The Matrix Reloaded

It's terribly easy to damn this movie, at least compared to the first one. It's extremely B-movie-like and almost one could say mainstream, and its stylization may not fit everyone. In my opinion, it should be evaluated together with the second movie, because they don't make sense without each other. Number one can stand alone, the series could easily end with it, but the second one needs "Revolutions". And I'm satisfied with the result. The only thing that annoys me is the nonsensical philosophizing, which reaches its peak in the third part. (26/01/2014)

Once in a while, I watch Reloaded because it still has its power even after two decades, but it always lacks something and I can never describe exactly what it is. Maybe it's the magic of something new or a certain innocence that works in the first film even after multiple viewings. The biggest problem lies in the connection with the dark and overcomplicated Revolutions, which, at least as I perceive it, only shares a bond between the main duo and the action side. There are unfinished ideas, precise actions (often just to have some action present), clumsy dialogues, aging tricks, or overdramatic and now truly stupid insertion with the Merovingian. Surprisingly, even after all this time, I still insist on what I said about the film back in 2003. If the second and third parts were one whole, if unnecessary philosophy and excessive fighting with machines were omitted, or if the path to the source had ended as it should have, it could have been a cohesive, more optimistic, and overall better story. 70% (13/07/2005)

If you are willing to endure tons of logical and illogical wannabe profound nonsense, you can expect a fairly solid film that offers a lot, especially in terms of visuals. Excellent action, where, in my opinion, there is practically no blood, but I can accept this fact comfortably given the exceptional style of the film. The shooting scenes are fantastically filmed (something similar can perhaps only be done by Michael Bay and Michael Mann), and last but not least, the fantastic sound and music mix deserves praised. The screenplay is relatively solid and the performances are quite decent for action sci-fi. At times I was bothered by the excessive amount of visual effects (the fight with Smith, the ending), but that can be overlooked. Stylish and innovative entertainment. (28/02/2006)

I remember the second Matrix film as something that disappointed me, because part of the promotion was, among other things, a strong targeting of Monica Bellucci, who really can't be the main reason to see Matrix Reloaded. However, in retrospect, it is not that much worse than the first film. It's just that the party time at the beginning still seems so inorganic. Especially considering how Neo and Trinity's relationship is written like it was out of a fairy tale. (05/07/2020)

The rating applies to the entire trilogy. Regardless of whether the Wachowskis had planned only one film or the entire saga, the resulting triptych is incredibly complex and brilliant. Even though Reloaded has several parts that pissed me off (the beginning in Sion, the way the characters figure out what to do next, Neo as cool Superman), the shift from the first part is so radical that the quality bar didn’t drop too much. Technically, it’s just as awesome, but content-wise it’s somewhere else. How you’ll relate to Reloaded it’s entirely up to you, either you will accept that shift or you won’t, and the film says that very subtly several times – have you you decided – now it’s only up to understand that decision. (22/08/2010)