The Matrix Reloaded
Three years was a long time for Matrix junkies to wait for the sequel, but make no mistake, the Matrix: Reloaded is worth the wait-a gross of $113.2 million in the first weekend says so.
Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss bring back all of their gun-blazing, butt-kicking, black-clad coolness and turn it up another 90 degrees.
Trinity never disappoints with her a high-speed chase on a Ducati motorcycle into oncoming highway traffic. Neo battles about 100 Agent Smiths and flies like Superman. And Morpheus engages in martial combat atop a speeding semi.
It’s a good idea to refresh your Matrix memory by watching the first installment before trying to analyze this one. Reloaded leaves a lot of questions unanswered like, what is Smith’s personal vendetta against Neo? The fight sequences are by far the most engaging parts of the movie, but so is Trinity’s reaction to another woman asking Neo for a kiss.
The love story between Trinity and Neo is explored more in Reloaded. Now that they know they are supposed to be together, there’s this indelible bond they share, whether they’re making love, busting guns, or saving each other’s lives.
Reloaded also features three very entertaining bad guys. An undeniably suave Frenchman had one of the best lines in the entire movie while comparing cursing in French to “wiping your ass with silk.” He has twin, dreadlocked henchmen who are ghoulishly pale .
Jada Pinkett-Smith has a small role in the film as Captain Naobi. Her scenes were extremely brief and deserved nowhere near the amount of hoopla they received. She did look good in her leather uniform though. Boxer Roy Jones Jr. and singer Nona Gaye make other cameos in the film. Gaye’s role of Zee was originally intended for the late singer Aaliyah.
Unfortunately the ending is such a cliffhanger, it’s a wonder that riots didn’t break out in the theater. Don’t forget to stay after the credits to watch the trailer for the final installment of the Matrix trilogy, Revolutions, which is due this winter.
