and stuff, but it was a little dull after the 10th guy. The fight scene between Neo and Smith in The Matrix is 10x better. 6. Neo = Superman? Come on now. Almost half of the movie was seeing Neo fly around saving people from harm's way. 7. Not enough scenes with the Twins. They were the best of all the new characters introduced. 8. I feel half of the fight scenes were just thrown in to lengthen the movie. Such as the fight scene between Neo and the oracle's guard.
Rating: Summary: Quite possibly one of the best sequals of all-time. Review: OK, all of you out there who say Reloaded was horrible are definately wrong. This movie had so many amazing special effects, and twists and turns it made the movie that much better. Scenes such as the freeway chase were unbelievable. Sure there were some parts in it that were a little corny, like how the Merovingian's wife wanted a kiss from Neo in exchange for taking them to the keymaker. But oh well. The only thing that I did not like in Reloaded was the whole Trinity/Neo part (you know what I mean). If it weren't for that it would have probably have been better than the first. For all of you out there who say that the movie was missing something (other than an end) you are right. I thought the same thing after I saw it. The way to answer a lot of the questions is to watch the Animatrix, but especially play Enter the Matrix. Enter the Matrix answers a ton of questions about Reloaded, and it gives you additional information as to what is going on in 'the real world'. Oh, and at the end there is a preview for Revolutions that is probably 2-3 minutes long. Just play the game. Reloaded was awsome, I don't care what anyone says. I hope Revolutions will be even better. Remember... Free your mind.
Rating: Summary: FREE YOUR MINDS! Review: Lets get one thing straight. Matrix Reloaded was a movie meant for the fans!! So if you did not like the first part and consider it just as an "ordinary" movie, dont watch the sequal cause you'll probably dislike it. Just stick to the LOTR (kids/disney) movies and you will be fine. If you are a fan of the first matrix (UNQUESTIONABLY THE GREATEST ACTION/SCI-FI MOVIE EVER!) you'r gonna LOVE THIS :D This movie takes the Matrix to a whole new level. Not only does it have new villians and new story plots but once again we see effects that no other movie will ever come close to creating.. not for the next 10-20 years (or until Matrix 1999 special edition:digitally re-mastered sometime in 2020 ) I too am getting real sick of these anti-matrix groups that go on and on about how bad the movie was. The thing is, your "Lesser" mind either does not (or refuses to) understand whole concept of the Matrix. I only have one thing to say to you people: FREE-YOUR-MINDS! oh, and the women in this movie are so Gorgeouse it hurts ;o) 5 stars! How do you like that?
Rating: Summary: EXCELLENT MOVIE!! VERY DEEP!!! Review: So a lot of people were very disappointed with this movie. First of all, those people expected way too much ... you cannot re-create the same aura that the funky moves had in the first movie, especially since every action movie since 1999 has copied those same slow-motion moves. Secondly, a lot of people didn't understand the plot of the movie. They didn't understand the significance of showing all the love scenes between Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss ... it is because of this love that Neo makes the decision he does towards the end of the movie, instead of following the path his predecessors choose. Also, the plot has several twists and turns, none more so profound than the one where the Matrix reveals that it created Zion on purpose to round up the rebels, and how the cycle of "The Ones" has occurred 5 times in the past. With such a plot, how can anyone be disappointed with this movie? I would definitely recommend this movie. Don't expect to be awed by the action scenes as you were in the first movie, but enjoy it it it's own right. And if you don't understand what is going on, ask someone else to explain the story to you. I know I had to do it for a couple of my friends.
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