Starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Jada Pinkett Smith, delicious Monica Bellucci, Randall Duk Kim, Adrian Rayment, Neil Rayment, Harry J. Lennix, Lambert Wilson, Matt McColm
Written By: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
Directed By: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski

I absolutely hated seeing the first movie when I saw it in the theaters. I didn’t know what the big deal was, until I kept seeing it on TV. I finally came around and thought the movie was great, and was something different.

Since seeing the trailers and commercials, this was the movie I really wanted to see this summer. I actually didn’t read many spoilers about the film either, which I usually end up doing. I don’t feel like trying to explain some sort of story so I’ll just steal IMDB’s plot outline: Neo and the rebel leaders estimate that they have 72 hours until 250,000 probes discover Zion and destroy it and its inhabitants.

During this, Neo must decide how he can save Trinity from a dark fate in his dreams. I still have mixed feelings on the Matrix Reloaded but I think I’m going to view these next sequels as one movie because that’s really what it is. Just when the movie is getting good though, a “To Be Concluded” thing pops on the screen. That was frustrating. I think I liked the film a second time a lot better than the first time. Probably because when I was watching the film 20 minutes in, the film started to melt and it was delayed for 15 minutes. At least they didn’t start the movie over again.

That would have sucked and there would have been a geek riot I think. But I liked the movie a second time because I took in more and understood certain things a lot better, plus the action scenes were just as much fun too. If you’re a fan of the first movie, and really looking forward to Reloaded, you expectations might be too high. That’s the problem with these type of summer blockbusters, the hype gets so damn high and then everyone ends up hating the movie. For X-men 2, I went in with no expectations and loved the film. Matrix Reloaded though has some of the best action scenes I’ve ever seen in a movie, especially the highway chase scene.

The special effects were a lot better in Reloaded, and that’s actually saying a lot since the Matrix were incredible. They still use the bullet time thing, actually they might overdone it in the opening scene with Trinity. I was trying to find my remote to fast forward it but realizing I wasn’t watching this at home. The beginning of the movie is pretty slow, just how the first movie was in my opinion. It’s also cheesy in some parts. I think the worst scene in the movie had to be the infamous “rave” scene. Or whatever the fuck it was, it was a rap video basically of just a bunch of people grinding on each other and pogo-ing in the crowd. While this was going on, Neo and Trinity were screwing. Ahh nothing like a crappy sex scene with beautiful close-ups of elbows and shoulders. They could have made that rave scene like 2 seconds, but no, it’s more like 4 minutes.

Another bad scene, was when Morpheus was in Zion talking to the people, and the way his voice was just so…lame. I wish the directors told him to speak that speech definitely because people were laughing in the theaters when there wasn’t supposed to be laughter. Once Neo sees the Oracle though, THAT’S when the movie kicks into gear. The stuff after the Oracle will make you forget the badness of the beginning.

The Agent Smith fight was really fun to watch. It’s meant to be like a comic book, with some funny scenes in there. You just keep laughing when you see Agent Smiths pouring out the door, trying to fight Neo. I was kind of disappointed in Keanu Reeves in this movie for one thing, and that’s I didn’t hear a “whoa.” haha. The chateau fight was really cool to see. I wanted to see Neo fight with some weapons for a change besides guns and just straight up kung fu. He even has a Star Wars moment with one of his scenes in the chateau fight.

I think though the problem with the fight scenes is there’s no gore or blood. The movie is fucking rated R, why not make it really rated R then? But the one thing that make this movie is the highway scene with Trinity, Morpheus, another character vs. the Agents vs. the white Twin guys that are ghosts. Those guys are fucking bad ass. I now know what Matt and I can dress up for for Halloween. haha. The Oracle talked about werewolves, ghosts, and vampires so I’m curious how this will play out in the next film as well. Because you see the Ghosts in the movie so who’s the vampire? The French dude perhaps, and Italian Goddess Monica Bellucci? Man was she hot in this film. Cleavage galore! Anyway, back to the chase scene.

It’s a 15 minute chase sequence that puts Terminator 2 to shame. When Trinity gets on a motorcycle, holy crap!! I was screaming in the theater because the camera shots were amazing and it was so scary. How the hell did they film this was beyond me. There was actual shots going UNDER trucks. There had to be a remote control car with a camera on it or something. This was the price was admission folks. There’s a lot of programmer humble-jumble in this so you might need to see this a few times to fully understand what certain characters are talking about, especially towards the end of the movie.

Like the first movie, there’s religious and philosophical dialogue or situations in this. For my 2nd grade brain, it’s hard to follow sometimes. Also at times, the movie seemed to be badly edited or all over the place. Or certain things weren’t explained well. Maybe they’ll be a director’s cut some day. Though overall, I felt like the movie could have done better with some things, but it certainly was a great and fun movie to watch and when seeing all 3 movies, maybe the overall picture will make sense.

Favorite Scenes: Agent Smiths Vs Neo fight was funny and had some geek moments where I was laughing and cheering, the Chateau fight was dope as hell. I was hoping they would use some swords n shit in this movie. And the highway chase was prob.
Rating: R
Running Time: 138 minutes
Overall Rating: