The Matrix sequels are quite possible two of the strangest and most fascinating films ever made, and not because they are outright weird (I mean they are but that’s not really what I’m getting at here), but because the conditions under which they are made are simply not afforded to filmmakers…other than perhaps Christopher Nolan.
These two films can be used as shining examples of what can happen when directors are given complete control over their work, and whilst the films certainly aren’t bad, you can’t help but feel that the directors clearly wanted to make something that nobody had ever seen before, but ultimately crumbled under the weight of their own hubris.
First up comes The Matrix Reloaded. The film picks up shortly after the events of the first film with Neo now set on the path of becoming The One and needing to act fast due to the impending threat from the machines in the real world to the last human city, Zion. At the same time, Smith survived the fight he and Neo had at the end of the original film but has now been unshackled from his restraints in The Matrix and is replicating himself at an exponential rate.
The biggest problem The Matrix Reloaded has is that it suffers from middle child syndrome. It doesn’t really have a beginning because it follows on so closely from the events of the first film, and it ends on a cliff-hanger for the final instalment. With no clear beginning and everything that happens in the film setting up the climactic final entry, it can be easy to understand why some people feel like this film is a waste of time. The thing is that The Matrix Reloaded, and the final film, The Matrix Revolutions, were filmed simultaneously and designed to be watched as a single film…but due to Warner Bros. not wanting an over 4 hour film it was split into two separate entities that released in the same year.
These two films can be used as shining examples of what can happen when directors are given complete control over their work, and whilst the films certainly aren’t bad, you can’t help but feel that the directors clearly wanted to make something that nobody had ever seen before, but ultimately crumbled under the weight of their own hubris.
First up comes The Matrix Reloaded. The film picks up shortly after the events of the first film with Neo now set on the path of becoming The One and needing to act fast due to the impending threat from the machines in the real world to the last human city, Zion. At the same time, Smith survived the fight he and Neo had at the end of the original film but has now been unshackled from his restraints in The Matrix and is replicating himself at an exponential rate.
The biggest problem The Matrix Reloaded has is that it suffers from middle child syndrome. It doesn’t really have a beginning because it follows on so closely from the events of the first film, and it ends on a cliff-hanger for the final instalment. With no clear beginning and everything that happens in the film setting up the climactic final entry, it can be easy to understand why some people feel like this film is a waste of time. The thing is that The Matrix Reloaded, and the final film, The Matrix Revolutions, were filmed simultaneously and designed to be watched as a single film…but due to Warner Bros. not wanting an over 4 hour film it was split into two separate entities that released in the same year.
Matrix Reloaded does have many great things going for it though. In fact, it’s arguably the film with the best action sequences. Sure the ‘Burly Brawl’ as its referred to between Neo & the Smith clones does look a little rubbery thanks to some dated CGI; but the rest of the action sequences are among the best in the trilogy. The entire sequence with the Merovingian is superb and he is one of the best characters in the entire series. How it bleeds from a simple dinner scene into a highly choreographed brawl on a grand staircase with medieval weaponry, then evolves into the iconic highway chase sequence over the course of around half an hour is excellent stuff that keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time.
Where the film really loses people though is the infamous scene with ‘The Architect’ where Helmut Bakaitis basically provides a long winded, nonsensical amount of exposition to Neo about why he will fail his mission (despite nothing he says coming to pass). Whilst it was certainly necessary from a narrative perspective, from a filmmaking perspective it kills the pacing dead and the film struggles to recover from there; the effects of which can even be felt in The Matrix Revolutions.
Where The Matrix was iconic for its incredible action sequences, The Matrix Reloaded almost seems to have taken cues from the films it inspired instead with its completely outlandish superhero-esque fight scenes. Neo can also fly now and he does it way too often for the film to legitimately have any stakes because he quite literally flies in and saves the day every time people are in danger. This paired with an even heavier green tint than the first film had and it starts to come off as style over substance.
Even the performances this time round feel a little hammy. Keanu Reeves has lost all the humanity of his performance as Neo and now just delivers lines emotionlessly and in a hushed tone. Hugo Weaving does a great job again as Smith, and as I previously mentioned the Merovingian is arguably the show stealer this time around with Lambert Wilson providing his talents for the role.
Overall, The Matrix Reloaded is hard to recommend as a sequel to The Matrix because almost everything is below the quality of its predecessor. However, it is a great curiosity piece and still a damn good action flick to boot. Despite all its flaws it is a spellbindingly fascinating piece of cinema, the likes of which will never be seen again, and I can't recommend it enough based on those merits. Only watch it if you intend on watching The Matrix Revolutions relatively shortly afterwards though as they are very clearly designed to be watched back to back.
Where the film really loses people though is the infamous scene with ‘The Architect’ where Helmut Bakaitis basically provides a long winded, nonsensical amount of exposition to Neo about why he will fail his mission (despite nothing he says coming to pass). Whilst it was certainly necessary from a narrative perspective, from a filmmaking perspective it kills the pacing dead and the film struggles to recover from there; the effects of which can even be felt in The Matrix Revolutions.
Where The Matrix was iconic for its incredible action sequences, The Matrix Reloaded almost seems to have taken cues from the films it inspired instead with its completely outlandish superhero-esque fight scenes. Neo can also fly now and he does it way too often for the film to legitimately have any stakes because he quite literally flies in and saves the day every time people are in danger. This paired with an even heavier green tint than the first film had and it starts to come off as style over substance.
Even the performances this time round feel a little hammy. Keanu Reeves has lost all the humanity of his performance as Neo and now just delivers lines emotionlessly and in a hushed tone. Hugo Weaving does a great job again as Smith, and as I previously mentioned the Merovingian is arguably the show stealer this time around with Lambert Wilson providing his talents for the role.
Overall, The Matrix Reloaded is hard to recommend as a sequel to The Matrix because almost everything is below the quality of its predecessor. However, it is a great curiosity piece and still a damn good action flick to boot. Despite all its flaws it is a spellbindingly fascinating piece of cinema, the likes of which will never be seen again, and I can't recommend it enough based on those merits. Only watch it if you intend on watching The Matrix Revolutions relatively shortly afterwards though as they are very clearly designed to be watched back to back.