The Matrix Reloaded

[Darth Bun]

Howdy kids.

I saw it yesterday and all I can say is wow! Now, I am well aware that there are mixed emotions about this movie already, much like our favorite franchise, but I loved this thing. And I tend to agree with another internet reviewer who said: "I have a movie now that I loved on a second viewing and, frankly, I don't care if everyone else in the f-ing world hated it, I enjoyed it and that's why I go to the movies" And, that, my friends, is why we should all go to the movies. Not to overanalyze the psyche and writing of these blockbusters, but to lose ourselves in the story. That's what "The Matrix: Reloaded" did for me. Excellent story, glorious action sequences, and a hell of a cliffhanger make for every fanboys wildest dream!

I give it 5 stars (Out of 5)

[kopernikuz]

Originally posted by Darth Bun@May 16 2003, 01:36 PM
Not to overanalyze the psyche and writing of these blockbusters, but to lose ourselves in the story.
Well, I'd agree with you... but I think you got it backwards... the story lost us... (my opinion... I'm glad you enjoyed it)

What I liked about the first Matrix was that story... a brilliant and unique vision accompanied by rockin and eye-popping action and effects...

This one only had the action and effects... that was what was disappointing. Did I not like the movie? No, I really liked it... I had a good time and felt I'd spent a good $8.00 of entertainment... but at the same time I felt a little ripped off in the sense that what enamored me to the first one was sacrificed in an effort to titillate rather than tell a good story.


I gave the original Matrix 5 of 5... this one is closer to a 3 for me.

[Sifo Dyas]

I have mixed feelings about Reloaded , I think it was over-hyped , but it's always hard for sequels to come up to the original. In the time frame of when the movie were made , it's hard to come up with newer and more exciting visual effects. The Terminator and T2 were nearly ten years apart , and the excelence in the technology shows. I think a lot of people were expecting to be blown out of their seats , instead of the standard story-line we had. But all that left behind , I found it to be an excelent movie , worthy of repeat viewings. 4 out of five stars.

[Mann]

as of now, this is only half a movie. The other half comes out later. So if i rated it, it would be half the rating that I saw. But then again, so would my reviews for LotR. so as an individual film, this one gets 4 1/2 stars for great f/x and good plot devices, but the beginning did drag a little.

[Javen]

I don't see Reloaded as an actual sequel. It's a continueing story like LOTR.

[Aurra Sing]

I agree Javen. The first one I had to say I liked better though. Still! I just saw Matrix Reloaded and loved it! Great action. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Mann]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>I don't see Reloaded as an actual sequel. It's a continueing story like LOTR. [/b][/quote]

Do i hear an echo? style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[Javen]

Originally posted by Mann@May 18 2003, 12:04 PM
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>I don't see Reloaded as an actual sequel. It's a continueing story like LOTR.

Do i hear an echo? style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif [/b][/quote]
What?...What?......what...wha...wh..w..

[Mann]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

Revolutions trailer looks better than Reloaded's

[Justin]

I don't know, it went like a sequel as far as I could see, especially because it started out some time after the first one ended. That's one thing that bugged me about it, especially since there was a big "we're running out of time to fight the machines" theme in the first one.

A continuing story type sequel starts where the last one leaves off, like the Back to the Future movies. It looks like the third Matrix will begin right where this one left off.

Anyway, as far as my review is concerned, I thought the visuals in this movie were incredible. It was definitely a cool movie, one I'd see again, but some of it just struck me as silly. Especially how they were all wearing sunglasses in the dark.

Also, I thought the philosophy was oppressive in this one, but it was fascinating in the first. It was like "ok, we know Neo is the one, and there's a prophecy that he'll defeat the machines, why do we need to keep talking about it?"

Another thing that bugged me was that a lot of the sense of danger was taken out by the whole "not if, when" thing regarding the defeat of the machines. I mean, we know they're going to do it, but when you're reminded of it all the time it takes the edge off. Not to say that there weren't some nail-biting scenes, there were a few, particularly when Morpheus was fighting the agent on the truck.

I liked what they're doing with Agent Smith, I would have liked to see more of his personal antagonism with Neo, like Batman and the Joker. Hopefully there will be more of that in the next one.

All in all, it's still a cool movie and I will probably see it again in the theater.

[Mann]

Apparently Neo has more than one fight with Smith in the next one. The battle in the ship and what looks like the Final Battle.

[mtilden]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Well, I'd agree with you... but I think you got it backwards... the story lost us... (my opinion... I'm glad you enjoyed it)
[/b][/quote]

I disagree, I am not really a big Matrix fan, I only saw the original twice, once when it came out, and once again right before going to see Reloaded, and I never had any difficulty following the story. I will agree that it was very, bizarre, in a 2001 sort of way, but I don't think that that is necessarily bad, in fact, I kinda like its 'weirdness'. Overall, I thought that some of the action sequences, particularly the car chase and the fight with 100 Smiths, were much too long, and I could have done without the whole 'rave/sex' scene in Zion, but overall, I thought that it was an very well written and intelligent movie, and I found it very thought provoking. But since we haven't really seen a whole movie yet, so I will refrain from assigning a rating to it, until I have seen Revolutions, then I will rate them as one movie. (I think that is the only fair thing to do.)

[Mann]

like i said, I can't rate the movie actually by itself. If I did though I would give it a high rating because i loved the action.

[bodegage]

Just saw it and loved it. I liked everything about this movie. Well...almost.

I thought the fight scenes were better than in the first. The 100 Agent Smith's was really cool and then the 15 minute car chase was mind-blowing.

Some of the other parts seemed a bit bland but I found it not any worse than the original.

I liked the new characters. Niobe was cool. The Twins were wicked. Peresphone was hot but in it very little. Her husband though, stole every scene he was in. His best line was when his guards all started shooting at Neo and Neo stopped them all with his hand. Then Merovingian (the husband) says: "Okay, you have some skills"

I give this movie a 4.5/5 because the action was great but some other parts were slow.

[Abi-Wan]

Hmmmm. I just got back from seeing the movie and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I really think they over did it on the special effects!! I especially hated the scene where Trinity is shot. The only action sequences I liked were the car chase and the battle in the weapons room, or whatever it was. I didn't expect or appreciate the whole Trinity/Neo sex scene and the accompanying dance/orgy. I found the movie pretty boring and judging from those who were also in the theatre, I wasn't the only one (my friends dozed off and everyone else was talking). It's possible I might like the movie more the next time I see it... but I do know for sure that it doesn't even compare to the original!

[Rojo]

Well, I've seen it four times which kinda says what i think about it.

<span style="color:green"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:Optima">5/5</span></span></span>

[Angel Starmaster]

Okay, I just finished watching it for the second time in two days. (I've been sneaking into the special premiere showings here in Japan.)

#1) Story - For me, if a Movie has no plot I'm not interested. I agree that the sequel had a more difficult to follow...(what the FUDGE happened to Dozer?! How exactly did he die?) But if you like to think, like I do and you don't have a bunch of morons sitting behind you screaming drunken obscenaties at the screen (as I did at my first viewing) you pay close attention and the story becomes clear. At the pretense of spoilers I'm not going to elaborate on any of it, but if those of you have seen it are con-fuzzed, PM me and I'll see if I can't shed some light on the subject. I LOVE how they set all the rules in place and then at the end all the rules are broken. LOVE it!

#2) Action/special effects - Pure sweetness. Of course being a photographer I can pick out each and every bit of CGI added visual effects (lack of texture is a Big giveaway) but on the whole they've given us a eye-popping extravaganza that no other movie can hope to duplicate before Revolutions is released in November. I personnaly feel this movie series leaves Star Wars lying face-down in the dirt for special effects.

#3) The Cliffhanger - No different from SW; ESB in my opinion except that none of the characters were waving out a window. Can't deal with it? That's ok, you'll have to wait six months for the final movie. That's right, November of this year.

By the way, I don't know if they're doing the same thing in the states, but the Revolutions trailer can be seen after the credits roll at the end of Reloaded. Outstanding move in my opinion.

#4) Rewatchability (Reloadability?) - Some folks may have noticed a couple of holes in the plot. WHat happened to Niobe and the Logos crew at the end for example? How did they get the scans from the Orisis and what happened to it?
The answer to these and many other questions you may have can be found on the Enter the Matrix video game, (for PS2, Xbox, PC, or Game cube) and on the Animatrix collection. The Animatrix; Final Flight of the Orisis explains how the scans were made and where they came from, and the game follows that up with showing who got them to Zion and how. The Animatrix; Second Renessance Parts 1 and 2 tells the story of how the Machines took over.
All these things considered I can't see howe any Star Wars fan can NOT like the movie. And we haven't even SEEN the ending yet.

Total? I give it 5 outta 5. The film was artistic, enthralling, and entertaining. You can be that with a stick. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/w00t.gif

[Jango]

Ive seen it two times.

[Aurra Sing]

I saw it again about a week ago and I agree with you Abi-wan, the sex scene could do with out. But I disagree on your other points. The special effects were superb because it wasn't all just kung fu stuff, they added more. It was still typical matrix, but in a new way. The first time I saw it was late late at night and I had woken up at 6:15 am that day so that was my only excuse for being drowsy. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif I'd see it again. 5 stars ***** style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Jango]

come to the dark side aura

[RollaFett]

I saw the other night and have to say that I was slightly disappointed, not highly, but slightly. I would give it 2 1/2 stars out of 4. The first one I would give 3 1/2 stars.
Overall, I thought that 'Reloaded' was too long. it contained way too many long, drawn out dialogue scenes. Now I like to have the story presented to me clearly, but there is a limit. I hate to be checking my watch during a scene that is supposed to be so telling, plot-wise, and to be doing it so often.
Also, I thought that the action was getting a little too familar, and drawn out as well. Maybe that's just me, I'm not enamored with Kung-Fu, so perhaps I don't have the appreciation for it as others do.
However, I will acknowledge the freeway scene as completely kickass! Especially how Morpheus took out those phantom guys! Loved it!
It got me to thinking about the PT when compared to this trilogy. I have thought that GL has not explained enough, storywise in this complex trilogy. He has a lot going on, and has seemed to edit out key scenes of dialogue that would help explain the plot more in favor of big action.
With the Matrix, it seems as though the Wachowski's want to explain too much through dialogue, yet still have lengthy action sequences. There are no short scenes in the Matrix films.
There is definately a fine line when it comes to editing a film properly, to be sure.

[Vibroblade]

I'd already posted a review in another thread so I just cut and paste it here.

I disagree with the idea that the movie can't be reviewed because it's not complete. The movie can, and should, be reviewed on its own merits. I loved ESB when I saw it in the theater and, if anything, it left even more unanswered than Reloaded.

The first part of the movie sucked. I was almost completely uninterested for the first 30 minutes with the exception of a few cool scenes.

The special effects were ok but not great. Sorry, I'm sure I'm in the minority ( I usually am ) but I was totally unimpressed with the effects. In particular the fight with Agent Smith. I felt like I was watching the x-box version of the Matrix Reloaded. There are some undoubtedly jaw dropping effects in the film but they just seem to be buried under unnecessary fluff. One of the strengths of the original was the tasteful use of effects. Reloaded was anything but. I felt saturated. If AOTC was overdone then this movie was even worse. Why can't filmmakers realize that "more" isn't always better?

Story was OK but seemed to be disjointed. Like the writers weren't exactly sure where they were trying to go with the plot. Having said that, I still felt the story, while often confusing, was still fairly engaging.

Acting was good enough. LF as Morpheus was again the standout. That guy would have made a great Mace.

Dialogue not nearly as good as the original. To much technical crap.

Overall: C+ movie. Worth seeing but far below the brilliance of the original.

[Jango]

thats ghetto

[Vibroblade]

^WTF?

[Aurra Sing]

refrain from ever saying that again jango style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif

[bodhisattva yoda]

i wasn't once bored. it seems like the only way to be bored by this film is if you're: a) exclusively an action movie fan or b) not a fan of action at all. i'm not being on action movies personally, but i like science fiction and visually stunning movies... what i really liked about the action in reloaded was the inclusion of many un-cut wideshots. i also liked how it functioned very much like a video game with a lot of side-view shots and 'special moves' and whatnot.

the sex/rave seen made me cringe and feel sort of embarrassed, but at the same time i appreciated it and found it very skillfully crafted and felt almost as if my aversion to the scene was due to my mind not being 'free'...

the worst part of the film, however, was trinity's cg blood. terrible.

overall, i actually liked reloaded more than the original. and for some reason, i really, really liked the keymaker. i was sorry to see him get 'deleted'

[Jango]

Originally posted by Aurra Sing@Jun 4 2003, 01:06 PM
refrain from ever saying that again jango style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif
what

[Mann]

the G-word, ghetto. Some people take it as derrogatory.

[bodhisattva yoda]

like who, i'd like to know..?

[Jango]

me too

[RollaFett]

Uhhh...I think the word, 'getto', is fine. Move along....

[jedi_freak]

I liked it, a little on the wierder side and not as good as the first, but definately a worthy movie to watch. Agent Smith rules!