Review of The Matrix Reloaded (2003) by Brad E — 03 Dec 2012

Something...clearly went wrong, don't get me wrong this isn't awful, but.... 2003 was promised to be "the year of the matrix", what with the back to back release of the matrix reloaded and ("shudder") the matrix revolutions, the run up to reloaded's release was a simpler time that represented the sheer, simple excitement of cinema, the anticipation was huge, this was the most hyped up, looked forward to film of the 21st century! we were promised spectacle like no other, special effects so ambitious and perfect that they would likely never be topped, an astonishing action, sci-fi epic of mega proportions.

It was easy to get caught up in the whole phenomenon, then the film was unveiled, alas it was not the second coming, although it did have a hyper, flying super Jesus in shades so that was something, but I have never have more mixed feelings towards a film.

I remember the sensations of seeing it at the cinema, first time was sheer disappointment, second time ( as was the effect of that big screen and sound) I actually loved it, as I did the third and fourth (yes I was that sad, bu the fourth time was in imax so that was cool) and after it came to dvd and then after the year had ended and revolutions turned out to be shite, hindsight set in, and I saw it for all it was, sloppy, overlong, pretentious, sometimes boring, with far more obvious cgi than was promised ( note to filmmakers: cgi stunt doubles do not look like real people) with endless waffling about fate and choice, the bar had not been raised.

Years later after the dust had settled and 2003 was (sadly) long gone ( best year ever, tennerife, club 18 to 30, more parties than I can count, endless films and cinema trips, fucked up misadventures and one of the hottest, longest summers ever) with that time passed the matrix reloaded now remains a fascinating thing, too big and strange and ambitious to completely leave behind, it has action sequences like no other, the freeway chase is in short one of the greatest action sequences ever filmed, in fact the whole middle section where the heroes rescue the keymaker ( don't ask ) is the section where the film comes fully to life, briefly it is the movie you's hoped, and the massive sword fight is just incredible, with some of the most amazing choreography you've ever seen, it all throbs with energy and exilerating tempo, a pulse which soon drains from the film.

It also contains of the most insane, unbelievable yet interestingly failed fight scenes in a film, the burly brawl, were in neo fights hundreds of duplicate agent smiths in an extended 10 min smash up, for a while it has stunt work, and fight choreography that takes your breath away than it cuts to shockingly unconvincing digital versions of neo and the smiths every time the action gets too huge, it's very distracting and ruins what could have been to fight sequences what the Wagner helicopter assault in Apocalypse Now was to big explodery action scenes, but it's still unlike anything you've ever seen.

It's this sort of failed ambition and madness that makes reloaded so interesting, it's flaws are (strangely) it's virtues, and comparably there arnt many blockbusters that were as bold and as committed to it's mental vision as this, even one of the most slated scenes in the film, the architect scene, which initially was a completely deflating what the fuck was that all about scene, but now it comes off as kinda great science fiction, wonderfully designed and fantastically odd, it's admirable for being so polarizing to a mainstream audience.

This film dose fall apart under it's own weight of lofty pretensions and pat philosophy, and it is one of the most disappointing films of all time because of what it could have been. But I keep coming back to this big, insane film, it's just so full of bonkers action and almost surreal imagery and flawed vision that it deserves to be watched again, but be sure to skip a chapter at the very fucking strange and uncomfortable rave scene in the under ground city of zion, criss crossing from neo and trinity have cold, clammy, very unsexy sex and dirty, wet hoards of half naked people rubbing up against each other in a crazed trance ( including the unforgettable shot of a guy flailing his sweaty dreadlocks in the air) as dreadful club music plays, it's one of the most awkward and horrible things to pop up in a mainstream film, just terrible, weirdly terrible and ridiculous, or is it actually provocative and brilliant? either way it's an incredible scene, weather it's five minutes of awful cinema or the Wakowski's being subversive and cheeky I dont know, but chances are you wont forget the scene in a hurry.

The Matrix Reloaded is like a giant, expensive ship that's crashed into rocks, big, bold and full of ambitions and awe, but it just went the wrong way. But there is still one hell of an action/sci fi film here, full of audacity and cutting edge visuals that no one has dared attempt since, it's weird and mad, messy and silly, big and astonishing, it brought ideas and vision to blockbusters, something not seen much since.