The Matrix Reloaded Movie Review:


In 1999, audiences were invited to go down the rabbit hole with "The Matrix," which has been hailed as one of the greatest science fiction and cinematic action films in recent years.

The Wachowski brothers' "The Matrix" opened the door to a new type of science fiction film that combined many different elements for audiences to ponder. Not only is the visual action of the film a combination of brilliant kung-fu and stunt choreography by Yuen Wo Ping, but also has a splash of Japanese anime movies' style in it. The film's futuristic story of man vs. machines fighting for control of the world also combined theological elements from the Bible, philosophy, mythology, mathematical mechanics, and destiny. The technical aspects also became highly sought special effects, such as the birth of the popular "bullet time" technique. "The Matrix" was a huge sleeper smash in 1999, and it stole the spotlight away from George Lucas' return with "Star Wars: Episode I." The phenomenon of "The Matrix" is now taught in prestigious film schools, books, and has a huge built in fan base.

Now audiences will be allowed to go down the rabbit hole even a little farther, with the release of the second installment, "The Matrix Reloaded," of the highly anticipated trilogy from the creative Wachowski brothers.

In the course of this review, I will not reveal as much about the film as other reviewers might, due to the enormous anticipation following the film.

"Reloaded" picks up right where the first film left off, with Neo (Reeves), Morpheus (Fishburne), and Trinity (Anne Moss) as the only remaining crew members from the ship named the Nebuchadnezzer. The character Tank did survive the first film, but he is no longer the ship's operator, this is touched on in the film, and his replacement is the compatible Link (Perrineau). Neo, who was a lonely hacker that freed his mind in the first film to becoming "the one" being that can save the human race from the current war against the machines, is now more powerful, which has led the machines to implement upgrades on their agents to hopefully contain him. Neo and Trinity's relationship has escalated to where they are pretty much unseparatable, as well as Neo receiving treatment as a "Christ" like figure from all of the humans. Morpheus is still the leader and believes in nothing more than the prophecy that Neo will save them all; his role is continued as a teacher and motivator.

The film opens with the crew returning to Zion, which audiences will really get an in-depth look into the last human city that was talked about so much in the first film. New good guy human characters are introduced such as the previously mentioned Link and Niobe (Pinkett Smith), who is a well respected captain and the past lover of Morpheus. As the characters learn more and more about the machines and their plans, Neo leads the crew back into the matrix to find more answers and to attempt to stop the war once and for all. Of course, bad guys and many fight scenes arise including the resurrection of Agent Smith (Weaving). Smith was killed by Neo in the first film, but is back with more confidence and has figured out a way to copy himself over and over. The new enemies include a couple of straight-edge razor carrying, dreadlock sporting, and ghost like twins (Rayment twins) with dreadlocks. Merovingian (Wilson), who is kind of like the power hungry CEO of the matrix and his wife, Persephone (Bellucci), who yearns to feel emotions that she once had. "Reloaded" is full of energy, eye-popping visuals, and many theoretical references leading it to being the centerpiece of this renowned trilogy. "The Matrix" centered mostly on what is the matrix, with "Reloaded" focusing mostly on the question of choice. The abrupt ending of the film will leave you dying for more, similar to way "The Empire Strikes Back" or "Back to the Future II" ended looking forward to the third chapter, but audiences will just have to wait for "The Matrix Revolutions" to open in November.

The Wachowski brothers' work is once again incredible. The visual effects from John Gasta and company are groundbreaking and the fight choreography by Yuen Wo Ping is also striking. The Wachowski brothers have sort of recreated the thinking moviegoer's action film. As much as you will be in awe with the visuals of the film, which includes over 1,000 special effects shots and plenty of more fight moves than the original, there is a lot information flying around to pound on your brain. I feel that I will for sure need to watch "Reloaded" one or two more times to capture everything that is going on. I also recommend watching "The Matrix" right before going to see this one.

Since the "bullet time" invention is probably the most copied and relinquish technical accomplishment of "The Matrix," many new visual effects are subdued through virtual cinematography in "Reloaded." One is called "u-cap" or universal capture. This effect technique layers lifelike expressions into computer generated cast members, like Hugo Weaving's many Agent Smiths, which are perceived as realistic computer generated human images. The "u-caps" of the film work well to a point, but there are many times when the computer-generated expressions and characters look like an effect from a playstation game. Nevertheless, "Reloaded" is high-octane and technologically enhanced. I don't want to give much away, but there is a freeway chase sequence that is so masterfully executed, that it will be talked about for years to come. The Wachowski's blueprint visuals and philosophical driven script answers many questions that the first film left open, but as these questions are answered, many more arise from them.

The acting cast is stellar in each of their specific roles. Fishburne, Reeves, Moss, and Weaving are all solid contributions in each of their reprised roles. I enjoyed all of the new cast members work like Neil and Adrian Rayment, who played the twins, Harold Perrineau as Link, Jada Pinkett Smith as Niobe, and the beautiful Monica Bellucci as Persephone. Also, the late Gloria Foster, who plays the powerful Oracle, delivers another strong performance in her last on screen performance. Foster passed away during the filming of "Reloaded" due to complications with diabetes.

Though the actors fit their roles well, a lot of respect has to be focused towards their preparation for the film, especially Weaving, Reeves, Fishburne, and Moss. All were brought back for harder martial arts and movement training with Yuen Wo Ping to make all the fight sequences work elaborately.

The actors trained many months with Ping to get all of their moves just right. Reeves actually learned 500 different moves and was rumored to often sit in a bathtub of ice after the sessions. Moss broke her leg during training and Fishburne hyper extended his wrist. Needless to say, these actors took to heart the dedication to learn the moves of the choreographer and the filmmakers desire to deliver many more mouth-dropping fight sequences.

"Reloaded" can not really be compared to "The Matrix," even though both more or less lack some superiority in certain areas than the other. The first film was really the introduction, "Reloaded" sets the story into motion, and the finale is the upcoming "Revolutions." This film is really exciting, really fun, and is the centerpiece of a trilogy that will probably be as well received as the "Star Wars" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Grade: A-

Joseph Tucker

Near the dawn of the new millennium, a sci-fi film changed the way we looked at martial arts films and boldly molded a new form of sci-fi. The film was such a phenomenon that it took 4 plus years to replicate a follow-up. Laying in dire wait are frenzy filled fans anxious to see the evolution of their cyber-idol Neo and his rag-tag fugitives who must save mankind from a new hostile race of machines. That is the world of "The Matrix" and the evolution of the franchise begins here.

"The Matrix Reloaded" begins not with telling us how much time has passed or a flashback to previous events but with a dream sequence that shocks our hero Neo (Keanu Reeves) from his deepest slumber. He has a vision that shakes him to the core. It turns out that Neo, Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), Neo’s true-love, and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) are shuttling towards the only human city, Zion for an emergency meeting. It seems that millions of machines or Sentinels are tunneling down to Zion. A new threat to the survival of mankind is approaching and this could be man’s darkest hour. How will our new superhero and his friends deal with this new threat and are they powerful enough to stop them? Neo is the One but is just One enough.

The cinematic achievements and eye-candy laced stunts are all they were hyped to be but it’s the story and dialogue that made me angry. The dialogue in Reloaded is so prophetic and preachy in its execution that you begin to wonder if these guys know how to say a normal sentence. Star Trek had "techno-babble" and now the Matrix has "prophetic-babble". I got so bored with the all the "holy-you-are-the-one" babble. Then to top off all that the stuff you have programs inside the Matrix going on and on about their purpose. Damn, I had to yawn in hopes someone would slap them into something I could understand.

I really did like how the film evolved the character of Agent Smith. Actor Hugo Weaving, who plays Smith, seems to love playing Neo’s arch-nemesis. He relishes in the role and he is a lot more interesting to watch compared to how plain Neo becomes. Keanu’s Neo seems to only be able to react and show us awe through his "Superman" imitations. I also loved the performance of Merovingian, played by Lambert Wilson. This guy is one of the best things about the film. He is so brilliant as another villain standing in Neo’s way. I loved his constant complaining and over the top antics. I also adored Monica Bellucci’s poignant cameo as Merovingian’s wife. Damn that woman is amazing in presence and acting.

What is kind of weird is that the Matrix sequel is almost like a "Batman" sequel in that the villains are flamboyantly evil while the hero is plain with little emotion. Just food for thought.

I also didn’t like the fact that the makers of this sequel expect so much of an audience to remember what transpired in the previous film almost a half-decade ago. I had seen the original Matrix three or four times but even I found it hard to remember every little detail. When there is dialogue about Dozer or even the mythical city Zion I found myself thinking back to the original movie. These sequels really do need a recap at the beginning. Even come November, I am not sure I will remember everything from Reloaded.

"The Matrix Reloaded" is a sequel and like many, many sequels it doesn’t live up to the original. It’s flawless execution of stunts, action and sci-fi excitement makes it a great piece of eye-candy but at its core there is little to chew on. The characters are wooden and flat which makes us wonder who are the machines. All in all it’s buttery-topping without the popcorn.

(3.5 out of 5)

So Says the Soothsayer.

Dean Kish

When writing a review for a movie like The Matrix Reloaded, one must realize that audiences will flock to see the film no matter how bad the review is. And when reading a review for a film like Reloaded, one must realize that no film could ever possibly live up to the amount of hype that the advertisement has force fed everyone for the past year. In fact, the only thing that can be counted on is this: Reloaded will receive criticism from many reviewers, and many reviewers will receive criticism from audiences.

Reloaded brings us into the story a little bit of time ahead of where the original left off. Neo has mastered his newly acquired confidence and skills, which at times, seem to be more important to the plot. In fact, for a great deal of the film, the plot seems completely unnecessary. Yet, as long as the action stays strong, the costumes remain cool, and the special effects are mind blowing, most audiences won’t mind the lack of direction to the first half of the film.

Although the first Matrix was groundbreaking, Reloaded seems to be trying too hard to receive the same compliment. Perhaps this is why there are at least half a dozen fight sequences in Reloaded that are bigger than anything seen in the original. One might argue that the simplicity of the first Matrix was more effective than the excessiveness of Reloaded, but somehow it seems as if the flaw of excessiveness is necessary to cover up the fact that this is merely a film leading us into the third in the series, which is to come out in six months. Before watching Reloaded, it struck me that the fact that the second and the third were set to be released so close to each other seemed to be a warning. It is almost as if the filmmakers were aware that there wasn’t quite enough meat on Reloaded, and they would have to release the finale quickly, before the flashiness of the fight sequences had worn off.

Despite its flaws though, Reloaded is undoubtedly entertaining and fun, still carrying the essence of cool along with it. Whether the third film will bring the series back to the level which the original set so very high, or remain merely eye candy, time will only tell. But while waiting, Reloaded will most likely be better than many of the other sequels we will be forced to watch the rest of this year.

Ryan Izay

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