The Matrix Reloaded
From AwardAnnals
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| Director(s) | Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski |
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| Series | Part 2 of The Matrix Trilogy |
| Distributor | Warner Home Video |
| Considering the lofty expectations that preceded it, The Matrix Reloaded triumphs where most sequels fail. It would be impossible to match the fresh audacity that made The Matrix a global phenomenon in 1999, but in continuing the exploits of rebellious Neo (Keanu Reeves), Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) as they struggle to save the human sanctuary of Zion from invading machines, the codirecting Wachowski brothers have their priorities well in order. They offer the obligatory bigger and better highlights (including the… | |
Reviews
Amazon.com
Considering the lofty expectations that preceded it, The Matrix Reloaded triumphs where most sequels fail. It would be impossible to match the fresh audacity that made The Matrix a global phenomenon in 1999, but in continuing the exploits of rebellious Neo (Keanu Reeves), Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) as they struggle to save the human sanctuary of Zion from invading machines, the codirecting Wachowski brothers have their priorities well in order. They offer the obligatory bigger and better highlights (including the impressive “Burly Brawl” and freeway chase sequences) while remaining focused on cleverly plotting the middle of a brain-teasing trilogy that ends with The Matrix Revolutions. The metaphysical underpinnings can be dismissed or scrutinized, and choosing the latter course (this is, after all, an epic about choice and free will) leads to astonishing repercussions that made Reloaded an explosive hit with critics and hardcore fans alike. As the centerpiece of a multimedia franchise, this dynamic sequel ends with a cliffhanger that virtually guarantees a mind-blowing conclusion. —Jeff Shannon
Barnes and Noble
Keanu Reeves is back as Neo, the erstwhile hacker and reluctant messiah, in this visually stunning sequel from the imaginative writing-producing-directing siblings Andy and Larry Wachowski. Once again, we are transported to the ersatz reality of the future, created and sustained by computers under the direction of a malevolent entity. In this second installment of the trilogy, the hidden city of Zion, home to all humans freed from the tyranny of the Matrix, is threatened by an army of probes a quarter million strong. Neo, working with his mentor, Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), has just 72 hours to stave off the attack, and he’s handicapped by the mental torture resulting from a recurring dream in which his beloved Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) meets a horrible death at the hands of the enemy. Having redefined sci-fi action with the first Matrix, the Wachowski brothers labor mightily to top themselves with several bravura sequences, including a vertigo-inducing scene in which Neo battles an army of dark-suited, sunglasses-wearing villains cloned from his nemesis, Agent Smith (played with wry insouciance by Hugo Weaving). But The Matrix Reloaded isn’t just a collection of action scenes: The Wachowskis delve deeper into their mythology, making the film considerably more challenging to absorb. Reeves is, once again, properly enigmatic as Neo, while Moss gets an opportunity to exhibit the smoldering passion bubbling beneath Trinty’s surface. Monica Bellucci lends able support as, you guessed it, a temptress. Other welcome additions include Jada Pinkett Smith as a swift-kicking former lover of Morpheus’s and Anthony Zerbe as a wise patriarch of Zion. The tremendous cult of Matrix fans has been more than satisfied by this visually sumptuous, intellectually stimulating sequel. Movie lovers eager for a few hours of eye-popping pyrotechnics won’t be disappointed, either. Ed Hulse
