Matrix Reloaded - Better and worse

[Bill Glasheen]

I gushed over the original Matrix movie in another thread. Last Saturday night I (and my two boys) joined legions of people that saw Matrix Reloaded for the first time.

I'm curious about your impressions of the movie.

On the positive side, it was a special effects bonanza. Every action film has its car chase scenes with exploding trucks and flipping sedans, and this was no exception. But the details (and extent) of this one were impressive. To know me (past and present) is to know why I loved this so much.

It's clear that it was part real life and part computer generated. The trained eye can see the difference. But the final effects were still quite good.


The plot - in my opinion - was pretty much the work of the original movie. This one didn't (and probably couldn't) advance the ideas too much farther. There were some interesting twists though to consider.

Like the original, it takes a few viewings (or a good memory and some contemplation) to extract all the details.


This one took the martial arts in the first and ran with it. It was less about heavy weaponry and more about hand-to-hand combat. It was eye candy for the martial artist, and obviously a lot of work on the part of the martial arts choreographers.

Like with the first movie, you could spend some time examining the sequences in slo-mo to appreciate the work put into it.

But something bothered me about one of the martial arts scenes in particular.

I'm going to keep my mouth shut for now. In a line, I disagree! I would have done it differently. But...it wasn't my movie. In any case, I'm curious to hear other impressions.

I had some trepidation taking both my sons (10 and 4) to this movie. It frankly wasn't as gratuitousy, shoot-em-up violent as the first. It was violence, but more physical (and thus "artful") in nature. Funny distinction if you think about it, but true. The only thing that freaked my 4-year-old out...

...was a special effect that was somewhat "passe" in my experience with sci-fi flicks. Sort of Outer Limits or Poultergeist kind of stuff.

There's an incredible party/music/lovemaking scene. It's very ... well ... understated but sensual. Like rhythm (or perhaps life's experiences), you either sense it or you don't. It had the deft handling of an Alfred Hitchcock movie. It would be a great date movie with the right partner. Guys, I highly recommend taking a Uechi woman.


Overall, a great flick!

- Bill

[Bill Glasheen]

Above edited to add in photos.

Photos from MSN's The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

- Bill

[newguy]

Just saw it Saturday as well. Enjoyed the fight scenes - a particular favorite was the battle in the Merovingian's front hall, with all the edged weaponry. As you said, definitely less gun-play, more swords/fist play.

Monica Bellucci. Yes please.

Oddly enough, the brief fight in the car reminded me of a thread on one of these forums posing the question 'how would you defend yourself while buckled up.'

Last impression - very 'middle movie' like, with lots of plot threads left dangling. Kind of like The Empire Strikes Back - lots of action, some witty banter, the plot moves forward (with one big twist) - but at the end you're left hanging for the third installment.

[Stryke]

Got to agree with all above

special effects where great , but was a bit more over the top so therefore less beleivable , comical in a sense

lost the wow factor of the original , guess I understand the world to much , deffinately a second of three , very much empire strikes back stuff , but having said that I think thats my favourite star wars movie .....

the party/love scene was very well done , great vision there , that scene was the only thing that really intrigued me , made me interested in the ... society they had developed ....

good movie , not great like the first , but if the third lives up to the first , no one will care and this`ll be great too ..... make sense ?

[TSDguy]

I give it two thumbs up for the action (the freeway scene!), and I thought the plot twists kept the story about as interesting as the first. The actors all looked to be moving a lot better (graphics aside). My biggest problem with the first Matrix was Keanu had the athleticism of a quadrapalygic with emphsysema. This time he was actually on balance and almost moved his speed up from little-school-girl-level to action-star-level.

[Le Haggard]

I saw it Saturday afternoon as well, by myself however–no date no kids. I left my two kids, 13 and almost 12, at home since I didn't want them trying to imitate the stuff, which they tend to do with movies.

I loved the movie. As y'all said, its a definate middle link. I think the depth of this one is perhaps more obvious, or maybe we are simply more aware of the potential for depth than the surprise of the original. I think after the third comes out, what may have seemed to be clearly stated in this one, will prove to be just another layer of illusion that connects up in a different way than expected. At least I hope so. I can't wait till I can see them all together.

I think the MA moves in it have come along with it, understandable with the increased time to study with the master they have. Keanu's new kicking ability, flexibility, and moves are a great addition (he couldn't in the first film due to a spinal injury). I recognized stick and staff forms in with the blur, don't ask me which ones now though.

The "tribal celebration" in Zion was definately a different tone than the original. I'll back up the "date movie" review from a woman's side, and would add that it will not just be good to take MA's to, but anyone that is willing to think deep. Definately not the feel good "slap-and-tickle" romantic kind. This takes it all to an entirely different level... I could talk about this thing for HOURS...

Le'

[Bruce Hirabayashi]

I had some trepidation taking both my sons (10 and 4) to this movie ...

There's an incredible party/music/lovemaking scene. It's very ... well ... understated but sensual. Like rhythm (or perhaps life's experiences), you either sense it or you don't.

Do you feel the movie apppropriate for under 12-years olds? The reason I ask is that a number of friends who have seen the movie suggest that they would not bring their kids due to that scene.

But then, I've living in the deep south / bible belt.

Bruce

[Bill Glasheen]

Bruce

I brought Chad to see Titanic when he was in kindergarten. The love scene brought no unusual reaction from him. However the tasteful nude pose for drawing brought a nervous giggle. Go figure... I was told by teachers at St. Christopher's that it would be inappropriate to bring him. I ignored them and brought him - WITH me at his side. I did not regret it, as he spent the next 3 years drawing and building ships, and talked of being a naval architect. It definitely lit a flame within.

This movie is like that, Bruce. There's something in it for everyone. As far as the lovemaking scene, it was done revealing about as much as an old James Bond movie. My Catholic parents brought me to those movies all the time, and all that girlie stuff went straight over my head. (My 10-year-old though knows about the birds and the bees, unlike me at that age.)

The lovemaking is fine. It's really the violence that you should be concerned about. The first one was really way over the top with the gratuitous use of fully automatic weapons. I have problems with that. I do not want my boys seeing that material without me present. This movie had far less in the way of gun violence, and far more in the way of intricate martial choreography. There was hand-to-hand combat, bo, sai, sword, etc., etc. Frankly I'm hoping Chad and Sterling caught a little of the martial bug.

Violence and the gratuitous nature of such is all a relative thing. I had more of a problem with the "Freddie vs. Jason" preview shown before the movie.

In the end, it's a personal decision. But the nudity and lovemaking is less explicit than with Titanic. Much is left to the imagination. The "tribal celebration" is artfully layered into the lovemaking scene, and adds texture to what isn't explicity shown. Furthermore, it isn't raw sex per se. There is sensitivity, vulnerability, and empathy - all the attributes you'd want to instill in a moral individual.

Because of the Hitchcockian device used, someone who is "innocent" will remain so.

- Bill

[Bill Glasheen]

And the worst language of the movie is...done in another language. I won't ruin it for you.

- Bill

[Le Haggard]

Bruce
The "tribal celebration" is artfully layered into the lovemaking scene, and adds texture to what isn't explicity shown. Furthermore, it isn't raw sex per se. There is sensitivity, vulnerability, and empathy - all the attributes you'd want to instill in a moral individual.

Bill:

Thank you! Great description.

I'll add my agreement here as well. I think as far as the love scene goes, it is one of the more sensitive, empathetic, and human ones I've ever seen. It is definately about relationship and sincere love rather than the lust or objectification that is seen in most films and even much of TV today.

For me, I won't take my kids to it just yet because they are not emotionally mature enough to manage the violence in perspective. It entirely depends on the kid.

LeAnn

[2Green]

Low on plot, big on S/Fx.
Everyone in the theatre groaned at the ending.
Awesome martial arts sequences.
Did you notice the Closed Gate? Oriental guarding the Oracle...right before he says " first I must aplogize..."
Also, nice Sai technique in the bladed scenes.
NM

[M. Keller]

Just got back from seeing it. Great fighting, and fun effects. I loved the freeway scene. They really need to lose Smith though; he's very tiresome.

I've talked it over with my friends, and I think we've figured it out. I don't want to give anything away, but let me just suggest the following for those of you who have seen it: remember the spoon. That's all I'll say for now.

An enjoyable movie, and a loaded plot that makes you think.

-Mike

[IJ]

All right, I confess. I don't think that I'm a stupid person, but here I am trying to figure out whether I need to spend more $ on reviewing the flick to understand it or whether it just didn't make quite enough sense, so maybe I am dumb. Mike, I'd be grateful if you'd explain it to me. And I don't mean the stuff like where you can beat a guy with your fists but not with a sword or where you can stop bullets but not other weapons and where you never figure out that hitting Smith doesn't hurt him. I'm happy to hand that over to artistic license.

[M. Keller]

I agree, I was rather annoyed by the contradictions. The first movie ends with him being able to manipulate the code, and literally delete the agents if they ticked him off. He seems to have lost or forgotten that ability in this one. In one instance, he gets cut and bleeds. What's that about?

What I did like about the movie was the layering. It gets a little preachy at times, but they leave enough clues to guess as to what the real truth is. Or, maybe I'm overanalyzing.

Mike

[M. Keller]

Alright, let me give a "Spoiler alert," as they say on the geek sites that I often frequent. If you haven't seen the movie, and you don't want anything ruined, read no further.







Ian: here's how I see it.

The architect claims that the anomaly of the one is an inherent part of the system, as is Zion. He also claims that Zion has been destroyed multiple times before. We also learn that the Oracle is a part of the system, and thereby has questionable loyalties.

There are several points that jumped out at me. First, Smith has gone rogue, and manages to penetrate the real world. Second, Neo finds that he somehow can exert his powers on the sentinels, again in the real world.

Finally, the little hint that I think is significant is the spoon that the orphan gives neo. It's thoroughly bent and destroyed. In the previous movie, the kids manipulate the spoons in the matrix. However, why would it be bent oddly in the real world? Hmm... I might be overanalyzing here, but I think that the "real world" may be another layer of the system. I also think that when Smith's program went a little haywire, it decided to break the rules and enter the "real world" layer. I'm betting that in the final one, we'll see everything matrix-related (agents, martial arts, rule breaking) pop up in the "real world."

We'll find out in six months....

-Mike