A New MATRIX RELOADED Review & A Few Fun Links!!

And if you want another reaction to the film, you might want to check this one out:

RELOAD YOUR EXPECTATIONS - A MATRIX RELOADED REVIEW [or not]

The Matrix Reloaded is upon us and I felt it necessary to really comment on the nature of what is going on in the fan base and give you my NON-SPOILER review of the film. To preface let me say that I have seen X2: X Men United. I was amazed at that film and how much I was persuaded to care for every character in that film. Brian Singer not only improved upon the first film, he blew it out of the water.

That said I think that there has been some unnecessary comparisons between the world of the Matrix and the Xmen franchise. These universes definitely have similarities between them, but they operate on two completely different levels. An orange is great and so is an apple, but they serve different purposes and have different tastes. Perhaps by now you are skimming through this thinking “he’s not telling me anything I don’t already know.” Perhaps this is true but I implore you to continue to read.

The world of the Matrix is perhaps one of the most ambitious science fiction projects to come from any studio since 2001. If these films were produced and released only dealing with the philosophy and the ideology they presented then I strongly believe that they would have flopped on impact. Instead the Wachowski Brothers opted to not only present one of the smartest and intriguing stories written for the screen but the most visually stunning works ever imagined to date. Yes there have been copy-cats but in these past 4 years nothing has come out that is nearly as well produced or finessed as the first film.

Now, I saw Reloaded out here in LA last week at a private screening. Unlike others I really want to keep the story and the spoilers under wraps. However I must say how satisfied I am with what I have experienced thus far. When I had heard talk of 2 sequels in the making I was very excited, not because I wanted to see what new effects [admittedly that was also a desire as well] but I wanted to see how this story ends. I was and am intrigued by the storyline that has been presented to me in the first and second installment. I discussed the first Matrix film from people aged 8 to aged 68. I have yet to meet anyone who liked the film [or not] that has not been willing to discuss these movies in depth. Now granted I have the upper hand these past few days with Reloaded under my belt.

My review is a bit unorthodox because in it I do not want to discuss the movie per se. Rather I would like to, with my knowledge hit on point for point these rather interesting criticisms that I have been hearing and reading on this site and others. First I’ll answer some questions.

Was I blown away?

Answer: No, not in the way that you would suppose.

Is the bar raised again?

Answer: Yes but it’s not because of the effects.

Are the effects amazing?

Answer: Absolutely one hundred percent amazing.

Is the story as intriguing as it was in the first film?

Answer: Yes and No.

The answers I will attempt to explain. For starters I was not blown away because frankly I’ve seen this world before. The first film blew me away because I had at that point never experienced anything like it before. When Reloaded began I expected to see what I saw. Anyone going to this film expecting to have the same feelings they had for the first film are setting themselves up for disappointment. Just like in a marriage 15 years after the wedding won’t feel like that wedding night, that experience is singular and special for it’s time. Like a marriage Reloaded has it’s moments of “Whoa”.

A criticism that I have read based solely from the trailers is “It looks like more of the same”. I’m sorry to burst your bubble boys and girls but Reloaded is indeed more of the same. But why is more of the same a bad thing? After all I fell in love with the first film because of its feel and philosophy. I became anxious about Reloaded and Revolutions because I desired more of the same. Yes there is still bullet time, it’s a trademark of the matrix and personally just because others have used it since 1999s The Matrix does not mean they should just drop it because, “It’s been done.” Saying that is like expecting Verizon Wireless or T-Mobile to stop carrying cellular service because, well, it’s been done before. As I said before bullet time is a product of the Matrix, it’s a key element of my liking the first film and part of the reason I was so excited about Reloaded. I could watch bullet time for hours. The beauty of Reloaded and The Matrix is that the effects are secondary to the story.

The effects in Reloaded are unlike anything I have ever seen, I still cannot believe what they were able to pull off. The Burly Brawl is by far one of the most visual astounding feats to date. Again though, that is secondary. The story of Reloaded builds and twists and turns and of course leaves me hanging at the end. BY this time the credibility of this so-called review is probably under scrutiny. I would imagine that the talkbackers doubt me having even seen this film because perhaps the lack of my decision to NOT produce any new plot points or effects tricks. No matter.

The bar has been raised in some instances but the biggest bar that has been raised or broken is the depth of this story. Yes, the first part of the film is exposition, but for me, it was the exposition of the first film that drew me to it. I loved how the story continued to unfold in Reloaded. I was intrigued to see Morpheus doubted by his fellow believers in the city of Zion. Up to this point I had only Morpheus to go on. His word was gospel as far as I was concerned. Enter Reloaded and there are more, there are those who disagree with Morpheus and his methods. I enjoyed that. I enjoy being challenged by some who perhaps disagree with a certain philosophy. Morpheus is no longer John the Baptist in Reloaded; he instead becomes a captain of one of many ships with one of many missions. The picture is now in panorama, not the beautiful Polaroid that was the first installment. I think many would want that same magic, that same sense of wonder that was created in the first film. You won’t find that in Reloaded, there is a different dynamic here, not better, not worse, just different. In my humble opinion I do not think that it is important that this film blow the first out of the water, it cannot, that is a bar set by the fans and the media, a bar that is impossible to reach. Bigger and flashier is not always better. The Wachowski brothers can only stay true to their art and their vision. They cannot be hampered by outside opinions and what the fans want or expect.

I’ve said this before, the only people I would want to tell this story is the Wachowski Brothers. It was their story that attracted me initially and I want to continue to listen and watch their story unfold. There is a difference between judging a film based on whether or not it works and judging or critiquing a film based on our own ideas of how we think it should work. We must give respect where respect is due. I would hope that the Wachowski Brothers stay true to their vision, as artists that all I ask of them. Reloaded is not a perfect film, but it is damn near the second most engaging and philosophical film I have seen since its inception in 1999. If you go to see Reloaded purely to be dazzled visually you will be disappointed, not disappointed because it fails, disappointed because you will only be experiencing a third of what Reloaded has to offer. Regarding this point of originality and the Matrix I will say of course it’s not original. The whole concept of a savior and a prophecy is old hat. The idea of a kung fu postmodern film is also not a new idea. Rare is it when a really original idea comes along, just ask George Lucas. What makes The Matrix original is the way in which the story is told. It’s in the telling that a revolution was started and not in the story itself. So whomever of you are throwing this out because the Matrix is not original you must look deeper. If you cannot see anything but the surface than you miss the point of the film entirely.

Not in a long time have filmmakers actually engaged an audience as they have with Reloaded and The Matrix. Usually audiences are expected to be quite dumb. Most films have to show and tell everything and dumb down the script for us to understand. Not so with the Brothers Wachowski, they show us respect and expect us to engage them and interact with their story on a higher level. Speaking of bars being raised or broken, the bar was broken when WB had the balls to release a film and complex as these films. With the religious connotations most studio suits would request that it be removed or lightened so as not to offend or insinuate. The Wachowski Brothers have done a service to the film industry, through their films they have challenged the film industry to be more about content then image, quality over quantity. No longer will cool or flashy suffice, we want more, we deserve more, and we pay for more. With Reloaded, more is what you get and then some.

J.M. Prater

High words of praise, indeed. We’ll all see soon enough...

"Moriarty" out.