The Matrix Reloaded [Blu-ray] [2003] [Region Free]

Good if you have not seen "the Matrix". not quite as good, but better thansome films that pass for enjoyment these days

recieved 15th september as described 5 stars great

How do you follow up a movie like The Matrix ?. Four years after the original Matrix Reloaded hit the cinema screens and I loved it. It was like the first but everything was bigger and louder and better. Well no not better at the time the third installment was not far away and The Matrix was the buzz word everywhere. Reloaded was much more hyped then the original trailer's aired for months and the excitment grew and seeing it on the big screen was an immense experience.Watching it again however is a different thing all together. Yes its bigger and louder but most of it is pointless. This film and the one that followed should have been one movie but to drag it out and make more money it was split in two parts. It runs at 138minutes which is the same as the first but ends on a real low. The whole thing is a bit of a jumble. Its almost as though the first movie was never expected to be a hit so when it was the studio demanded two more films and the writers had no idea what to do with it.Neo who at the end of The Matrix was just embracing his powers is now superman. He can fly is super strong and can fight over 100 agents all at once. Morpheus ends up playing politics as we reach the human city of Zion and trinity becomes a love struck teen following Neo everywhere. There is a new oracle and lots of things that just seem to be there because they can be.The Matrix Reloaded has not recieved the same kind of restoration as the first in the series. The picture is not as sharp the sound not as clear and some of the CGI is borderline shocking. The scene where Neo battles a 100 agent Smith's does not look at all realistic as is the case with many of the flight scenes. I would in fact go as far to say that the flight scenes in the original Superman in the 70's were better.The main problem here though is the fact that this movie does nothing for the story half of it could be cut out and you would still end up in the same place. There are some good parts Neo removing the bullet from Trinity plus seeing the response he gets upon his return to Zion where he it treated in a god like fashion.In closing you could watch the original movie on its own and not miss anything. If you want to know the full story then Reloaded is worth watching even if it is only to see how a follow up shouldn't be done. Its watchable but feels a little made up as it goes along and contains effect shot after effect shot. It was good for its time and had Warner Brothers took the time to improve some of the effects it could have been better for me though Matrix Reloaded is the weakest of the three.

Item arrived quickly, no fuss, in good condition. Film is brilliant and a must for matrix fans, especially in Blu-ray.

*3 and a half out of 5*The sequel to the genre-defining first film. The Matrix Reloaded sees Neo (Keanu Reeves) and his allies race against time before the machines discover the city of Zion and destroy it. While seeking the truth about the Matrix, Neo must save Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) from a dark fate within his dreams and face a vengeful Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving).The film expands the world within and out of the Matrix but really only from a visual and surface level perspective and severely lacks the depth, intrigue and investment that the first film brilliantly executed. Which is a shame because there are several creative ideas and visual queues and lore additions that are shown but only briefly discussed and not as explored as well as they could have been. The initial set up and (mostly dull) introduction of Zion, the story essentially becomes a ‘fetch quest’ and has a very set structure that it follows until the finale, this structure works well for a consistent pace, but there is a lack of depth and development for the new locations and characters outside of expository dialogue.Though not as revolutionary from an originality and blend of practical and CGI as the first film’s and with a heavy over usage of hit and miss effects at some points, there are some excellent and very memorable action sequences that are just as iconic as the first film’s. The martial arts choreography is fast paced and fluid, and is featured extremely creatively in the Neo vs. multiple Smith’s fight in all its over-the-top insanity (and PS2 character models). The gladiator wall weapons is ferociously fast paced and the highlight is the jaw-dropping and intense as hell freeway chase sequence that is one of the best in the genre.The visual style ones again apes the techno digital style of the first with, the heavy use of green, codes and numbers are accompanied the pounding dance, electronic and rock influenced score as all the main cast still make trench coats, leather and shades look badass (despite being very much of the time). The film does incorporate a fantasy and even music video aesthetic to Zion which personally I’m not a fan of and doesn’t completely gel with the industrial, bleak and machine heavy palette. The direction and stylistic techniques utilised throughout make for some very cool moments with the well implemented use of slow motion being the highlight as before.The performances from everyone are just as strong as before. Keanu Reeves delivers the somber and cool attitude of Neo as he is now essentially Superman (as mentioned in the film) levels of powerful. Laurence Fishburne is still as wise and composed as before as Morpheus. Carrie-Anne Moss is fierce and skilled as Trinity. Though still at his scenery chewing best Hugo Weaving’s Agent Smith feels sidelined here for less interesting and intimidating new villains, which is a shame.The Matrix Reloaded features some undoubtedly thrilling and well choreographed action with impressive performances and several cool stylistic moments, lore ideas and choices. However the lack of depth and intrigue of the story loses investment and engagement and the dated and over usage of CGI is very noticeable throughout.