FILM: Very much a v2.2
The Matrix Reloaded
The question posed in the trailer to the original Matrix film was: 'What is the Matrix?' As it turned out, The Matrix was sci-fi hokum with risible dialogue, distinctly dodgy acting, a wafer thin plot, but also just enough ground-breaking special effects, elan and style to get away with all-too-obvious weaknesses.
The Matrix Reloaded is the first of two sequels, with the second being released later this year to complete the trilogy. The premise is continued from the original; humanity is controlled by computers and the world we see is completely computer generated. Only a few heroes exist outside this computer world — called the Matrix — and they fight the machines to free humanity from mechanoid clutches. This reviewer will freely admit to having been occasionally been guilty of over-estimating the odd film. I can, however, step forward with all confidence in this instance and say that The Matrix Reloaded is a total stinker.
The plot is wafer thin, and Trotskyite, media-shy writer/directors, the Wachowski brothers (don't you just love multi-millionaire communists?), have tried to cover up the weak, full-of-holes narrative with a steaming shovel-load of quasi-philosophical ramblings about the nature of fate and causality. On close inspection, however, this pop-philosophy is just that — rambling — and it offers no genuine insight whatsoever, as well as being gut-churningly amateur to cap it all. The most offensive part of all this nonsense comes at the conclusion of the film: the Wachowskis have clearly opted for the, "we don't have anything of real depth to say here, so let's reach for our thesaurus and find the most complicated way possible of expressing a very simple concept in order to confuse the proles into thinking we're clever", approach.
The film is appallingly badly paced; the section where the various heroes visit the free human city of Zion is over-long and near-pointless, as is the love scene, which is nothing more than a transparent excuse to show Keanu Reeves' arse. Furthermore, the fight scenes go on for far, far, far too long; yes, the choreography is clever, but the viewer can only endure people slapping each other for so long before it becomes mind-numbingly dull. Where a film ought to build up to some kind of finale, The Matrix Reloaded dribbles over the finish-line; the ending is crammed into the last fifteen minutes — one has to wonder why this is so rushed when so much tedious nonsense has gone on beforehand? The answer, apparently, is that there is a computer game out that ties-in with the film and extends the ending; something that is not a great deal of use to those of us that have no inclination to immerse ourselves in the world of gaming: unless, of course, this is an ironic extension of the film's premise of the duality of technology, where humans become reliant on the machines they create? I doubt it, somehow.
Further irritation comes in the form of the new characters introduced into this sequel. These characters are completely undeveloped and offer no new insight or perspective into the story line; furthermore the acting in this film is just dire. Who on Earth keeps giving parts in films to Hugo Weaving? His delivery is consistently smug and irritating, as it was in Lord of the Rings and the first Matrix film, as token sub-plot bad guy Agent Smith: "I've come to ru-in the film, Mis-ter Anderson". The same applies to Lawrence Fishburne as Morpheus — the speech he gives to the assembled citizens of Zion — supposedly a rabble-rousing, inspirational monologue — is poorly written and Fishburne's delivery is unintentionally hilarious — clearly based on Henry V, but with a fifth of the impact. And this, of course, is not to mention ol' woodenface, Keanu Reeves himself, who meanders through the film looking dimwittedly gormless and half-addled, as seemingly as confused at his own casting as the audience is.
Finally, the dialogue plumbs new depths of the abyss. Look no further than Morpheus's laughably uninspiring speech to the Zion inhabitants: "We are not afraid!", and the scene featuring a bizarre, French chap with an accent like a reject from 'Allo 'Allo: "Swearing in Franch is lak wiping your ass wiz seelk". I kid you not; this is very poor stuff.
"Are there any redeeming features?" You might ask. Well, yes. The premise of the film, outlined above, is certainly an interesting one that done well could raise some meaningful and thoughtful questions about man's relationship with and reliance on technology. However, the only good segment of The Matrix Reloaded is the magnificent highway chase-scene; the perfect example of the Matrix doing what it does best — raw action, with style and panache, and without all the verbose, shallow, pop-philosophy waffling. The chase scene makes superb use of hitherto unseen special effects, camera angles, and slow-motion trickery — if the whole film were to this standard, it would be a very good film indeed. Alas . . .
The most frustrating aspect of The Matrix Reloaded is that there is a good film here that is struggling to get out; unfortunately, the Wachowskis have smothered that good film with pretentious rubbish. What is The Matrix Reloaded? Weak dialogue, a risible plot, terrible acting and just plain dull for long sections. Avoid.
Andy Fox, June 7, 2003 01:58 PM