All you could hope for from a summer movie: dazzling action, jaw-dropping effects, cool clothes, steamy romance and more of the nifty "Matrix" mythology introduced in the 1999 original.
Not unlike its predecessor -– might be hard to swallow, but it’s so delicious you just can’t help but want more. Not unlike one of those gobstoppers you can find in any candy store -- Hard to chew, nice to endure, if you will.
The dazzling 14-minute chase includes cars, motorcycles, a couple of 18-wheelers - and nonstop martial-arts battles and leaps inside and on top of the vehicles. That scene alone will justify the price of admission for many.
You are never exactly bored by The Matrix Reloaded. But there is something alienating about it, maybe because it fails to fulfill its possibly loony intellectual aspirations.
If a concept is to sustain itself over a multipart story, it must make an emotional connection, and this "Reloaded," especially with stars cast for their lack of affect and affinity for blankness, cannot do that.
This monstro-budgeted sequel to The Matrix has more than twice as many special effects as the original... there is also more than twice as much philosophic bull as before--and there was plenty of that the first time around.
As messy and flat-footed as its predecessor is nimble and shapely. It's an ugly, bloated, repetitive movie that builds to a punch line that should have come an hour earlier (at least).
"The Matrix Reloaded" was the highly-anticipated follow-up to the groundbreaking 1999 film, "The Matrix." Though it promised to take the franchise to new heights, it ultimately fell short, delivering a flashy, over-the-top spectacle with little substance. The chemistry between the main actors is still present, but they are overshadowed by the bloated cast of new characters, with Monica Bellucci's Persephone being the standout. The film is filled with gratuitous action sequences and unoriginal plot points, failing to live up to the high expectations set by the first film. While it may be better than its equally disappointing counterpart, "The Matrix Revolutions," it falls far short of the brilliance of the original.
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"The Matrix Reloaded" fue la continuación muy esperada de la innovadora película de 1999, "The Matrix". Aunque prometía llevar la franquicia a nuevas alturas, finalmente se quedó corto, ofreciendo un espectáculo llamativo y exagerado con poca sustancia. La química entre los actores principales todavía está presente, pero se ve eclipsada por el elenco inflado de nuevos personajes, con Perséfone de Monica Bellucci como el más destacado. La película está llena de secuencias de acción gratuitas y puntos de trama poco originales, que no cumplen con las altas expectativas establecidas por la primera película. Si bien puede ser mejor que su contraparte igualmente decepcionante, "The Matrix Revolutions", está muy por debajo de la brillantez del original.
This movie is divisive for me and others. The characters, action, fights, style and visuals are excellent. However the story is not as good as before, has some lengths, a cliffhanger ending and the answers to some question are weakening the experience. Over the years I often read that the Wachowskis brothers were surprised by the success of the Matrix and had no plan for a sequel at hand. Because by Hollywood rules a sequel must be made if a movie is successful they had no choice but to do it anyway. For clarification: The Matrix did an amazing job in explaining things but also keep up mysteries for certain things for you to fill. This works well and makes a medium more immersive and enjoyable. However it is also a trap for the writers as you have to deliver satisfying answers. Negative examples were the conclusion for Lost or the X-Files in TV or the ending of Mass Effect 3 or Samus Arans more flashed out character in Metroid Other M (The later is viewed as character assassination by fans). In short Matrix Reloaded explained more but the extensions to the lore and world are not satisfying enough (Some can be viewed as deconstruction). Also in hindsight there is a lot in the plot that has not that much purpose. Story: Shortly after the events of the prequel Neo struggles with his newfound powers and purpose as chosen one / savior of mankind. Meanwhile the machines have located the city of Zion where the human resistance live. It is only a matter of time before a devastating attack starts. Neo starts an odyssey inside the Matrix to find a way to stop the attack while another threat thought to be eliminated rises to stop him. On paper it sounds amazing and parts of it truly are. Sadly there is skipable material in the movie too or lets say it has it lengths. The cliffhanger ending is no surprise as it was know that they filmed 2 movies at once. It is however still a disappointment. The characters again deliver a great performance with Keanu Reeves as Neo, Carrie Anne Moss as Trinity and Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus. These 3 resume their roles and again are as awesome as stylish. The antagonist I wont spoil is equally great. Far more menacing than Agent Smith from the prequel ;-). I also like the Merowinger played by Lambert Wilson, the twins played by Adrian / Neil Rayment and the Keymaker played by Randall Duk Kim. However I ask myself what they actually deliver except for extending the movie and adding some not that important challenges (Who have awesome fights nd scenes to be fair). The rest of the cast is fine and the overall performance is quite good. Visually they kept the unique style and impressive effects. Nothing to criticize here. The action and fight scenes are amazing and a strength of the movie. Without these far more people would have complained. Overall it could not redo the experience that was the Matrix. It is a weaker sequel and did not win me over. It is the set up for the final movie. Bonus knowledge: There is an interesting fan theory about the Matrix that makes strangely far more sense that the sequel movies story. The real world is fake too and the human resistance is still trapped inside the Matrix. It is just another layer and safety measure. The machines knew that not all humans could be convinced that the Matrix is the real life / reality. For those they created the real world simulation to give them something they wont doubt. It is logical, feasible and explains how Neo can do some stuff at the end of the movie that he should not be able to do even as chosen one (I am vague to avoid spoilers).
It's just awful! A horrible, and needless, sequel to a cult classic. The story makes little sense and is trying its hardest to be clever, yet all it manages to really do is undermine everything set in the first movie. There are some decent action sequences and the FX are OK, but it is not enough to save this obvious cash-in. Overall: For shame!!!!!
Sorry for the cut and paste--I"m lazy, but still honest (this is my Matrix Revolutions review--somehow it holds true)
Should never have been made.
The original was really fun, but all that came after are crap... just plain crap.
What else can you say.... watch The Matrix, forget the rest!