"The Matrix Reloaded" is a breathless piece of filmmaking that never gives the audience a break from its big philosophical questions and even bigger action once they are plugged in.
Because this is the second film in "The Matrix" trilogy, we aren't given many introductions; that was taken care of in the first film. Instead, we are immediately immersed in the narrative and conflicts, of which there are many, both broad and personal.
Neo (Keanu Reeves) is struggling with his growing powers as The One, as well as troubling dreams of his lover/compatriot Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), who is herself faced with dealing and comprehending Neo's growing inner-turmoil. Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) is pitted against the commander of the Resistance, Lock (Harry Lennix), partly because of their love for the same woman, fellow Resistance fighter Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith), but mostly because of their differing views on the defense of Zion - Morpheus trusts the prophecies of the Oracle (Gloria Foster), Lock trusts the build up defenses and counter-attacks.
Compounding these and the other personal struggles in the film is the greater one: an impending attack from 250,000 squid-like Sentinels, enforcers for the machines in the "real" world, on the last human outpost, the city Zion, and thus the human Resistance. Neo, Morpheus and Trinity follow the metaphysical idea of a pre-emptive strike - find the Oracle, discover the path The One needs to take to destroy the Matrix and do it before the Sentinel strike. Lock, on the other hand, focuses more on the weapons-based defenses and riding out the attack the way they have so many times before. Making things worse is an anomaly in the Matrix, a new kind of program no one has seen before or understands. It's a type of mutated Agent Program that comes in the form of Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving), done away with in the first film but, through mysterious means that even Smith doesn't understand, is resurrected and "unplugged" thanks to Neo destroying him during their last encounter.
All this would make "The Matrix Reloaded" seem somewhat convoluted and without much space for the fantastic action sequences that marked the first film as breathtaking in its exploration of philosophical ideas. But rest assured; this isn't the case.
Like with other great sequels, "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Terminator 2" among them, "The Matrix Reloaded" raises the bar in terms of what it wants to say and how it wants to say it. Because "The Matrix" wasn't a sure thing, the storytelling was much broader, the ideas not quite as challenging and the special effects, as something to bring people into the theater, were spectacular. But in the sequel, directors Andy and Larry Wachowski have a much tighter grip and more fluid style in the direction of this installment, the philosophy of the film is much more challenging and the special effects simply mind-blowing.
The first film dealt with many large philosophical ideas, among them what constitutes "the real," but it answered those questions as broadly as it asked them. "The Matrix Reloaded," however, deals with very focused ideas of control, causality, living in harmony and predetermination. While at times a task to understand some of the dialogue concerning these issues and with the questions never given concrete answers, these issues work perfectly well in the established world of "The Matrix." And by posing these questions and not answering them fully, the film is elevated above trite, brainless, popcorn action flicks into a realm where films like "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Solaris" exist, a place where people can come out of the theater and talk as easily about the issues the film raises as they do about the technical achievements.
But for all the thought engaging and provoking ideas in the film, people will be drawn to "The Matrix Reloaded" by its special effects, and they don't disappoint. The first film set a high standard for how to do special effects well that has, until its sequel, only been matched by the wonderful work in the two "Lord of the Rings" films. Indeed, "The Matrix Reloaded" owes a great deal to both the first film and the advancements made thanks to the effects wizards working on "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers," but it takes that work to a whole new level.
Take, for example, the fight between Neo and Agent Smith near the middle of the film. What starts as a match between two people quickly escalates into a man versus army battle that is truly a sight to behold. From the gravity-defying acrobatics of Neo and the multiple Smiths to the incredible climax of the fight, this is a set piece that wouldn't be possible without the advancements made in "The Two Towers," but uses it to a much different end: pitting Neo against dozens of Agent Smiths, all moving independent of one another. It's a wonderful accomplishment of modern special effects.
Then there's the spectacular freeway car chase that owes a lot to "Terminator 2" but never rips it off. Instead, we are given a chase by car, truck and motorcycle that's unlike anything we've seen before. It pits Trinity and Morpheus against agents, speeding traffic and deadly new enemies, the Twins (Adrian and Montano Rain). It takes advantage of the physics, or lack there of, inside the Matrix, making the chase a breakneck paced, reality-bending scene that's one of the best auto chases committed to celluloid since John Frankenheimer's last great chase in "Ronin."
These sequences say nothing of the rest of the effects in the film, like Neo's flying sequences that grow more and more intense, the morphing effect of the Twins, the falling-from-a-skyscraper gunfight between Trinity and an agent and the other fights, explosions and reality-benders packed into "The Matrix Reloaded." There are moments when the effects seem a little cartoony, but all told this is a film that shows how to use special effects well and with great effectiveness.
There is a lot to like in "The Matrix Reloaded." From the special effects achievements and the intelligence of the film to the fine performances from all the principle players, but Fishburne especially - the once confident and cocky Morpheus has his world, both physical and metaphysical, collapse around him and Fishburne conveys this heartbreaking change beautifully - this film has been well worth the four year wait. Thankfully, we don't have to wait another four years to get reloaded into "The Matrix" for the last time; "The Matrix Revolutions" hits theaters in November. After "Reloaded," it will certainly have a tough act to follow.
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More Theatrical Reviews
"The Matrix Reloaded arrives with a bang, though some glaring faults keep the film from being all that it should be." ByDaniel Davis
"There are revelations here that challenge our perception of the Matrix, posing difficult moral questions and forcing the audience to think beyond novelty." ByChristopher Monfette
"A film for the Wachowski brothers themselves, who seem to have developed a George-Lucas-sized blind spot when it comes to their own creation." ByCindy White
"It was just an incredibly average movie." ByCarl Lazarevic
"THE MATRIX RELOADED is no doubt a stylish, often jaw-dropping, passionate and philosophical production that at times falls flat because of storytelling tribulations." ByKatherine Brodsky
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