The Matrix Reloaded

It’s so far up it’s ass in thinking it’s cool and deep. There are way too many stupid new characters (lol how dare a sequel expand its world but this is retard overkill) Trinity fingers all of Neo’s ports. Everything with Zion is embarrassing. I saw this in theaters and all I remembered was the highway scene. We went from “woah” to “ Oh nooooooooo”.

Neither as good as you'd hope or as bad as you've heard. Has some interesting ideas and fantastic action sequences (the freeway chase being the obvious standout), but the philosophical yak-yak is taken to ridiculous levels, and the characters are even flatter than in the first movie.

This sequel is incredible! I'm happy to overlook that a few of the action scenes look like they never made it past the CG pre-visualization stage when the Wachowskis are clearly having a lot of fun with pushing the envelope. The most gloriously entertaining sequence (THAT bravura highway chase) is matched in audaciousness by the plot twist that The One is little more than a useful systemic anomaly, rendering The Prophecy a traitorous ruse. Geekily cerebral, gleefully goofy and an absolute blast.

Cinematically, it features three of the greatest fights ever filmed, a fun car chase, and sweet romance. But it's elevated as the Wachowskis show humanity as a multiracial/gender inclusive cast fighting to survive--and not just a bunch of White dudes. The philosophy is great: with talks on destiny, new mythology, and a Cornel West cameo. And the villainous Architect's argument has a righteous Shakespearean viewpoint. Even with an annoying Guy in Chair character this is astonishingly well-made.

All the mystery is explained, which takes away from the mystique, in this sequel to The Matrix. The plot does have sequel written all over it and it becomes clear that neither Reloaded nor Revolutions were planned when The Matrix was written. I must admit that upon repeated viewings the film is not as bad as I initially thought. After all, the fighting is good, except when CGI is used in excess.