Firstly a very simple question: What is the MATRIX
a) A all encompassing virtual reality software into which we are all plugged in
b) A all encompassing virtual reality software into which we are all plugged in
c) A all encompassing virtual reality software into which we are all plugged in
d) A all encompassing virtual reality software into which we are all plugged in
e) [ 1 1 8 9 14 19 22 9 19 10 18 18 16 16 5 5 5] or [ 0 1 0 1 ] or ...
If you chose e) I suggest you close your maths book and go to your nearest CD/DVD shop and ask for the movie named Matrix. Even if you have seen it, do see it again. If you haven’t seen it at all don’t tell that to the chap at the counter. You’ll get a look reserved for loonies.
Those who saw and loved the Matrix will remember that it ends with the chosen one, Neo[Keanu Reeves] declaring a war against the machines that control and use the humans. His partners are his guide, Morpheus[Laurence Fishburne] and Trinity[Carrie-Ann Moss]. One of my favourite scenes in the Matrix is when Neo enters Agent Smith[Hugo Weaving], a guard program within the Matrix and deactivates him. Matrix had stunning graphics and special effects and the story was so stunningly novel that it resulted in so much debate about the theory it proposed and its parallels with philosophy. Matrix Reloaded picks up from where its predecessor left off. A lot of new questions are asked, some are answered and many are left open for debate. The music is good and in tune with the movie. The graphics and special effects is where the next step has been taken, and its a huge step indeed. The graphics of Matrix Reloaded has set such a high benchmark that Matrix Revolutions will be hard pressed to equal it. However I feel that it will definitely be up to the task.
Matrix Reloaded looks to answer the fundamental question that all of us had at the end of Matrix - Neo is the chosen one and he has to destroy the Matrix BUT how does he do it? We learn during the course of the movie that there are many in Zion, which is the last human stronghold on earth, who do not agree with Morpheus that Neo will deliver, most notably Commander Lock[Henry Lennix ] of the human resistance in Zion doesn’t see eye to eye with Morpheus. Then there is the beautiful Niobe[Jada Pinkett Smith] who will have to make a choice as we go along whether she believes in Morpheus and is prepared to back him. Newer humans like Counsellor Hamann[Anthony Zerbe] and Neo’s shipmate Link[Harold Perrineau] who believe in Morpheus and Neo are introduced. But all the meat is in non-human entities within the Matrix, not the least of whom is Agent Smith. Yes, he is back, he is mad at Neo and he is looking for purpose. In a delightful twist, Agent Smith is back as an extremely dangerous rogue floater program having the ability to duplicate endlessly and override the other agent programs and unfortunately for the liberated humans, he can do the same to them when they are within the matrix. He has a key role in Reloaded but I predict he’ll have a major role in Matrix Revolutions when it releases in Nov. Some of the new non-human characters introduced are the evil Merovingian[Lambert Wilson] and his wife Persephone[Monica Bellucci], the Keymaker[Randall Duk Kim] and the brilliant twins (Adrian and Neil Rayment). Then there is the Oracle[late Gloria Foster] and her interesting bodyguard. As in the prequel, this movie too sees the Oracle have a critical conversation with Neo.
Matrix Reloaded has taken a giant leap as far as graphics and special effects are concerned. Bullet time seen in the prequel is in extensive use in this movie as well. Bullet time is a brilliantly conceived combination of freeze frame and slow motion. If you are into PC games, you can relate it to that awesome game, Max Payne. The heart and soul of the movie is its brilliantly choreoraphy, whether its the fights or the heart stopping chase on the specially constructed freeway. A big round of applause for Yuen Wo Ping of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fame for his brilliant martial arts choreography. Watch out for a small faceoff between Neo and the bodyguard of the Oracle. Okay, I return to the special effects. From scene 1 where Trinity[yes, like the prequel she is the first of the resistance to be shown in the movie] launches into a spectacular dive on her bike to the end where Neo takes on the sentients, its an orgy of graphics and special effects that’ll leave us spellbound. Some of the sequences to watch out are the fight between Neo and Agent Smith and Agent Smith and Agent Smith and Agent Smith and .... you get my point, right? Also the sequence involving Neo’s fight with Merovingian’s henchmen .. with multiple characters on bullettime in a single screen frame! Also the twins tangling with Morpheus is brilliant. The twins incidentally dodge bullets by dematerialising, they can go through walls and sink into floors. Also the amazing chase sequence will have you spellbound. Neo dressed in flowing robes quite similar to a priest’s cassock shows a tendency to do the superman thing, the same thing that he did at the end of the prequel, and you see good use of special effects here especially towards the ending. There are many more and listing all of them will lead to the traditional 8k overflow. Just watch the movie. Background score is good. Watch out for the music during the long drawn credits. And do watch the entire credits because at the end of the credits is a trailer of Matrix Revolutions.
Matrix Reloaded expands on the Matrix philosophy with explanations of the paranormal and the meaning of lifecycles. In this movie though, the focus on philosophy is much more than on the prequel. This movie needs to be seen atleast twice IMHO for a person to get the hang of the philosophy ’’completely’’. Kudos to the Wachowski brothers for their thinking. To think of reality at this level of complexity takes some real creativity. A keen observer may definitely detect some leaning towards the philosophies of Asia. A lot of emphasis is on cause and effect and choice. I have seen the movie only once so far. As I said I think I need one more viewing atleast solely to focus on the philosophy. I surely don’t mind watching it again and again and again. The talk between the maker and Neo is the key to this movie and the next one.
Unfortunately, this movie has its weakness too. The movie is definitely bulky compared to its prequel which was lean and mean. Morpheus’s ranting on and on about doing the right thing does get on your nerves after a while. A lot of unnecessary stuff like the rave at Zion too could have been avoided. The dialogues are crisp and to the point, barring Morpheus’s long winded discourses and ramblings. Like all second parts of a trilogy, this will be the part that people will forget first, or will they?. As far as linking to the first and setting up the third part, this movie does that pretty well.
All in all a 4 star movie, the loss of one star simply because it could be leaner and meaner. Forget the philosophy the first time you see it. Just lose yourself in the graphics. The only thing pulling it down is the weight of expectations. Its the sequel to one of the most awesome movies ever, isnt it? However no doubt that its a worthy successor to its prequel. Now for Matrix Revolutions!