I trained as a singer and actor, and currently teach singing as a specialist teacher at primary scho...
I trained as a singer and actor, and currently teach singing as a specialist teacher at primary school level, as well as for Stagecoach Theatre Arts. I'm also doing up a flat that I bought with my Fiancee in March and pontificating at my leisure...
Member since:17.02.2003
Reviews:35
Members who trust:11
I had not seen the Matrix until a few days ago, and watched it in order to go and see this sequel. Now I'm addicted!
We return to Morpheous, Neo and Trinity and the decks of Morpheous' ship. Neo's god like powers within the matrix have allowed the release of more humans from the AIs than ever before.
However, the AIs have retaliated by putting together a concerted plan to attack Zion, the last human refuge with the purpose of eradicating the free humans. The purpose of this second film is to find a way of stopping this attack.
According to the prophecy that Morpheous believes in, the only way to prevent the destruction, is for Neo to reqach the mysterious "source" inside the mainframe computer that runs the Matrix.
The film is then involved with the various intricacies of completing this task.
------------------ The Philosophy ------------------
In the Matrix Reloaded, there are two questions that immediately arise; What is Choice? ; What is reality?
It becomes apparent through the film that the matrix can reach out into the world of Zion and the scorched earth. Indeed one manifestation of Agent Smith who has apparently
learned to replicate himself, appears to travel into the body of a member of another shpis crew, and delivers items to Neo to facilitate his journey to the Source.
The acting is excellent, and I was gripped through the entire film, although Neo making love was a little overlong. Some elements were a little confusing, and this is really a film that requires some brainwork in order to appreciate the various levels and subtexts involved in the plot.
At times you question elements of the film that appear to be nonsensical, but if you consider the levels that the film operate on, everything is consistent.
For example, during a fight with the replicating Agent Smith, Neo appears to forget that he has learned to manipulate the Matrix such that he can fly, superman style.
But on another level, he is learning about the code that makes up Agent Smith.
On yet another level, we discover through the film that Neo may yet be a programme himself, and indeed my perception at the end of the viewing is that Neo himself is the player character. All of the other characters are content and have purpose (except possibly Trinity). All characters and indeed enemies conform to set programming. It is only Neo who seems to have the ability to access a possible "developer mode". How many of us have used hacks in games such as Tomb Raider that enable Lara Croft to fly? COuld it be that Neo is being manipulated by the player and given extra powers to enhance his almost godlike abilities. We know that he can live after dying - like Agent Smith. This is a prime characteristic of a computer game hero. But how many lives does he have?
He also seems to find it extremely difficult even with his godlike powers to destroy a gang of enemy characters with various abilities, and he takes a very long time to dispatch them. COuld he be in fact attacking on another level? COuld he be learning their code in order to calculate a way to dispatch them?
Another character appears to have equal abilities to Neo. A superboss maybe protecting the Oracle?
On the other hand, Morpheus now seems to have little power. But then as a non-player character, his skills have never progressed past being equal to those of an agent, and he remains equal. Does his character have the ability to improve? The agents appear to be learning and modifying.
It becomes even more apparent that our perception of the reality world may be flawed as we learn that the Matrix has been reloaded several times, and previous manifestations of Neo have reached the source on several occasions but all have failed.
As in the first Matrix, Neo is offered a choice. But is this choice real? In the Matrix he has a choice: On the one hand he takes a tablet and fails to progress. On the other hand he takes a tablet and passes to the next level. On the third hand he can refuse either tablet, but he will remain where he is until he is destroyed by the agents.
In Reloaded, he is given a choice - the death of Trinity or the death of all humanity. Again we have to question whether this choice is real. On the one hand he will be reabsorbed and the matrix will be reloaded but having learned from his experience, on the other hand he can continue fighting and save Trinity. Again choice is no choice.
Finally, at the end of the film Neo discovers that he can affect things in the scorched world outside of the Matrix. COuld this too be a level in a greater matrix?
All of the leading actors are excellent and there are some superb special effects. The film is pacy and you rarely feel bored.
The audience I was in seemed like they might be quite disruptive, but everyone was very quickly absorbed by the film and glued to the screen for the 2 hours or so that the film lasts - and it is quite a long film.
So many questions are raised by the film, that we found ourselves talking for long afterwards about the philosophical implications.
This is definitely a must-see, and must think.
Go and play it now!
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Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1977 - Action/Adventure - Director: Clint Eastwood - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince, Bill McKinney
Production Year: 2008 - Action/Adventure - Director: Christopher Nolan - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Maggie Gyllenhaal, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Sounds like a good film! I've never seen it myself because I haven't seen The Matrix, I guess I'm missing out. Great op. Rine
babajane32 10.06.2003 14:28
Excellent op on ane excellent film!!
cheers
jane xx
TheDuke 04.06.2003 17:39
Ooooh. Interesting concept about the game thing. My own personal theory is that it's not a game, it's just as Morpheus describes in the first film: millions of people plugged into a virtual reality system. My own theory, from watching Reloaded is that no-one ever gets unplugged and that it's just another aspect of the virtual reality that everyone is plugged into.
The Matrix Reloadeddelivers added amounts of everything that the first film had, with the ... more
exception of surprises. We see more of the "real world" in the "last human city" of Zion and we go back to the 1999-look urban virtual reality of the Matrix for m...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The Matrix Reloadeddelivers added amounts of everything that the first film had, with the ... more
exception of surprises. We see more of the "real world" in the "last human city" of Zion and we go back to the 1999-look urban virtual reality of the Matrix for m...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Neo and the leaders of the human resistance discover that Sentinels are burrowing their ... more
way towards Zion. Estimating they have perhaps just 72 hours until an all-out assault Neo must return back into the Matrix and find the keymaker to gain access to ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Sentinels swarm. Smith clones. Neo flies... but perhaps not even a Chosen One gifted with ... more
astonishing new powers can stop the advance of the Machines.Neo. Morpheus. Trinity. They're back for the powerful second chapter of The Matrix trilogy, and exciti...
Advantages: If you were impressed by the special effects of the first film, you'll be blown away by this Disadvantages: If you're after substance, you may be somewhat disappointed.
![The Matrix Reloaded (Widescreen edition) [DVD] [2003]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78498566.jpg "The Matrix Reloaded (Widescreen edition) [DVD] [2003]")
Jun 4th, 2003
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