MATRIX RELOADED

The whole point of this misunderstood sequel is to not do the same thing over and over.

Rating: 90/100

Original Release: 2003

Director: The Wachowskis

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving

Favourite Quote:

"I like to be reminded this city survives because of these machines. These machines keep us alive, while other machines are coming to kill us. Interesting, isn't it? The power to give life, and the power to end it."

Favourite Shot:

You know the story. We are introduced to a world engulfed in war. Within this world there is a prophecy in which it is said that a chosen one will bring peace to the world. We are introduced to a regular person who turns out to be the chosen one. And this chosen one has to die in order for peace to be restored. And in the end is resurrected. Harry Potter. Star Wars. Avatar. Kung Fu Panda. The Lego Movie. Maybe one everyone is surely familiar with: the story of Jesus Christ. This is a story that has been told for thousands of years now. And it is a story that The Matrix also followed in its first installment. But could this classic universal story be a lie? Just another form of control? It’s questions like these that The Matrix: Reloaded grapples with. Coming four years after the unprecedented success of the first film, you could say The Matrix: Reloaded had a lot riding on it. Millions of fans had four years worth of hype and expectations built up inside them. And they were finally going to be able to satisfy themselves. But with expectations built to an impossible to reach level, the film was always going to disappoint. Especially since it is a sequel that doesn’t follow the formula. In fact, it is a film specifically about how following the formula is yet another way that the world is blinding us from the truth.

The film begins with an action sequence which is a recurring dream of Neo’s (Keanu Reeves) in which Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) dies. Immediately we are shown Neo’s number one priority: Keep Trinity safe. Throughout the film it is clear that Neo is not our conventional ‘chosen one’ archetype. He isn’t as interested in saving the world as he is interested in saving the women he loves. This is communicated partly through Reeves’ subdued performance as well as scenes such as the one in which he first arrives in Zion. Flocked by hundreds of people wanting to meet him, it is clear all he wants to do is have some alone time with the one he loves. Zion itself looks amazing. The Wachowskis were obviously given much more money to make the sequel and they created the perfect image of everything we heard Zion was.

In an early scene set in the underground city, Neo is taken aside by Councilor Hamann (Anthony Zerbe) and they have a sort of philosophical discussion about the relationship between machines and humans. The machines are keeping the humans alive, but the humans are also keeping the machines alive. It is an interesting idea that informs the whole series. Each needs the other to survive, yet here they are at war. We get two more scenes with the Oracle (the last performance from the late Gloria Foster), in which she is once again excellent and delivers one of my favourite lines from the series. "You've already made the choice. You're here to understand why you've made it." Once again the Wachowskis are questioning the idea of free will. How can we have any input if the future is already set in stone?

Neo then faces off against hundreds of Hugo Weavings. Which is such a joy to watch, despite the obvious CGI and videogame-like graphics. In what other movie are you going to see a scene like this? And it also shows a moment of vulnerability for Neo, who has been given Superman-like abilities, and we now understand that he is not unbeatable. The gang is then told they have to find the key-maker who will lead Neo to the next step in his journey. They go to the Merovingian, who is a program that helps other programs escape deletion. Programs are made for a purpose, and once they’re purpose is fulfilled, they are deleted. It is interesting to view the humans in the film from a similar lens. All of them, especially Neo and Morpheus seem to be acting out their roles in this ‘chosen one’ narrative. Doing exactly what is needed for them, and once it is done, the machines plan on deleting them.

"But with expectations built to an impossible to reach level, the film was always going to disappoint. Especially since it is a sequel that doesn’t follow the formula. In fact, it is a film specifically about how following the formula is yet another way that the world is blinding us from the truth."

There is a brilliant extended car chase scene with all sorts of wacky characters, like these evil ghost-like twins. And finally, in a Bound like heist sequence, we are given the plan to get Neo into the source intercut with the plan actually happening. Things start to go wrong. Trinity saves them. Neo gets to the source. The keymaker dies. And then we get arguably the best sequence from the film: Neo’s chat with ‘The Architect’.

It is a scene that changes the perception of both the film it is in and the first Matrix film. It confirms that Neo and Trinity and Morpheus may think they have left the matrix and have freed themselves from the control of the machines. When in actual fact, they are following the precise plan that the machines had laid out for them. Pawns. The scene is filmed inside of a room surrounded by tv’s showing Neo. It is trippy, beautiful and creates the perfect atmosphere for the audience to have their minds completely blown. The way they have the camera going inside different monitors is a genius way to show that all control is being lost. This hopeless idea that we are trapped in our own fate, and that we can never escape. The two performances are delivered calmly and powerfully. And make this excess of dialogue feel suspenseful and engaging.

And then of course the twist is revealed. The architect gives Neo a choice between saving the people in Zion or saving the one that he loves. An easy choice for all of the past Neo’s. But not an easy choice for our Neo, who, as we’ve seen for the last hour and a half, is completely in love with Trinity. And would certainly choose her over the people of Zion. A decision the architect cannot fathom, because he cannot understand the meaning of love. Neo supermans his way out of there in an attempt to save Trinity. He gets to her too late. In a beautifully thought scene showing Neo's dedication to his love, he reaches inside of her and restarts her dead heart. Saving her life. The film ends on a strange note, teasing the third installment with a close up on Bane who has been taken over by Agent Smith.

The Matrix Reloaded is a sequel that takes risks. It is not looking to recreate what has already been done, it is not trying to give you the same experience again. It is concerned with giving you a new experience. The sequel makes you question once again everything you thought you knew about the world, fate and freedom. And that is the essence of The Matrix films. To blow your mind with these ideas, questions, action scenes and more. And to recreate the first film wouldn’t have done that. The Wachowskis have created an original sequel that builds on the first film and challenges us as viewers. Just as Neo is trying to break out of the control of the machines, the film is trying to break out of the molds and limits we have as storytellers. But at its centre it is simply a story about how, to break out of these controls and limits, we must love.