The Matrix Reloaded (Widescreen Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Reloaded with Effects and Not Much More
Review: This sequel is a prime example of why most sequels are so horribly bad; take a good, unique idea and make a movie out of it. Then, if it makes money, make a second movie in which you repeat---and overdo---everything that made the first movie so good. That's what happened with The Matrix. First movie, good. Unique. Nice plot, good idea. Interesting. Second movie, nothing but special effects and a nonexistent plot that will appeal to nobody over the age of 12. I actually chuckled when I saw one review that said "I expected more special effects." This film is nothing BUT special effects! If you put together all the footage that featured no effects whatsoever, it might make up about five minutes of screen time. The first film took a sci-fi plot and added an interesting philosphical slant. This film, however, is about nothing but people who dress up in leather and sunglasses and then fight. Anybody who says this film is deep and philosophical is either under 12 years of age or else has never read even one sentence of a real philosophy text. Bottom line? Two hours of eye candy, interesting to watch one time and then forget about it.

Rating:
Summary: cheezy movie, not-that-great dvd
Review: Reloaded was of course nothing like the first matrix in terms of good filmmaking, all it has going for it is the cool action scenes.. the script is horrible, the acting is wooden, the plot is ridiculous, the characters are parodies of themselves, the style is overplayed into self-indulgent cliche, the philosophy that made the first one what it was is replaced by vague pseudo-mythology that makes little to no sense... its no different than the cheap comic books you see on the racks at barnes & noble, its just in movie form. and what that means is, nothing going for it besides cool visuals. so im not gonna go on about the movie cuz if you're gonna like it, you're gonna like it

but the dvd isnt even that good.. they felt compelled to put these little clips between everything, so it gets tiring clicking through the menu when every time you change screens you have to watch a bunch of cars crash into each other first. the special features arent very good, half of them are ads for the other Matrix products, and the behind the scenes featurettes, while they do have some cool footage, consist mainly of people talking about what an amazingly cool movie they made and how they are in love with everyone who worked on it. not really much description of what they actually did to make these amazing shots, just how much they loved doin it. the one exception is the freeway scene featurette which has quite a lot of very cool on-location footage.. interestingly enough the freeway scene is also one of the only sequences worth watching in the whole film. anyway the best part of the whole dvd, including the movie, is the MTV music awards thing, by far

Rating:
Summary: eye candy doesn't justify what they have done to the Matrix
Review: When I went to see the first "The Matrix" movie with a friend, we hadn't heard any reviews one way or another and had no idea what to expect. We had seen the trailers and the special effects looked worthy of attention, so we went to see it with only the expectation of getting our eyes tickled, not our brains.

Needless to say, the film blew us away - the story itself was innovative and beyond all expectations. The story made so much sense and raised the bar about 10 miles concerning movie special effects, introducing the "bullet time" technique and other cinematic effects never seen before on film.

The film surprised everyone who saw it and it rightfully reached super cult status as one of the coolest sci-fi movies ever seen. This was a story you could think about for weeks and how creepy it would be if we were in a Matrix like existence ourselves. So sci-fi, kung fu, special effects AND a love story - what else could you ask for?

One can hardly blame the filmmakers for wanting to milk the franchise for all it was worth by coming out with a sequel or two - but sadly, not as much thought went into the plot as happened for the first film.

The highway chase scene is probably one that will never be rivaled in another film - the filmmakers literally made their own highway to film this incredible 20-minute long chase between twin ghosts and agents. Sadly, most of the neat scenes from this chase were already shown in the trailers and the film didn't offer any additional surprises.

We soon find out that this whole scenario has happened before - that maybe there's even a matrix within the Matrix - is Neo a program? Who knows?

During the first film, Morpheus explains the Matrix with visuals and explicit dialogue to Neo - it is brief and to the point. In "Reloaded," the audience must endure a lengthy, coma-inducing monologue from "the architect" who goes on and on and on in energy-draining mono-tone on Neo, Smith, the Oracle and the origins of the Matrix.

If you have to take more than 15 minutes to explain it like this, something is very wrong with the script and/or the plot itself. Is the Oracle evil now? Has she always been a source of evil, or is she good yet being influenced by evil? Who cares? The film is so draining - I caught myself looking at my watch several times.

Where's the butt-kicking? Where are the bullet-time action sequences? Sparse and far-between.

Then there's Zion. PLEEEASE! Supposedly this is the last city of hope - the last place where humans live. No farms, grass, plants or animals are visible, yet everyone seems to have brand-new leather jackets and/or full-length coats and many characters have bright-white cotton or linen outfits. The Council at Zion looks like something from "Planet of the Apes."

While some in Zion have these nice outfits, Neo - hero of all humanity - is still wearing this threadbare, torn garment that looks like a reject from Goodwill.

Then there is this bizarre orgy-like dance where there are breasts, butts, thongs and all sorts of gyrating and groping going on.. and it lasts way too long.

We're introduced to Link and his family - related to the late Dozer from the frist movie. No emotional connection is truly made with these characters, even though the directors spend way too much screen time trying to involve the audience emotionally.

The only surviving element is the love story between Trinity and Neo, which is sweet and believable - and about the only thing that makes the movie tolerable. The kung fu scenes are less than exciting when compared to the first film and it's obvious that the years of preparation that went into the first Matrix movie storyline wasn't deemed as important in this chapter of the trilogy. Truly a disappointment - and I'm sure the filmmakers are crying all the way to the bank.

Rating:
Summary: very good
Review: i was expecting more effects though, although it did live up to the hype , recommended,

Rating:
Summary: It's a Load, all right...
Review: I just rented this movie after my incredibly disappointing theatrical viewing in hopes that diminished expectations would improve me view of the film. It did, but not by much. Knowing where the film was going, the second time through wasn't quite as mind-numbingly tedious as the first. The dialogue was far less excruciatingly awful, revealing itself to meerly be as pretentious and ridiculous as your average made-for-television sci-fi fiasco. Neo still looks like he's having sex with a clone of himself. Morpheus still sounds like he was the one possessed by Agent Smith, and the backward arm crossing went from cool to irritating. The villains remain as uninteresting as everT he wire-fu battles were forced eye candy, and made little sense in the context of the series. My appreciate of hoary sci-fi concepts being explained sensibly to mass audiences in the first film was replaced by the tedium of Psychology 101 spoon fed to people who've seen plenty of mind-screw movies already. Keanu Reeves lacked presence, while the mythology surrounding his character become all to familiar. The cross-pollination between the video game and animated special watered down an already derivative formula to the point of tastelessness. It took George Lucas six years to begin the decline of the Star Wars franchise with "Return of the Jedi," meaning the Wachowski brothers easily outstripped his ability to pollute an inspired creation with dreck. The second installment of their trilogy played like that of a certain Episode One, retroactively tainted the original work with it's utter and overheated lameness. As an added bonus, the shingle used to serve this excrement is skimpy on special features, sticking mostly to tiresome special effects documentaries and lengthy advertisements for the ancillary products. Then again, considering the shallow mess I loosely call a story contained within this film, I guess the producers wisely decided to focus on what they knew best.

Rating:
Summary: Reloaded?
Review: While Keanu Reeves definetly fits the part as Neo just as in the first, the rest of the film was a bit of a quack. Sure, the action was good but the plot was a little to tampered with, and the sex scene was a horrible attrocity. The only decent bit of feminimity was when the lovely Monica Bellucci showed up halfway thru and had a make out session with Neo in front of Trinity. I laughed then and only then. The action scenes were definetly enjoyable but I would much rather have the clean script of the Origional Matrix back instead of this one. Peace Out

Rating:
Summary: Poor Audio Mastering
Review: While everyone has their own thoughts on the movie, the one thing that everyone will find aggrevating is the audio on this DVD. All of the speech is 1/2 the volume as the SFX and Music, so either you are being blasted by bangs, booms, and punches, or you can't hear anyone speak.

Rating:
Summary: Better as a DVD than the original film.
Review: Reloaded is much better than The Matrix as a DVD. By that, I mean special features! 2 discs packed with stuff to keep you occupied, if you can manage to sit through it all. Personally, I'd rather just watch the movie than learn how they did it all. I got tired of that after the second time I ever watched a DVD!
But this DVD features a gem that I cannot get enough of: the skit from the MTV movie awards with Justin Timberlake and Sean William-Scott (Stifler from the American Pie movies). Also included are Andy Dick, Wanda Sykes, and Will Farrell. It takes scenes from the movie and edits them to coincide with the humor. Who would have ever though Justin Timberlake could be so funny! Truth be told, I've watched the skit more than the movie.
The movie itself is one that you either love or hate. If you bought the first one, you're going to buy this one just to complement it, then you'll buy Revolutions as well.

Rating:
Summary: Just A Great Movie
Review: This is a great movie. The theme flows through from 1st to 2nd films and for those following the true story line and not just looking at the action scenes, it is all there. Think of it as like reading a book (in this case a film script) and you will see the movie at a depth others might not have done. Sure there are some scenes which drag a little bit, but ask yourselves the question: why have the directors left this bit in & this long: what exactly are they trying to convey to me, beyond the obvious. Overall, just sit back and enjoy the ride. After all, you're living in a Matrix right now. What is real and what is not? In this world you have only made your own reality by what you believe is in your environment. But is it real: that is the question the Matrix is posing. Or are you just playing out a computer programme set by God?

Rating:
Summary: THE MATRIX ULTIMATE!!!!!
Review: I have now seen all 3 matrix films and( drumroll) Matrix Reloaded is the best of the 3. Yes, yes I know it's R-Rated but I saw it with my Dad. This movie flat out rocks!!!! The film has it -all love, philosophy, mind warp stunts, and CARRIE ANNE MOSS!!! This is the best sequel ( Exception of Harry Potter 2) in a long, long time. The features include an in depth look at the advertising, stunts, and the Matrix spin off media. Also there is an interview with the Cast and Crew, and a laugh out loud spoof ( Also R-Rated, but for strong language) on the film.
This DVD is well worth your while.