I have to confess – While I didn’t get to see about 15 minutes of the film, as I fell asleep somewhere around the time that Jada Pinkett-Smith’s character (Niobe) was sent in to assist. For all the publicity surrounding her part in the movie, she has very little screen time – Not even a good 30 minutes in total. Aside from the cool action sequences and the dynamite special effects (Not as dazzling as press releases led us to believe.) in the beginning, can someone tell me what this movie was about? Have the makers, the Wachowski Brothers (Larry and Andy) been so tainted by the success of the first Matrix that they believed this could pass as good filmmaking?
Problem #1
Unlike the first installment, this movie takes itself way too seriously. All the characters speak in inane philosophical riddles, like they all shared a blunt before the tape started rolling. They spout these endless speeches as if they were reciting from some holy religious text. Did the Wachowski brothers imagine they were Plato, Shakespeare, or perhaps Gandhi? Don’t get me wrong, they might have pulled it off if the story line had been stronger, but what little storyline there is is rather weak.
Problem #2
There is no real plot. They’re fighting, they’re popping into and out of the matrix, they’re fighting again, they’re spouting riddles, then they’re fighting again, more riddles and on and on. Forgive me, I am a fairly intelligent human being, and yet I absolutely got lost around the time The Oracle (Gloria Foster) described herself as a “good program”, and therefore one should conclude Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving), the antagonist in both movies is a “bad program”? And now he has the ability to just touch others, and clone himself, and in some cases clone himself from nothing. His new ability he explains, results from his last encounter with Neo (Keanu Reeves). If this is so, then why doesn’t Neo demonstrate the same ability?
This and so much more is thrown at us but never explained. Morpheus (Larry Fishburne) who was a god-like figure in the first Matrix is portrayed more as a kook, with only passable fighting skills this time around. Such a change in character makes him almost incidental to the movie – Actually, his character for what little he offers could have been left out without altering the movie one iota. Excuse me but aren’t main characters supposed to be essential to the plot, providing crucial elements that advance the story line?
My Plot summation:
From what little I could gather, Keanu Reeves must find a key so he can save the world (Zion, the last place of refuge beneath the earth) from the machines trying to infiltrate and destroy humanity – At least I think so. In addition, they’ve thrown in a subplot, a romance between Neo and Trinity (Carrie Ann Moss), which seems to have no real bearing on the main plot, and actually makes the movie drag. The biggest mistake the Wachowskis made was concentrating so wholly on the special effects, that the plot is an afterthought, there simply to connect the fight scenes and yet more special effects.
Summation of movie plot from Movies.com
The machines have discovered the last human city, Zion, located in the Earth’s core, and an army of Squiddies is sent to destroy it. Neo (Keanu Reeves), the all-powerful one, must race to beat them there before launching a final battle that pits the last remaining unplugged humans against the machines. Along the way, with Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) by his side, Neo battles Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) and his clones, and a set of evil twins, among many enemies. Reloaded ends in a cliffhanger, setting up the trilogy’s finale, The Matrix Evolutions.
Problem #3
A major mistake those responsible for this heap of celluloid dung made, was to do what I call a Lord Of The Rings. Instead of making this installment of the story complete and stand on it’s own, as they did the first one, they decided to leave us all hanging, guaranteeing our return to the theater for installment number #3. Well, sorry fellas, it didn’t work, at least not with me. I am so disappointed in this installment, I don’t I really give care how it all ends.
Bottom Line:
Takes itself too seriously
The acting was melodramatic.
The cinematography was lush, but seemed a little static as the movie neared the middle, and I noticed too many of the scenes were being shot in the same way, with the same lighting, and from the same angle.
The score, though not spectacular, was adequate.
The biggest problem
Somewhere along the line the Wachowski brothers forgot the most important rule – Movies are supposed to be fun or at least entertaining. Plots are supposed to advance the storyline and include the viewer, not make him or her feel like an outsider trying to decipher what is going on. And finally, respect is the greatest thing you can pay an audience – Respect for its dollars, for its intelligence, and its time. This movie stole my money, insulted my intelligence and wasted about 2 ½ hours of my time. Don’t let it do the same to you – Stay away!
Writer/Directors: Andy & Larry Wachowski
Producer: Joel Silver
Cinematography: Bill Pope
Score: Don Davis