The Matrix Reloaded (Widescreen Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Expectations Reloaded
Review: I think it is rather harsh and unfair to judge Matrix Reloaded as a stand-alone movie. It is part of a trilogy and everyone should see Matrix Revolutions next month and then consider the trilogy as a whole. Plus, I realize some people have impossibly high expectations for this movie. I mean, seriously, how could you possibly top the idea of the "matrix"? Reloaded built on the groundbreaking idea explained in the first Matrix and the audience can't possibly ask for more.

But even considering Reloaded by itself, it is still an outstanding sequel. In terms of visual effects and action scenes, Reloaded is so far the best ever in American film history (let's see what Revolutions will offer!) For those who enjoys the philosophical implications in its prequel, Reloaded answers some questions yet raises more issues. It just keeps digging deeper into your thoughts. Yes, the rave scene was a bit too much but I can certainly appreciate the point of showing humanity (vs machines). The additional characters also add some spice to an already interesting storyline.

Revolutions - how will it end? I hope it won't be a conventional "happy ending" in which humans triumph over machines and the entire matrix is destroyed. I'm looking forward to a more open-ended, thought-provoking ending. Will Neo die to save human mankind? Since Neo is a remainder of an unbalanced equation, can he possibly and actually be a last obstacle to human freedom?

Rating:
Summary: Not As Good, But Still Good.
Review: I love The Matrix series just as much as the next person. It is one of the best ones out there. The first Matrix was extremely good and made me want the second one mere seconds after it ended. I saw the second one, Reloaded, in theaters and I loved it. Now that's just me and you can think whatever you want about it. I loved it because it went further into the story and introduced new characters, locations, vehicles, and fighting moves. It showed us Zion and the people who live there. The action sequences and fight scenes were amazing. I thought the best ones were the burly brawl and the freeway chase.
Now for the things that brought it down. First of all, I think some didn't like it as much because of all the hype it caused. They expected too much from it and that made them forget that it was actually pretty good. Also, the story was kind of confusing, but the third movie should explain a lot. It was almost like they tried to explain and cram too much into a single movie.
If you can look past the minor problems, then there is a really good movie here. It isn't as good as the first one, but if you're a fan of the series or you just happened to watch this for some other reason, I really suggest that you pick this one up. If you have a DVD player, get it on DVD. If not, I'm sorry. The Matrix: Reloaded is one of my favorite movies, right up there with the first one.

Rating:
Summary: Better the second time through
Review: It's amazing how one's perception can change the second time through a movie. The Matrix Reloaded got better. Keanu's easy-going acting style is perfect for the role of Neo, and Laurence Fishburne is just plain awesome as Morpheus (even if he did put on a few extra pounds). This movie has everything you could ask for; a plot you have to think about, great action sequences, one of the best Dolby mixes ever, and Jada Pinkett Smith. The special features are terrific.

I highly recommend this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Great Sequel To Watch Before The 3rd Movie (Revolutions)
Review: There are many complaints and cry-baby like reviews that should be ignored. There are many people that do not fully understand and can't grasp the concept(s) of The Matrix Reloaded movie. Many people hate this movie because they don't like the idea of thinking. Instead they want to fall into that mindless zombie-like phase that turns their brain into mush. Matrix Reloaded is a great movie that answers questions that left us thinking after the first movie. Matrix Reloaded also gives us many clues and hints through out the movie for many raised questions that will be answered in Revolutions. One reviewer stated "Why didn't Neo just simply fly away in the first place when he was fighting against all those agents." The answer is simple: purpose, besides what's wrong with a little practice going up against all those agents? Everything has purpose. This review that I am typing has purpose. It's purpose is to inform people that this is a kick ass movie for people with half a brain. Free your mind when you watch this movie.

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION MOVIE EVER
Review: Well, to begin I would like to say that I'm a huge fan of the matrix movies (including the ENTER THE MATRIX computer game). I remember back in 1999, many people didn't even care about the first movie. Now in 2003 I've known a lot of people that don't like the sequel. They asked how could it be possible for Neo to have all those amazing powers, some kind of God-like attributes. When I asked them if they liked the first part they were surprised due to fact that they didn't know that there is a first Matrix movie, I was completely shocked, horrified. They even have that kind of courage to talk nonsense about THE MATRIX RELOADED, how can they talk that way if they haven't seen the first movie? Now I know for sure why they can't understand almost the whole movie. The way I rate this movie is due to the fact that it is a SCIENCE FICTION movie. I highlight science fiction for those who talk bad about the movie. Whenever you go to a theater, you have to be aware of what kind of movie you are about to see and experience. If I'm just about to see Matrix Reloaded, then special effects will have to be used to give the movie its reason of being. If you don't like science fiction movies or special effects, then what the hell are you sitting there, move your ass and go to see the Lion King then, for instance. Unluckily, many people agree that the movie sucks, that there are parts that are just fillers. I strongly believe that The Matrix is the most amazing science - fiction story ever done. The cast is just perfect and well prototyped for a story of this magnitude. I'm aware that the first part had a special impact on me and almost everybody. But then I got to think and ask myself. Have you ever seen a movie like that?
Have you ever seen those special effects? Have you ever seen that kind of revolution when talking about movies' categories?The answer to these threee questions : NO, NO, NO. Though the first part didn't get the deserved audience attention, it is a 4 Academy Award Winner. I really enjoyed The Matrix Reloaded right from the start, because it begins just like the first part, with trinity fighting cops including the amazing special effects. The sequence of Neo and agents trying to eliminate him is the best computer generated sequence ever. I'm not forgetting about the freeway chase with Trinity showing her skills with a motorcycle. To finish, the violent collision of the big trucks, just perfect. We'll have to wait weeks to watch the end of this whole story in THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS. Finally , for those who criticise the movie and the story within, specially adult people, they have to know that THE MATRIX movies' mania is not impossible, it's INEVITABLE.

Write me : [e-mail] I'd be glad to see your comments about the movie whether good or bad.

Rating:
Summary: The Matrix : Overly Regurgitated
Review: Reloaded couldn't be a more appropriate title for this movie. Why? Well "The Matrix Reloaded" is just that, rehashed stunts, reiterated philosophical themes, and the reappearance of characters from the previous film. What distinguishes this sequel from its predecessor is not anything truly novel or qualitatively different. Its claim to distinction is purely quantitative. Neo, instead of dodging and stopping a few bullets from one, two, or three agents toting hand guns, now evades and halts a whole barrage of ammunition from a whole assortment of adversaries carrying more hefty artillery. In the first film Reeves' character fought one agent Smith and two of his cohorts, now he fights against an innumerable horde of agent Smiths. The original Matrix had Neo performing a whole host of gravity defying wire assisted acrobatics to veer around bullets and stay suspended in the air for short periods of time, and in this second installment he still defies gravity except he is able to do it indefinitely to the point where he flies like Superman. Neo, is still the stoic, sometimes confused character, at the center of this movie, and he is still accompanied by a John the Baptist like, messiah worshiping, cryptic philosophical musing Morpheaus played by Laurence Fishburne, and of course to finish of the triangle we have the leather clad pasty Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity.

With the same bullet time effects, martial arts wire tricks, and green veneer, the only thing different about this film is that everything is embellished to ridiculous proportions. In fact that's probably what they should have called this movie "The Matrix : Embellished" or "The Matrix : Really, Really Big Encore". I suppose the Wachowski brothers are not from the school that emphasizes less is more. Its unfortunate that this duo didn't realize that though the technical wizardry of the original Matrix was ingenious at the time it has become clichéd and ubiquitous within Hollywood action cinema today. Every film from Tom Cruise's "MI2" to Jet Li's "The One" has used these celluloid illusions to help bolster their visual appeal. It has also been spoofed so many times from such satirical films as "Scary Movie" and "Kung Pow ! Enter The Fist" Granted the production team responsible for the Matrix franchise does perform these effects better than any other FX crew, but that still does not change the fact that what made the original Matrix such a visual phenomenon was that it was an aesthetic novelty. Yet, that novelty has been robbed by so many copycats that no amount of perfecting the process or enlarging the process can bring back its original appeal.

"The Matrix" was more than a visually stunning movie, it also had a rich and innovative storyline replete with many hefty philosophical and theologically charged issues from solipsism, existentialism and determinism to Christological parallels and gnosticism. So much substantive material for thought was in "The Matrix" that the movie spawned serious academic discussion concerning the film, its message, and its societal implications (see "The Matrix and Philosophy : Welcome To The Desert of The Real", "The Gospel Reloaded : Exploring Spirituality and Faith In The Matrix" and excerpts from "Hollywood Worldviews : Watching Films With Wisdom and Discernment").

Though the sequel to "The Matrix" is considerably longer than the original that is no indication that the plot is any better or more in depth. In fact how can the plot be better when there is no believable point of conflict - a central element in any plot? A conflict cannot exist if the protagonist has nothing of comparable strength to challenge him. How can Neo have a formidable adversary when the Wachowski brothers, in their infinite wisdom, decided to confer upon Neo, at least when he wired to the Matrix, God like omnipotence? He's practically impervious to attack as demonstrated by his skirmish with numerous clones of Agent Smith; he can wish bullets to stop and be redirected on a whim; and if he gets tired or bored of fighting, well up up and away he goes. For heaven sake he can even resurrect people in "Reloaded"! It is quite obvious that Neo is intended to have a Messianic role that borrows from Christian imagery, but the whole Lazarus routine he performs on his beloved borders on cheesy.

At least in the predecessor to this film there was a process of self-actualization that had to take place before Neo could fully manipulate the Matrix. During that time he was vulnerable to injury and death. Hence, opponents like agent Smith were truly menacing villains precisely because they were real threats. Now agent Smith, or should I say Smiths, are nothing more than punching bags for the virtually invincible Neo.

Even many of the intellectual challenges faced by Neo have been removed. He no longer has to discover for himself that the world he has been immersed in is purely a façade, a nod to the solipsists' school of thought. There is no longer a question about his role as a savior, where in the first film his status as "The One" was questioned by everyone with the exception of the unwavering Morpheaus.

With no major intellectual issue to address, except for an expansion on themes of freewill and determinism, there isn't much to stimulate the mind in this picture. Unfortunately even these issue were treated poorly because they were addressed in a most convoluted manner, when Neo and the image of the architect of the Matrix have a dialogue that used language that was so heavily laden in esoteric computer jargon that even a technically sophisticated person would have a hard time making sense of it (I am speaking as programmer by the way).

All in all it is unfortunate that the Wachowskis did not leave the first film alone. I am glad that they reloaded their pockets from the profits made from this picture. It's just sad that we had to unload our wallets in order to see it.

Rating:
Summary: Decent but convolute sequel that needed to stand on it¿s own
Review: Yes, this is part of a trilogy but as a movie by itself it lacks the goods to be satisfying. There are too many questions that are raised here but not an effort to at least give a hint about what is going on. In another words, this film needed to at least give a solid story as part as a whole than to cut it off at the end with out much explanation about what is happing right in front of you. A good example of a solid middle entry in a trilogy is The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. It not only expanded what was set forth with the first entry but also gave a solid story with an ending that raises the issues of what will come in the next chapter.

Don't get me wrong, The Matrix Reloaded is a good film but it needed to stand on its own feet to be a solid movie.

Rating:
Summary: Another Epic in the Making
Review: The Matrix Reloaded is one of the best Action/Sci-Fi movies of the 2003 summer. Everyone seems to always want bigger and better. You got it here.

In comparison to other movie releases, and sequels, this movie left me in the theater wanting more. My wife actually watched this movie and became a fan. She slept through The Hulk! The Wachowski Brothers know what they are doing. Make an epic, kick ass, action movie to enjoy as a trilogy.

The Matrix will always be better than then Reloaded or Revolutions. Why? Because its the original! Only a few sequals ever offer the same or better quality than the 1st. Scenes like the Kung Fu training, Lobby shoot out, and learning what the Matrix was with Neo can only by done in the 1st movie.

The Matrix series is not movies of eye candy like other big budget movies that have been released in the past. It has an in depth story, dynamic characters, drama, action, momments of laughter, and you don't get bored. These are the reason we pay to go to the movies and buy DVD's.

Lift your intelligence above the computer animation and pay attention when you watch The Matrix series. Yes, that means listen to the dialogue, it will make sense.

I have said my two cents. Thank you.

Rating:
Summary: Revolutions had better sort out the muddle
Review: Matrix was immensely enjoyable for its clean cut action, simple plot and clearly defined characters. Like Raiders of the Lost Ark it had a simple story line, clear distinctions between the good guys/girls and the baddies.

Sequels have the annoying habit of complicating storylines and adding meaningless threats to distract and annoy the audience. Reloaded almost achieved this. The action was good as were the effects, although the powers of Neo in the Matrix are more akin to those of superman rather than those of a mythical hero struggling to understand his destiny and accept it.

Unlike the original Matrix, which was a complete film in its own right, this is half a film. Many questions are left unanswered ...is the prophecy true ?, is the "real world"..real or just anotjher level of the Matrix?...

To judge this film without seeing its conclusion is like trying to judge the future. A well thought out third part will nicely end the triology, however an attempt to over sophisticate the story will simply leave one wondering why they ever made two sequels.

The advice is wait and see.

Rating:
Summary: Only the third film can make it good
Review: Warning - Spoilers ahead . . .

When I first saw the film, well, I didn't like it too much. It seemed to be over-packed with CGI Fight scenes and a storyline that didn't really mean anything. While Zion is under attack, Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus must find the keymaster to unlock the doors to the mainframe and end the war, thus freeing Zion.

This entire storyline, to me, seemed contrived, making the fight scenes seem meeningless, their overzealous and sometimes long running effects just becoming tiresome.

But, then I got it. Weeks after seeing it, it finally clicked.

They symbolism of these films is much deeper than the average action-movie viewer is usually given. Yes -- the entire "The One-Saves the world" storyline is meaningless, and that's the point. While paying too much attention to events within the computer-generated fantasy world of the Matrix, the real world, and Zion, fall into greater danger.

We are introduced to two 'french' characters, programs, which exist simply to experience life. While they are among the long list of villians in this piece, they are also the key to the story. They describe the situation in as much in the film, seeing our heroes as mere puppets in a meaningless plot, which, in fact, they are.

While are main characters are engaged in a meaningless task, struggling to achieve goal after goal in a virtual world, events of the real world are dire, and, just perhaps, if more attention were paid to the real-world events, perhaps the situation would not be so dire.

It is not until Neo discovers that his existance as 'the one' is simply another level of control set in place by the machines, that the entire struggle within the virtual world of the Matrix has no real meaning, only then does the truth come to light, just in time for this second chapter to come to a close.

Think about it, how many people do you know who obsess on politics, or sports, or their favorite television show, or even the Matrix itself? We engage in meaningless struggles to achieve goals that, in the end, really have no meaning but to feed our own ego.

A very profound statement to be made by an action film, that is, if the third and final installment draws this observation out.

As I see it, the value of this second episode is entirely dependent upon the content of the third chapter, but the potential is much greater than most people give it credit for.

Thank you for your time.