The Matrix Reloaded (2003) Review

 

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

The Matrix Reloaded follows Neo, now a master of the power he possesses, as he, Trinity, and Morpheus seek out The Architect of the Matrix, while preparing for all out war with the Sentinels. 

Reloaded had one of the most impossible tasks in movie history and that’s following up a movie as groundbreaking, mysterious, and existentially complex as the first Matrix. With the sequel, much of the mystery and awe is gone, and in it’s place is a plot that has nowhere to really go until the last 10 or so minutes, and until then, it feels exactly like it’s title, reloading and preparing for the inevitable fight while deeply losing viewers with it’s endless philosophical debates about human choice. We’re finally introduced to the city of Zion, but aside from some steamy rave scenes, it offers nothing aside from some new character introductions, making our eventual return to the Matrix overdue in anticipation. 

But boy, when we do get back, every bit of criticism goes out the window, as the film becomes one insane, vertigo inducing action scene after another, as we traverse into some of the most iconic fights of the whole series, from Neo’s bonkers fight against the Smith clones, to the ridiculous 17 minute freeway chase, it’s rightfully nuts and the film absolutely delivers on the action it promised in the first. Naturally with all of this, the special effects are also cranked to a thousand and while it sometimes plays out like an absurdly intense video game, it’s no less amazing to witness for the first or millionth time, only getting better with age. 

We get another stellar cast as well, starring Helmut Bakaitis, Anthony Zerbe, Randall Duk Kim, Harry Lennix, Jada Pinkett Smith, Harold Perrineau, Hugo Weaving, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Keanu Reeves. Somehow, Reeves becomes even more incredible to watch, transforming into an unstoppable badass for this sequel, fully cementing himself as one of cinema’s greatest action stars, while also adding to the beautiful chemistry between him and Moss. 

The Matrix Reloaded, directed by the Wachowski Sisters, is no doubt a messy, longwinded sequel that gets bogged down by it’s own philosophical musings of self existence, but in it’s deliverance of some of the greatest action I’ve genuinely ever seen, and a ton of it, much is forgiven by film’s close. 

8.2/10