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The Matrix Reloaded review
19/05/2003 11:39 - (SA)
Daniel E Dercksen
Cape Town - Fasten your seatbelts and upgrade your software for an exhilarating journey into the heart and soul of cyberspace with The Matrix Reloaded.
The world of visual-and-special effects changed drastically when George Lucas launched his space opera Star Wars in the 70s. This high-tech revolution continued in the 80s with James Cameron's cyborg invasion on earth with The Terminator and Ridley Scott's Blade Runner. Cameron also gave us the deep sea sci-fi adventure The Abyss.
In the 90s the Wachowski brothers invaded cyberspace with the electrifying The Matrix. At the beginning of the new millennium Ridley Scott took us back to ancient Rome with Gladiator; Peter Jackson brought Tolkien's Middle Earth to life with the screen adaptation of his Lord of the Rings trilogy; and Steven Spielberg challenged our perceptions of the future with AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Minority Report.
Now the Wachowski brothers give us the second instalment of their trilogy - they approached the production of the trilogy's second and third instalments - The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, as a single film that is presented in two parts.
Certain viewers will be disappointed to find that at the end of a long and gruelling journey (the running time is 138 minutes), and at the climactic ending, they are confronted with - "To be continued", having to patiently wait for the conclusion in The Matrix Revolutions - this is a convention more suited to one-hour television dramas and casts suspicion on other big screen sequels.
The Matrix Reloaded proves that there is no ultimate and that the technology of film needs to be pushed further with each new release, just as new model cars or high-tech gadgets are introduced every few months.
It also confirms that special effect heaven is no paradise without a solid story and significant substance.
A major strength of The Matrix concept is its compelling foundation that steers away from an effect-driven narrative and soaks the heavy duty action in hardcore brain matter.
The inspiration came from the stylistic Japanese animé films like Akira and Ghost in the Shell, the hyper kinetic illustrations of comic book artist Geof Darrow; and the science fiction of literary masterminds such as William Gibson, Philip K Dick and Lewis Carroll.
Themes of mythology, philosophy, emerging technology, mathematics, and evolutionary psychology are brilliantly interwoven with theological references (Christianity and Gnosticism exist comfortable alongside Zen Buddhist and Taoist though).
Technological alienation
The film also explores themes of technological alienation, free will, the cost of ignorance and the price of knowledge.
It combines elements of classic Kung Fu, Western gun-slinging action, Eastern martial arts and wirework.
The Matrix Reloaded is most definitely a thinking man's action film, providing awesome and astonishing action sequences and stunt work (one of the action sequences include and exhausting 14 minute highway chase that will leave you breathless).
With The Matrix audiences were seduced into a secretive world where computer hacker Neo (Keanu Reeves) had to battle forces of evil in cyberspace. Now that the veil of secrecy has been lifted and the filmmakers have revealed the main plot, there's no more games to play.
Like Neo, the audience is plunged into a nightmarish non-existence that threatens every fiber of conventionality; becoming vulnerable prey as the filmmakers exploit and challenge their worst fears and absolute fantasies.
From the thrilling opening sequence perceptions are severely challenged; reality distorts and logic twists into a fantastic surreal cinemascape.
Don't question too much and don't let the repetitive dialogue irritate get to you. You will find answers when the answers are there, and know the truth when the truth is revealed.
Escape into the amazing mindscape of the Wachowski brothers and download all your troubles.
Please note that there is a short preview of The Matrix Revolutions after the end credits of The Matrix Reloaded. It's worth waiting for.
The Matrix Reloaded opens nationwide on May 21.
Those who are a bit rusty can brush up their cyberspeak by watching The Matrix on DVD; or visit the website: the writing studio for tons of behind the scenes production information on The Matrix Reloaded - click "on the big screen" and go to May releases.
- News24
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