The Matrix Reloaded was not worth the anticipation I have decided. Now, it was a very cool film, and I would recommend all my friends, enemies and acquaintances go see it, but I was anticipating something of the same calibre as the original Matrix movie, and that is harder to repeat than even the Wachowskis thought, I guess. If I ignore how good the first movie was and look at Reloaded without that base comparison in mind, then it’s a pretty good film, but not terribly much more special than many of the other blockbuster films that have come out over the past year or so. Being the sequel to such a great film gives it extra brownie points going in, which is an advantage, but in more ways a disadvantage because as I say, it didn’t live up to its predecessor.

The action was exciting, but nothing new or groundbreaking. I don’t know what the ‘equivalent to bullet-time innovation-wise’ thing was, I will have to see it again and have a closer look at some of the filming techniques. What set apart the initial Matrix action was that it was new and different, something not seen before. Reloaded didnt have that. The plot was interesting enough, but all plot developments came in one foul swoop in the scene between Neo and the architect. In the original Matrix film the plot was astounding and challenging from the very opening scene, and new things were being discovered the whole way. Reloaded was action based and had little plot advancements, other than the obvious ones coming in close to the end there. Obviously this close a comparison is an unfair thing to do to Reloaded as it should still have some stand-alone merit, and it does, but I have a few more beefs…

That whole ‘Trinity is going to die’ thing was pointless — the Wachowskis should have known better than to try and make a climax out of ‘Will Carrie-Ann Moss’ character die, even though the entire audience knows she shot Revolutions too’?? That it was made into such a big deal — Neo worrying about it the entire movie for example, not to mention the fact that it was the climactic end to the film just grated my cheese. In fact it kind of spoiled the film for me altogether. In Revolutions it would have worked a treat because there would have been that element of ‘Will she die, or won’t she?’, but not even a tingle of doubt for Reloaded. They should know better.

The first Matrix film shocked me. It went against what my brain said would happen next. Being versed in the language of the Hollywood action genre script my brain was sending the signals, “and now the hero is put in danger, and now he will triumph, and now he will get the girl and get out of the matrix and… what? He DIES?!?!” The element of unpredictability. So very rarely seen these days, so very, very rarely seen in movies of the action genre, and I was played for a fool for thinking that simply because the first film delivered the goods, the second one would too.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I loved it. How could I NOT love the sequel to The Matrix, I mean, come ON people!! But — the fact that in several points it looked like we were simply watching a well animated computer game kind of ruined it for me. I’d rather they have done less complicated shots, with real people on bluescreen. Or waited a few more years until the CGI technology has progressed a little more, enough to make figures look like actual people. It was Toy Story all over again.

I liked Reloaded but when comparing it to the effect the original had on me, I was disappointed. In the lead up to it opening all I could think about was my ‘HUH?!’ the first time I saw The Matrix after this superchick gets hits by a truck because she just had to answer some ringing phone booth, and then disappear rather than going KASPLAT like any other mortal would have. I love to be challenged. Not knowing what was going on was the biggest thrill. I want to be confused, dammit!

But, overall, it was a good film. I liked the fight scenes, though wish they hadn’t been the only thing the film was riding on. The start of the multi-agent-smith fight was very well done, perhaps because it began with real people. I still prefer real people who clearly are not Hugo Weaving doubles, than computer people.

The car chase was fairly astounding. Car chases can be easily overdone and yet despite the length of this one I think I am safe in saying it wasn’t overdone. Part of this is owing to the transition from car to bike to truck, with a dash of ‘chicken’ and only a splash of bad animation. I think the trucks compounding was Reloaded‘s answer to the helicopter crash. Another comparison… I’ll stop now.

Link deserves a mention, as he was such an entertaining character. If he entered the Matrix and was in a fight, I would worry. I would be on the edge of my seat and rooting for him like nothing else. And I suspect this may be yet to be seen in the later movie, owing to all the ‘I promise I’ll come home to you’ stuff. Someone slightly less stoic is exactly what the neber… neba… kan… ken… ezer? needed. And of course, my favourite line in the entire movie, I couldn’t stop laughing for about two minutes (which is a long time in movie-time, it was well into the next scene) — “Yes!!!!!” after Neo caught Morpheus and the very endearing keymaker.

When did Tank die?? Guess that big gashing wound he had after Cypher blew him to smytherines caused more damage than he let on. He left behind a cute sibling-in-law though, so I’m content.

My first and only theory on why Neo was able to manipulate the sentinels is that the ‘real’ world is another level of Matrix. Bear with me. The machines have figured out that they need to give humans the semblance of free will, a choice, otherwise they wouldn’t accept the programming. Why would they bother to actually let some of them out if they could merely release them into another Matrix? Here is one program for those who don’t need to feel they are making the choice, and here is the other Matrix (with the world of Zion and sentinels) for those that do need to feel they are making their own choices. Hence, we don’t spend any real effort on trying to kill these ones, its not like they’re a threat to us anyway. We can send matrix representations of machines to tunnel to Zion and ‘destroy’ them. If they think they are in ‘reality’ they won’t know the difference. And for six generations of ‘ones’ no one has figured out that they are still in the matrix. .. Oh wait, oh dear.. what is that guy doing? Oh no, he’s FIGURED IT OUT!!

Ok it’s a looooooooooong shot, and we will all laugh ourselves silly at Shannon in November when Revolutions comes out, but lets hear your explanations of controlling the sentinels, boys?? I’ll take you all on…

1,230

This entry was posted by the illustrious Shannon Jones on Sunday, May 25th, 2003. It concerns such pressing issues as . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.