When the audience entered The Matrix Reloadedcontinuation of the legendary action movie Matrix, there was a lot of anticipation for what was to come. After all, continuing what many consider to be one of the greatest films ever made is no easy task. Not only that, the directorial duet wachowski should live up to those expectations, but they had to expand the world they had built. Part of that expansion includes a rave orgy, which actually makes sense in terms of a story about finding something worth living amidst the horrors of the world, but that’s a discussion for another time. Rather, this work will address everything that made this sequel great. From one of the most mind-boggling action scenes ever shown on the highway, to a smarter hallway scene, to an emotional core that gives everything a real betting feel, there’s so much to love and worth digging into.
As far as the film is about Neo’s journey (Keanu Reeves) as he tries to understand the Oracle’s prophecy in order to save mankind, it is the Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) that we discover is an absolutely integral part of the experience. In this way, the film challenges our previous notions of the elect by immersing itself in them. Trinity not only starts and ends the movie, but is also the one who once again saves Neo from the dark forces that surround him. Revisiting the film, especially after the events of the recent Resurrection of the Matrix, it brings with it a big emotional base that cuts through all the noise. Neo’s dilemma comes down to whether Trinity lives or dies. If he makes the wrong choice, the rest of the world will be destroyed. It’s something that weighs heavily on Neo’s shoulders, giving everything a real seriousness that Reeves and Moss delicately capture amidst the chaos. It shouldn’t work, but the more relaxed thinking behind it in key conversations helps weave it all together, even if it all threatens to fall apart.
The Wachowskis are pushing themselves to new things in The Matrix Reloaded
Make no mistake, all the pomposity can be quite joyful. There are just a few of the mistakes that are most remembered, such as Neo’s first encounter with the resurrected Agent Smith. Played one more time with a fantastic menace Hugo Weaving, it gets underestimated as the movie gets bigger and bigger with combat. Whether it’s the use of prominent doubles or special effects that make everything feel rubbery, it’s a scene that starts off well enough but soon falls apart. What makes this forgivable is that we leave it behind for more practical sequences that continue to amaze us even today.
Pulling out all the stops, including the actual construction of a 2.4-mile three-lane highway, the central chase scene is simply outstanding filmmaking. From stunts to meticulous editing and scoring, there’s nothing quite like it. While nothing could compare to the first use of slow motion through time, the way it is used here is still remarkable. Seeing car after car fly through the air seems to provide an early hint of what the Wachowskis will continue to toy with in their equally underrated Racer. Each shows that, even with their shortcomings, they are worth more than they are worth revisiting.
There is one moment in particular in the highway episode that never gets old. Seeing Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) looking down at a speeding car before doing a somersault to the side to slash its tires and shoot the gas tank after it rolls over is just *kiss the chef* stunning shot. In many other films, this would be the final moment, but the Wachowskis just keep moving forward. Like it almost doesn’t matter much as they still want to throw more at us. When a resolute Trinity sets off on a motorcycle to reunite with Morpheus after their separation, the speed of the cars speeding past is absolutely breathtaking.
The Matrix Reloaded is in full swing
Not content to even end there, the film has an entire fight scene on top of the semi-finals. It’s just layer upon layer of creativity breaking free. Even when you see cracks in the special effects, you agree with them because of how great it all fits together. All the members are really shooting at their full potential, never holding back the blow, continuing to hurl us further and further. It’s just pure entertainment, which in itself deserves no less praise for what he managed to achieve. I wish more blockbusters in the action genre today could have a modicum of the passion that this sequence brings to the experience. When link (Harold Perrineau) applause at the end, we feel the same excitement. Although there is a lot to follow, this part will always have a prominent place in the history of cinema.
It’s most likely inevitable The Matrix Reloaded will always live in the shadow of the original film, which is admittedly more successful overall, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give it the credit it deserves. Too often bold hesitation can be ignored because not every single part is connected. This is the type of film criticism that relies on nit-picking and ends up losing sight of the forest for the trees. By reducing film analysis to glorified narratives that prioritize coherence over everything else, we may be missing out on mountains of cinematic splendor that never get their due. These films are not only relevant, but may even be better if looked back over time, freeing them from the baggage they had to carry with them once they hit the screens. The Matrix Reloaded by no means perfect, but it is one of those works whose true greatness shines through more than two decades later.
Source: Collider
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