Just got back from seeing The Matrix: Reloaded. In short, I’m quite satisfied with what I was presented with. At the same time, I can certainly understand why so many middling to flat out bad reviews have been popping up in the last few days. I don’t think that this is the sequel that people were really expecting, and I think that that is what is affecting many of the reviews. For my part, the fact that the story is moving in ways that weren’t expected is exactly the reason I enjoyed it, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the final chapter in six months or so.
Briefly, I’d definitely recommend it — on three conditions.
First: Realize that this, much like Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, is not a self-contained movie. It doesn’t answer all the questions it raises, and ends on a cliffhanger. Thankfully, it’s a relatively short wait for the next and final chapter.
Second: Don’t expect a standard-formula Hollywood sequel. Don’t turn off your brain when you go in (one of the things I enjoy about these movies is that they provide brain food as well as good eye candy), but don’t head in with too many preconceived notions and expectations, either.
Third: Probably the most important, this is not a movie to go into cold. I’d highly recommend watching The Matrix beforehand, if you’re not already fairly familiar with the first film in the series. The Matrix: Reloaded builds and expands upon the foundation laid in The Matrix, but without some familiarity with the first film, it’d be fairly easy to get lost, especially towards the end. Optionally, if you have the time/bandwidth to do so, reading through the comics (especially ‘Bits and Pieces‘) and watching the Animatrix episodes ‘The Second Renaissance, Part One and Part Two to get some historical background of the Man/Machine conflict and the creation of the Matrix. More thoughts…more loosely structured, and ripe with possibilities for expansion and further exploration later on.
Firstly, just to get it out of the way, the effects are 95% of what they were hyped to be. There were a few instances in the “burly brawl” (where Neo is fighting upwards of 100 Agent Smiths) that didn’t quite look right, but overall, mindboggling work. So. Done. Now on to the more interesting stuff.
The Matrix set the ground rules, but The Matrix: Reloaded is rewriting them. Not disregarding them, but fleshing them out and re-interpreting them, finding the loopholes in the rules that were previously written and exploiting them, while still remaining true to the core story. Fascinating to watch, and a big part of why I believe that this isn’t a “safe”, normal Hollywood sequel.
Lots of interesting questioning of beliefs, and how much beliefs (or conflicting beliefs) really matter. Early in the film, Morpheus is having an argument with one of his superiors. After Morpheus expresses his belief in Neo as “The One” and in Neo’s ability to save everyone, his superior says, “Not everyone believes what you do.” Morpheus responds, “My beliefs don’t require them to.” A little later on, Link (one of the new characters) is getting ready to leave with Morpheus and the gang. His wife, not thrilled that he’s leaving, gives him a necklace for luck. “Aw, come on, you know that I don’t believe in all that…” he complains. “But I do,” she tells him, and gives him the necklace. I thought both scenes were nicely done.
Three key scenes that I’d like to watch quite a few more times to work my way through the various ideas and concepts presented, just to make sure I understood them all: the Merovingian’s monologue in the restaurant regarding choice and cause/effect; the conversation between Neo and the Oracle in the playground where we learn more about the Oracle’s role in the Matrix; and the revelations regarding the Matrix given to Neo towards the end of the film. Lots of information is presented fairly quickly in those three scenes, and they each bear some re-watching.
A very interesting (and very spoiler filled, don’t read this before seeing the movie) rundown of the events in the film is up at The Hot Button (via this (spoiler-filled) HTF thread). There are a few other Matrix articles up on the same site, all linked to at the bottom of that Hot Button page. It’s worth reading them all.
This is good for a giggle.
Salon’s review is excellent (both a positive review of the film, and a well-written review).
A transcript of the conversation between Neo and the Architect can be found here.
Dad sent me this article from Beliefnet exploring some of the religious symbolism in the Matrix films.
Local Seattle alternative paper reviews: The Stranger and the Seattle Weekly.
Another nice point to the movie: when Trinity has some hacking to do, instead of flashy 3D “movie style” graphic displays, she calls up a command line and uses the real-world nmap utility! I noticed this and grinned while I was watching the film, and other people are picking up on it too. The Register has an article about it, too.
The New Yorker’s pan of The Matrix: Reloaded, and The Hot Button’s rebuttal (snide, but has some good points).
A good analysis of religious symbolism here.
Something amusing: MatrixXP. ;)
Thanks to Kirsten for this Salon article: The Matrix way of Knowledge.
Not In Our Name wants you to take the red pill.
Abstract Dynamics points out possible political undertones.
The teaser for The Matrix: Revolutions has hit the ‘net.
