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The Matrix Reloaded is the second movie in the Matrix trilogy, starring Keanu Reaves, Carrie-Anne Moss and Laurence Fishburne. Released on May 15, 2003, this became both one of the most talked about movies of the summer season, and a movie that many felt did not live up to the spectacular promise of the first.

The original Matrix movie ended with "The One', Keanu Reves, achieving full consciousness in the virtual-reality world of the Matrix, and falling fully in love with Trinity, played by Carrie-Anne Moss. The person who rescued him and fully believed in his talents was Morpheus, played by Laurence Fishburne.

In The Matrix Reloaded, the three of them realize that something has started to change in the Matrix - apparently Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving, who played Elrond in LOTR) has begun cloning himself and is running amuk. Apparently the machine are launching a massive attack on the home base for the humans, and the generals are scrambling to defend their city. But Morpheus doesn't want to stay and help - he wants to get ready for one last transmission from the Oracle, because he is convince that it's Morpheus, not firepower, that will win the battle.

The movie lets you see the home city in all of its dingy glory, and treats you to a drum-thumping orgy scene, mirrored by a sex scene between Neo and Trinity. A final celebration of life before the final attack of the machines.

Yes, there are some jaw-dropping special effects and battles - one with hundreds of Agent Smiths, and one on the freeway with cars smashing into each other. But in both cases, it is pretty obvious when most of it is CGI, and it's more like watching a cut-scene on your PS2 than watching a movie.

Next, the first movie was a brilliant intellectual awakening, full of layers and hidden layers and meanings and more meanings. Part of its incredible alure was the "rabbit hole" feeling that there was more to know - and more to learn - around every corner. In comparison, this second film had very little that really seemed interesting. Yes, the revelation at the end was fun, but not entirely unexpected. To make up for the dearth of interesting thoughts, they filled in the spaces with gigantic battle sequences. Now, I love a good battle as much as anyone else - my DVD shelves are full of battle movies. But really, after 10 minutes of him just beating up on more and more Agent Smiths, I had to say Enough is Enough. And in the end, he just ran off! If he was going to run off because he knew there were too many to beat, why not just leave in the first place?

I am a huge fan of the Matrix concept, have bought the game, will buy the anime, will see the next movie. But while the first movie was groundbreaking and involved your entire being, this one devolved into an ordinary action-flick that happened to be set in a fantastic world.

--Nyssa

The Matrix Reloaded Cast Listing
The Matrix Reloaded: Plot and Spoilers
The Matrix Reloaded: Posters and Images
The Matrix Reloaded: Zionism and Judaism
The Matrix Reloaded: The City of Zion
The Matrix Reloaded: The Fall of Man

The Matrix Reloaded: Persephone in Mythology
The Matrix Reloaded: Merovingian in History
The Matrix Reloaded: Thadeus in History