CtJester
15 May 2003, 10:17 PM
I have to use a line from another movie to make my points, so just go with it.....
'My momma always told me, life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.' - Forrest Gump.
The Matrix Reloaded Review (as spoiler free as possible).
Indeed, TMR is like a box of chocolates, more precisely the Russel Stovers kind. You know that when you get it, you're thrilled, because you know a few things about it. A- it's a gift from a friend or loved one and has sentiment behind it, B- it's chocolate dammit. Sweet, chocolate. C- there are actual gems in this box, like chocolate covered cherries, D- it's going to have some crap, like coconut, even though it's covered in chocolate, and E- it's not Godiva.
TMR is a LOT like this. You know the Wachowski's have tried to create a gift-wrapped world filled with love and care to give to the eager movie going populace. They want to feed you candy, because gosh darn it, candy makes us happy and gives us a sugar high. You get a lot of candy here, and it really tastes good in spots, until you find out that you just bit into a piece with the dreaded coconut in it (Sidebar: for those who like coconut, insert your most detested ingredient here..... say, opera creme.) and it makes your mood sour just a slight bit, because gosh darn it again, it's STILL covered in chocolate.
TMR has some really great moments, and then it has others that are downright awful. Fortunately the good outweighs the bad, but, you have to suffer through the 45 minutes of mediocre (and bad known as a 4 minute 'rave' sequence) to get to the Oracle and all the good and great stuff after it.
TMR IS very talky (to use a cuddlyevil phrase), but it's not to the point that it detracts from the film like some have said. I look at this film as a jar of paste. Sure it'll hold stuff together, it just doesn't work as well as crazy glue. This movie is a bridge, just like Empire Strikes Back and Two Towers were. It will definitely help to go back and watch The Matrix RIGHT BEFORE you go see this, since a lot of the concepts carry themselves over from that film.
The story itself tries to cram as much material it can into the film to get you to Revolutions, but you might get confused along the way (I know I did, especially near the end with the Architect). This is a movie to be seen repeatedly for trying to catch the story as much as seeing the visuals again.
...and speaking of visuals. Joel Silver mentioned something about raising the bar in this movie to the point that 'there is no bar'. Well Joel, there's still a bar. You just managed to shine it up a bit moreso than raise it. There are essentially 3 major action pieces in this film, all occurring in the last half of the movie. Two of which I felt are exceptional (in the lobby with the weapons and the highway), and one that felt like it was ripped from Daredevil, only prettier. The action is still what makes the matrix, THE Matrix, and I don't think it disappoints one bit here. It just doesn't feel as new and fresh as the first time you saw it.
I guess my biggest issue with this film is how utterly uninterested in Zion I was. I felt no connection to their fate. I don't really care what happened there. It could've been Helena, Montana being torn apart by rampaging wheat harvesters for all I cared. I know their plight has to be told in order for the story to make sense, but bet your bottom dollar that when this comes out on DVD, the sun will be in using the remote to skip the Zion scenes.
The performances, OTOH, are a mixed bag. Link, the new Tank/Dozer is just sort of there (I think it was the guy from HBO's 'OZ', the one in the wheelchair. Not sure though.). Jada Pinkett-Smith as Niobe and the Keymaker (whose name I don't remember... besides I'm not going to pander to a Ghostbusters joke... nu-uh, not going to happen. ZUUL!!!!! Ah, damn.) are really good in their limited roles. Hugo Weaving is still very smug as Agent Smith. Keanu, Carrie-Anne, and Lawrence are still good in their roles (although Fishburn gets the vote for worst speeches - WE ARE ZION!!!!! Now everybody dance! Ugh.). Merigovian, Persephone, and the Architect are all mostly set dressing, not contributing much, and the twins, oh those lovable twins, are the bomb-diggity. I just wish there was more of them.
Overall this is a fun movie if you allow it to be. Just don't walk in thinking you're going to get the religious experience of a lifetime, 'cause brothers and sisters, it aint gonna happen. It's not as original as the original was, but then again, they don't try to make it be that way. It's 'bigger, better, stronger, faster' just without the 'better'.
There may not be a spoon, but there certainly are some leftover knives, forks, and chopsticks here.
3.5 out of 5 cheese doodles. It would've been 4, but half a doodle was made of CGI.
-ct 'Why is it that we see more of Keanu's ass than Carrie-Anne's? It's just not right I tell ya!' jester
Edit: OOPS, forgot.... stay through the credits at the end. There's a mini trailer for Matrix Revolutions on it....and it looks good too.
'My momma always told me, life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.' - Forrest Gump.
The Matrix Reloaded Review (as spoiler free as possible).
Indeed, TMR is like a box of chocolates, more precisely the Russel Stovers kind. You know that when you get it, you're thrilled, because you know a few things about it. A- it's a gift from a friend or loved one and has sentiment behind it, B- it's chocolate dammit. Sweet, chocolate. C- there are actual gems in this box, like chocolate covered cherries, D- it's going to have some crap, like coconut, even though it's covered in chocolate, and E- it's not Godiva.
TMR is a LOT like this. You know the Wachowski's have tried to create a gift-wrapped world filled with love and care to give to the eager movie going populace. They want to feed you candy, because gosh darn it, candy makes us happy and gives us a sugar high. You get a lot of candy here, and it really tastes good in spots, until you find out that you just bit into a piece with the dreaded coconut in it (Sidebar: for those who like coconut, insert your most detested ingredient here..... say, opera creme.) and it makes your mood sour just a slight bit, because gosh darn it again, it's STILL covered in chocolate.
TMR has some really great moments, and then it has others that are downright awful. Fortunately the good outweighs the bad, but, you have to suffer through the 45 minutes of mediocre (and bad known as a 4 minute 'rave' sequence) to get to the Oracle and all the good and great stuff after it.
TMR IS very talky (to use a cuddlyevil phrase), but it's not to the point that it detracts from the film like some have said. I look at this film as a jar of paste. Sure it'll hold stuff together, it just doesn't work as well as crazy glue. This movie is a bridge, just like Empire Strikes Back and Two Towers were. It will definitely help to go back and watch The Matrix RIGHT BEFORE you go see this, since a lot of the concepts carry themselves over from that film.
The story itself tries to cram as much material it can into the film to get you to Revolutions, but you might get confused along the way (I know I did, especially near the end with the Architect). This is a movie to be seen repeatedly for trying to catch the story as much as seeing the visuals again.
...and speaking of visuals. Joel Silver mentioned something about raising the bar in this movie to the point that 'there is no bar'. Well Joel, there's still a bar. You just managed to shine it up a bit moreso than raise it. There are essentially 3 major action pieces in this film, all occurring in the last half of the movie. Two of which I felt are exceptional (in the lobby with the weapons and the highway), and one that felt like it was ripped from Daredevil, only prettier. The action is still what makes the matrix, THE Matrix, and I don't think it disappoints one bit here. It just doesn't feel as new and fresh as the first time you saw it.
I guess my biggest issue with this film is how utterly uninterested in Zion I was. I felt no connection to their fate. I don't really care what happened there. It could've been Helena, Montana being torn apart by rampaging wheat harvesters for all I cared. I know their plight has to be told in order for the story to make sense, but bet your bottom dollar that when this comes out on DVD, the sun will be in using the remote to skip the Zion scenes.
The performances, OTOH, are a mixed bag. Link, the new Tank/Dozer is just sort of there (I think it was the guy from HBO's 'OZ', the one in the wheelchair. Not sure though.). Jada Pinkett-Smith as Niobe and the Keymaker (whose name I don't remember... besides I'm not going to pander to a Ghostbusters joke... nu-uh, not going to happen. ZUUL!!!!! Ah, damn.) are really good in their limited roles. Hugo Weaving is still very smug as Agent Smith. Keanu, Carrie-Anne, and Lawrence are still good in their roles (although Fishburn gets the vote for worst speeches - WE ARE ZION!!!!! Now everybody dance! Ugh.). Merigovian, Persephone, and the Architect are all mostly set dressing, not contributing much, and the twins, oh those lovable twins, are the bomb-diggity. I just wish there was more of them.
Overall this is a fun movie if you allow it to be. Just don't walk in thinking you're going to get the religious experience of a lifetime, 'cause brothers and sisters, it aint gonna happen. It's not as original as the original was, but then again, they don't try to make it be that way. It's 'bigger, better, stronger, faster' just without the 'better'.
There may not be a spoon, but there certainly are some leftover knives, forks, and chopsticks here.
3.5 out of 5 cheese doodles. It would've been 4, but half a doodle was made of CGI.
-ct 'Why is it that we see more of Keanu's ass than Carrie-Anne's? It's just not right I tell ya!' jester
Edit: OOPS, forgot.... stay through the credits at the end. There's a mini trailer for Matrix Revolutions on it....and it looks good too.