The Matrix Reloaded (R)

Electrifying but still violent 2nd in trilogy.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Warner Bros.
  • Directed By: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
  • Cast: Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Keanu Reeves
  • Running Time: 138 minutes
  • Release Date: 05/15/2003
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 10/06/2003
  • Genre: Science Fiction
  • MPAA Rating: R
  • MPAA Explanation: sci-fi violence and some sexuality

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that the movie has intense and prolonged violence and peril including guns and martial arts. Characters are killed (sometimes more than once). There are a few four-letter words. There is a deeply romantic sexual encounter (briefly graphic) and brief nudity. Minority and women characters are strong, brave, loyal, and intelligent.

Families can talk about some of the character's comments about destiny and choice. Is choice "an illusion created by those with power?" Humans, who created the machines, are now trying to wrest back control from the machines. Whose choices led to that conflict? Is Neo "the one" and what does that mean? Who or what is the Oracle?

Message

Social Behavior:

Brave, strong, intelligent women and minority characters.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Violence, characters killed, some gross effects. Extreme peril.

Sex

One sexual encounter, bare breasts.

Language

Some strong language.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Nell Minow

No refreshers to bring us back into the world of the original Matrix -- this second installment literally starts with a bang as a woman in black breaks into some sort of secured facility and fights off the guards. We are back in the world where the machines use humans for fuel, lulling the humans into thinking that they are living mundane lives so that they will not realize that they are merely an energy source. Only a few humans know the truth, and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) believe that one of them, Neo (Keanu Reeves) is "the one" who will defeat the machines. The scenes shift back and forth between Zion, the city where the humans who resist the machines live and the illusory "city" maintained by the computers called The Matrix.

Is it any good?

4
And the answer is -- Yes! This is the movie the fans of the original Matrix were hoping it would be, and it’s the bridge between the chapter that sets up the conflict and the chapter that resolves it. This movie has electrifying fight scenes, an audaciously dystopic vision, zillions of explosions and car crashes, a steamy love scene, and visual effects that raise the bar from the first one as much as the first one raised it from everything that had gone before.

The action sequences will knock your socks off. Episode One's Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) has learned how to multiply, and Neo has to fight a hundred Smiths, each with its own version of Weaving's magnificently cocked eyebrow. Real-life twins (and black belt karate instructors) Adrien and Neil Rayment play dredlocked albinos who can turn themselves into ghost-like wraiths out to destroy our heroes. And then there is a heart-stopping 14-minute chase and crash scene on a freeway. Still, just as with the first one, the most powerful scene doesn't have fancy special effects or explosions. It's the conversation between Neo and the Oracle, played with endless warmth, wit, and spirit by the late Gloria Foster. The movie also taps into epic questions of destiny, causality, identity, and choice.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 23 reviews.

4


Posted on 03/28/08 by childsplay176 Kid contributor, age 16

Another great movie, albeit not as good as the first...

This movie is exciting and enjoyable, but parents may want to make note of the intense violence. It starts early and continues all the way through the film. All in all, I think that this movie is a good choice for ages 14 and older.
5


Posted on 11/20/07 by ovechkin Kid contributor, age 14

very action packed

this movie in my opinion was better than the first one. It might have had a little more sex, but still to me it wasn't very much. I think that parents should let their kids see this movie. It should NOT be rated R, I have seen way worse movies in my life and i will bet that you have to. A very good movie.
3


Posted on 08/21/07 by jubjub252 Kid contributor, age 12

Excellent Sequel

The story was worse than the original Matrix film but the action and fights are much funner to watch. If you are just a person who loves freat action but doesn't really care about the storyline, this isyour movie. Parents their is a bit of sexual content in this movie, unlike the first Matrix, but profanity is used much less and the language doesn't abuse christianity. The movie is nonstop excitement and when an explosive moment ends, another begins. I would choose this movie for kids twelve and up, but I'm only a kid.
4


Posted on 08/08/07 by ferraris_rock Kid contributor, age 13

As good as the first.

This movie did justice to The Matrix, something I wouldn't have though possible. Amazing car chase scene and Smith fights. Makes you see good in humanity. Characters are very loyal. The sex scene was unnecessary. Facinating the whole way through.
5


Posted on 04/05/07 by neo8 Adult contributor
5


Posted on 04/02/07 by Neo Kid contributor, age 15

The best action film of this century

There is only one way to classify this movie....visual masterpiece.I saw this movie after seeing the first one of course. Some people claim that its no more than a mere repeat. I disagree. This movie surpasses the first in the action and fight sequences. However, the first movie did tell you a little more about the story than this one. Out of the trilogy, This one is the climax, and definatly not a letdown(I consider the third a letdown, but I wont go into that). Come on, you have to admit that the Watchiski Brothers have really given action a real name in the movie business with this film. To all thosae who have not yet seen it, I urge you to do so, if you are a lover of film such as myself. There is some occasional bloody violence(most fights are bloodless), there is a brief sex scene(the one flaw of the film), and there is some mild swearing. Its a really amazing movie. Well worth your while.
5

Posted on 03/07/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13
2


Posted on 08/03/06 by bubbo Kid contributor, age 13

Sequelitis Alert!

The Matrix Reloaded is just a pale imitation of the original! It's the same characters doing the same thing, but without the good script, characters, and other things that made the original so interesting and unique. This is just another empty headed sci-fi actioner, with a few good action scenes, but overall it is way to packed with action. There's so many action scenes and special effects shots, and so little rhyme and reason to the whole thing that it feels like a video game. Matrix Reloaded is mildly entertaining, and has some good action, but is a gigantic drop in quality from the thrilling original.
4


Posted on 04/09/06 by HaloFreak123 Adult contributor
3


Posted on 04/01/06 by Movie Watcher Kid contributor, age 12

See all 23 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 11 reviews.

5


Posted on 04/05/07 by neo8 Adult contributor
4


Posted on 04/09/06 by HaloFreak123 Adult contributor
3


Posted on 03/02/05 by fritzsky Adult contributor
5

Posted on 06/09/03 by Anonymous Adult contributor

visually stunning

The boys did it again. I went and saw this at a sold out matinee and was not disappointed. The usually talkative locals were struck silent by the images on the screen, a pleasant suprise. Some parents brought their older children, and they did not seem overly disturbed by the scenes on the screen. I personally would not take anyone under 13 to the movie, but I am very selective about the images portrayed to my child. For adults and those over 13 who have had the "talk", by all means, GO! Don't expect a deep story, but do expect a serious visual assault that will leave you wanting more. Stay for the credits and the after-credits treat.
2


Posted on 06/02/03 by chiefwhitecloud Adult contributor

terrible movie for sci-fi geeks

If you live in a fantasy world you may enjoy this movie. It deals in the realm of abstract, and borrows fight scenes from Crouching Tiger. Not very good, unless you want to tease your friends who watch too much Star Trek.
0


Posted on 05/28/03 by abarsegian Adult contributor
3


Posted on 05/28/03 by sramp Adult contributor

What the Matrix fans wanted

It did not develop the story deep enough. The sex scene was not needed, it was Hollywood trying to dictate their own morality on the public. The special effects were outstanding as well as the car/motorcycle chase (14 minutes worth). It was geared for the young teenager except for the sex scene and erotic dancing.
1


Posted on 05/24/03 by kvirgin Adult contributor

parents: why did you take your young kids to see this?

i was at the del monte center in monterey, california, and there were at least 12 children under 12 in the audience. the violence in this movie, and the dark, content just reinforce the hopeless feelings and frustrations that young children and young teens feel. this movie was so graphically violent, that it became numbing after awhile...the dialogue was all riddles and there was no sense of consequence at all to the actions of the characters.
1


Posted on 05/21/03 by ibrahimm Adult contributor

Matrix 2 - A Poor Substitute

If you were a fan of the Matrix, be warned. Reloaded is vastly inferior movie in virtually every way: creativity, storyline, character development. I considered the initial movie a 5 of 5. The Good: Cool Visual Effects The Bad: No additional backplot or depth for any characters. Excessively long fight scenes. Clear implied contridictions with the original movie. A terrible ending. Conclusion: Basically the whole movie was like a repeating 3 minute trailer. Save the $10 bucks.
5

Posted on 05/21/03 by Anonymous Adult contributor
See all 11 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 12 reviews.

4


Posted on 03/28/08 by childsplay176 Kid contributor, age 16

Another great movie, albeit not as good as the first...

This movie is exciting and enjoyable, but parents may want to make note of the intense violence. It starts early and continues all the way through the film. All in all, I think that this movie is a good choice for ages 14 and older.
5


Posted on 11/20/07 by ovechkin Kid contributor, age 14

very action packed

this movie in my opinion was better than the first one. It might have had a little more sex, but still to me it wasn't very much. I think that parents should let their kids see this movie. It should NOT be rated R, I have seen way worse movies in my life and i will bet that you have to. A very good movie.
3


Posted on 08/21/07 by jubjub252 Kid contributor, age 12

Excellent Sequel

The story was worse than the original Matrix film but the action and fights are much funner to watch. If you are just a person who loves freat action but doesn't really care about the storyline, this isyour movie. Parents their is a bit of sexual content in this movie, unlike the first Matrix, but profanity is used much less and the language doesn't abuse christianity. The movie is nonstop excitement and when an explosive moment ends, another begins. I would choose this movie for kids twelve and up, but I'm only a kid.
4


Posted on 08/08/07 by ferraris_rock Kid contributor, age 13

As good as the first.

This movie did justice to The Matrix, something I wouldn't have though possible. Amazing car chase scene and Smith fights. Makes you see good in humanity. Characters are very loyal. The sex scene was unnecessary. Facinating the whole way through.
5


Posted on 04/02/07 by Neo Kid contributor, age 15

The best action film of this century

There is only one way to classify this movie....visual masterpiece.I saw this movie after seeing the first one of course. Some people claim that its no more than a mere repeat. I disagree. This movie surpasses the first in the action and fight sequences. However, the first movie did tell you a little more about the story than this one. Out of the trilogy, This one is the climax, and definatly not a letdown(I consider the third a letdown, but I wont go into that). Come on, you have to admit that the Watchiski Brothers have really given action a real name in the movie business with this film. To all thosae who have not yet seen it, I urge you to do so, if you are a lover of film such as myself. There is some occasional bloody violence(most fights are bloodless), there is a brief sex scene(the one flaw of the film), and there is some mild swearing. Its a really amazing movie. Well worth your while.
5

Posted on 03/07/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 13
2


Posted on 08/03/06 by bubbo Kid contributor, age 13

Sequelitis Alert!

The Matrix Reloaded is just a pale imitation of the original! It's the same characters doing the same thing, but without the good script, characters, and other things that made the original so interesting and unique. This is just another empty headed sci-fi actioner, with a few good action scenes, but overall it is way to packed with action. There's so many action scenes and special effects shots, and so little rhyme and reason to the whole thing that it feels like a video game. Matrix Reloaded is mildly entertaining, and has some good action, but is a gigantic drop in quality from the thrilling original.
3


Posted on 04/01/06 by Movie Watcher Kid contributor, age 12
5


Posted on 03/24/06 by Joseph9261 Kid contributor, age 11

Well

There is a preety bad sex scene. It was not needed and was a compleate screwup... It was just dumb. The violince level is about the same as the first,If u haven't seen the first lots of shooting/kung fu there is blood but no organs coming out... Some characters might have a wine but nothing based arond it really... Hope this review is helpful! ^^
1

Posted on 06/17/03 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 10

This movie is a total repeat of "The Matrix".

This movie is just the same special effects and everything like the first one. If you really were hoping for a good sequel, it's not your lucky day. I would say don't even see this movie, because it's like seeing a twisted Matrix again. I don't like it because, IT'S A TOTAL REPEAT!
See all 12 kids reviews >
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