by Yazmin Ghonaim

THE MATRIX RELOADED Andy and Larry Wachowski (2003) The second film of the trilogy (The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions) directed by brothers Andy and Larry Wachowski (Bound), The Matrix Reloaded continues the story of Thomas "Neo" Anderson (Keanu Reeves). In The Matrix (1999), Neo is presented as a young and talented computer hacker who is recruited by Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and who painstakingly accepts the enigmatic man's claim that he (Neo) is "the One." The film then enters the realm of philosophical possibilities as Neo discovers that "reality" is actually a virtual reality: a secret, sophisticated system of computer programs, called the "Matrix," that simulates every aspect of life. In The Matrix Reloaded, having accepted his fate, Neo has learned to live --and survive-- within this "new" reality. He has perfected his physical skills and has deepened his love for Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss: Memento). Furthermore, having assumed his role as the One, he must consult the Oracle and decipher her prophecies, find a mysterious "key maker" and confront the Matrix Architect --all in order to successfully lead the last surviving human enclave, Zion, to victory against the Machine Army. What results is a film that escalates its ability to astonish viewers with its technological achievements. The Matrix Reloaded is predominantly a film that keeps aiming for (and reaches) new technical heights in an effort to "execute the impossible." Visual effects supervisor, John Gaeta (an admirer of the dark universes created in the films of Stanley Kubrick and Ridley Scott) developed a creative process of "virtual cinematography." This process produced such special effects as "Bullet Time," a technique that depicts cinematic action, in the style of Japanese animé, in which movements are shown in slow-motion to represent the virtual reality of the Matrix. The Matrix Reloaded also uses motion capture to create "virtual humans" (a technique where cameras record precise motion data from reflective body suits), and delivers one the film's most visually entertaining fight scenes between Neo, Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving: The Lord of the Rings) and his army of replicas. The film's freeway chase reflects ambitious efforts to combine 3D computer effects with the choreography of master Yuen Wo Ping (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), while a truck-top fight scene evidences great attention to frame composition (lines and movement). Thus, through the creation of this technology, the film displays the characters' super-human qualities. Unfortunately, this choice is carried too far when it begins to ascribe "Superman" characteristics to Neo, and in those scenes that create a "Lois Lane" parallel for Trinity. The Matrix Reloaded capitalizes on an enhanced love story between Neo and Trinity, heightening the drama of the plot with those scenes that represent some form of risk or danger, and that threaten to separate or destroy the couple. This is captured with simple efficiency in a scene where the enticing Persephone (Monica Bellucci: Irreversible; Malena), the vengeful wife of Merovingian (Lambert Wilson), coerces Neo into seducing her in front of Trinity. (In fact, Persephone and Merovingian are the film's most intriguingly perverse characters who present the most witty and amusing dialogues.) The film clearly distinguishes between the virtual world and what is left of the "real" world by contrasting the virtual technology of the Matrix with the archaic machinery of Zion. Furthermore, the film shifts the role of Morpheus from teacher to spiritual leader and marks a new emphasis that depicts the human residents of Zion as followers --and, more specifically-- as animals of a religious, ritualistic nature. While these portrayals represent the masses' intellectual detachment from reality, it also contrasts the intellectual superiority of the film's heroes and heroines, playing with the notion that the human evolutionary drive leads to physical and intellectual superiority. Ironically, questions regarding the choices, purpose and meaning of life remain the super-human characters' main source of confusion.		DVD Music Books Search by keywords:
Outstanding Features: Choreography, Special Effects, Art Direction, Production Design, Costume Design The Matrix Reloaded Movie Review © 2003 Cinephiles - All rights reserved Photo © 2003 Warner Bros. This film is rated R for science fiction violence and some sexuality.