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The Matrix Reloaded

Watched the movie on the tube last night, courtesy of Ch5.

Can you reinvent the wheel? Reloaded tried doing that to The Matrix. It was somewhat like four years ago that I caught the screening of its predecessor on the big screen and I still remember it for its originality in pushing a philosophical viewpoint that is thought provoking and spell bounding in special effects. It engages the viewers to fathom what’s going on out there and therein is its appeal and uniqueness. By definition what is unique defies duplication. But Reloaded was an attempt to prove that definition wrong.

I feel the sequel drags you. Like a river, it meanders into too many distributaries with superficial little sub-plots, like the Bacchanal dance in Zion and the speech given by Morpheus given in that strange Moorish land. They add no substance to the main plot, assuming there is a main plot to begin with. The special effects, though very entertaining to watch, have lost their novelty.

A weak plot does not necessarily have to ruin a movie but having to endure watching 20 to 30 minutes of ball dribbling before you see any goal scored can dull your interest. It’s redeeming feature is that when it rains action however, it doesn’t dizzles…. it pours cats and dogs. Never mind that Neo can stop bullets but not punches and he is Superman reincarnated. Never mind that in fighting 50 or more Smiths, no one gets hurt. It is after all beautifully synchronized and choreographed like ballroom dancing.

In The Matrix, you feel the scenes. In Reloaded, you watch and watch. Perhaps its objective is to prepare you for the next sequel. Let's call it Matrix Unloaded or Matric Off-loaded.

posted by Victor Lai @ 3:42 PM