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Matrix Reloaded opened to expectant audiences in May of this year to quite a mixed response. Some people just loved the action packed nature, whereas others liked the complicated philosophy attached to the story. Opinion was divided with most people going to either extreme, and few sought the middle ground.
Now, six months down the line, with a bit of perspective and hindsight, how does Matrix Reloaded measure up?
? Story
It's now six months since Neo (Keanu Reeves) discovered that he was The One, a Jesus-like messiah in a cyberspace world created by artificial intelligence machines and programs to control a captive human population that was used to produce energy. Humans are bred by the machines and plugged into The Matrix where they live their lives as normal, unaware of what is really happening to them.
In this time, Neo has become more comfortable with his role and his new found abilities and the group of rebels who have already been extracted are living their lives in the last city of humanity, Zion. This group of people is continually waging war with the A.I. entities in the hope of finally being able to live their lives without the shadow of the threat from the machines.
Intelligence reports come in that the A.I. has launched a massive attack against Zion, and that the drilling machines will reach the city in less than 72 hours. With only a limited amount of time and resources available, Morpheus, the captain of the "Nebuchadnezzar", one of Zion's fleet of hovercraft, volunteers to enter the Matrix and await contact from the Oracle, a mysterious entity who has been guiding the resistance.
Neo, Trinity, Morpheus and new boy, Link are thrust into a tense situation as the machines dig towards Zion, and they must hope that the Oracle can provide a way of stopping them before it's too late and the last free city is destroyed.
? About the film.
With fresh eyes, and minus any of the hype forced upon me back in May, the film is actually better than I originally gave it credit. The flaws I noticed are still there namely the over long Burly Brawl (and associated poorer
than hyped special effects), the overlong Zion rave/sex scene and most of the philosophical rambling of The Architect and The Merovingian. These don't seem to be the major flaws that they were on my original viewing (well, maybe the waffling of The Architect still is...)
There are some positive sides too, though. Harold Perrineau as Link adds some humour to a script which takes itself far too seriously and some of the smaller fight scenes (for example, in the stairwell of the castle just before the Freeway scene) are simply stunning. I really shouldn't forget the freeway scene either which is very long, but managed to keep me on the edge of my seat all the way through.
The acting is what you would expect from the principle cast. Reeves seems more at home during his scenes in The Matrix where his Neo character is meant to be more mechanical and less human. Fishburne and Moss seem to relish their "real life" alter egos more than their Matrix ones as this gives them a chance to flex their acting ability more than their high kicking, back flipping and wearing nice clothes.
The real star of the show, the special effects, also have their moments. During some scenes they are simply magnificent, but during others are quite obvious. The Burly Brawl is one scene which stands out with the special effects being very obvious indeed whereas in others, they're almost un-noticeable.
The story can still get quite complicated and I still get the feeling that perhaps the full appreciation of Matrix: Reloaded won't be realised until a viewing of Matrix: Revolutions. I originally thought that a proper understanding of the film wouldn't be achievable until the other sources of information on The Matrix (Enter the Matrix the computer game and The Animatrix DVD) had been experienced, and I feel this still applies to a certain extent, but not as strongly as I did when the film was originally released.
Overall, it's still worth looking at and is a highly enjoyable action movie which has some low points. The over long scenes and practically unintelligible philosophy ultimately do reduce the viewing pleasure but not by that much leaving you with a kick ass science fiction based action flick.
Cast and Production Notes: Keanu Reeves - Neo Laurence Fishburne - Morpheus Carrie-Anne Moss - Trinity Harold Perrineau - Link Gloria Foster - The Oracle Randall Duk Kim - The Keymaker Jada Pinkett Smith - Niobe Hugo Weaving - Agent Smith Lambert Wilson - The Merovingian
Cert: 15 Running Time: 138 minutes.
? The DVD
Disc 1: Matrix: Reloaded film Language options
Disc 2: Preload Matrix Unfolds Freeway Chase Get me an Exit Enter the Matrix (Making of) Animatrix trailer MTV Movie awards sketch Language options PC Extras
¤ Preload: This is a documentary on the pre-production of the Matrix sequels and features a brief view of the work that went into the burly brawl and the freeway scene. There's also a look at some of the technical aspects which were used to produce Matrix: Reloaded. It features pieces of interviews from the likes of Joel Silver, Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and some of the behind the scenes technical staff.
Running time: 22 minutes.
My opinion: This was quite interesting, but didn't really get into the depth required to make it really enjoyable.
¤ Matrix Unfolds. This is a brief feature which links together the stories of the three Matrix films and how they tie in with the Animatrix Japanimation DVD and the Enter the Matrix computer game.
Running time: 5 minutes.
My opinion: This is an 'ok' feature, but I thought only re-enforced the idea that you need to watch the DVD and play the game to 'get' Matrix: Reloaded.
¤ "Crash Course" An in-depth look at the work, technology and planning which went into producing arguable the best set piece in Reloaded i.e. the freeway scene. This documentary covers not only the stunt driving and the driving training of the actors, but the associated special effects and fight scenes. Crash Course shows the view all the new gadgets and stunt tools which were used to produce the exhilarating roller coaster ride that appears in the final film.
Running time: 31 minutes.
My opinion: Apart from a few pieces which I feel were brushed over and could have been explained in more detail, this is easily the best feature on the DVD. It's interesting, goes into detail and the actors show off how much fun they had while making the scene.
¤ Get me an Exit. This is a short documentary showing how the advertisements for some product tie-ins were produced by the second unit director.
Running time: 10 minutes.
My opinion: Utterly, utterly pointless.
¤ The making of Enter the Matrix Dave Perry (head of Shiny Entertainment) is interviewed about his company's involvement in the making of the game. He shows the viewer what exactly went into the game, and the technology used to produce the game. There are also interviews with the cast and crew regarding the game and how that differed to making the film. (There is approximately an extra hour of film footage shot by the Wachowkis for the game with the 'proper' actors and sets.)
There are lots of interviews with the cast members specifically dealing with the game and the plot and how that ties in closely with the events in the movie. While it doesn't give away specific details, the documentary does give hints about what to expect from the game. Running time: 30 minutes.
My opinion: While I found this documentary to be very interesting, it's one of those documentaries that will fit in well with a box set detailing the entire Matrix universe, and I thought it didn't particularly go along with the film although fits in well with the other second rate and out of place "extras" on this DVD.
¤ Trailer for the Animatrix Erm... Yes, that's it. A teaser for the Animatrix DVD.
Running time: 5 minutes.
My opinion: The Wachowskis shout "Show me the money" and try to get you to further line their pockets.
¤ MTV Movie Awards sketch Featuring Seann William Scott and Justin Timberlake in a piss take of Matrix: Reloaded, this is seemingly the introduction sketch to the MTV Movie Awards.
My opinion: It is funny at times, but more witty than laugh out loud funny. The highlight is near the start with Randall Duk Kim reprising his role as the Keymaker.
? DVD Specifications:
Presentation: Widescreen Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Widescreen Subtitles: Danish, English, Finnish, German, Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish Dolby 5.1 Surround: German Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround: English
? Overall
The DVD is an insult to Matrix fans everywhere. Where's the commentary? Where are the lessons learned from the first Matrix DVD where they had to release a second version with more 'extras'? Where are the relevant extras? While I found the piece about the making of the game interesting, I can't see how it ties in with the film and this also applies to the pieces about the Animatrix. In all of the documentaries, we are told time and time again that the Wachowski Brothers do things to add information and depth to the Matrix universe (such as the game, and the Animatrix, for example) and they don't do it for the money, but I have to say that this DVD looks very much like a second rate money grabbing effort to me. My suggestion is to wait for the inevitable (and probably outstanding) Matrix box set which will be crammed full of extra features and documentaries covering all three films and should even have a few commentaries from those involved in making the films.
The actual film's good, but avoid this DVD at all costs.
Film: **** DVD: *
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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I must say this is an excellent review. I Have this film and i thought it was fab but there were some bits that were a bit boring. You have excelled yourself with this detailed review. Keep up the good work!!!
darkangelwing 05.08.2005 20:21
Ace review but i loved it an i'd give it 5 stars hehe,seriously excellent review with all the nesecary detail,keep it up dude!!
bfxsmoke 26.04.2004 23:15
It did indeed lack most of the atmosphere of the original - it should just not have been continued, if you ask me. Then again, they usually consult dead presidents before loyal viewers. great op - greetz Smoke
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...
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...
![The Matrix Reloaded (Widescreen edition) [DVD] [2003]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78498566.jpg "The Matrix Reloaded (Widescreen edition) [DVD] [2003]")
Nov 17th, 2003
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