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The Matrix Reloaded
- Review Date: October 13, 2003
- R
- Genre: Science Fiction
- 2003
Common Sense Media says
Second Matrix movie is violent but still exciting.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that The Matrix Reloaded is the second film in the Matrix sci-fi triology. It has intense and prolonged sci-fi violence and peril, including fights, car chases/crashes, guns, and martial arts. Characters are killed (sometimes more than once). There's some swearing ("f--k," "s--t," "prick," "damn," "hell") and a deeply romantic sexual encounter (briefly graphic, with breasts/butt exposed). Many characters are strong, brave, loyal, and intelligent.
What's the story?
No refreshers to bring us back into the world of the original Matrix -- THE MATRIX RELOADED literally starts with a bang as a woman in black breaks into some sort of secure facility and fights off the guards. And just like that, we're back in a world where the machines use humans for fuel, lulling people into thinking that they're living mundane lives so that they won't realize that they're 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's destined to defeat the machines. The action shifts back and forth between Zion, the city where the humans who resist the machines live, and the illusory "city" maintained by the computer program called the Matrix.
Is it any good?
The Matrix Reloaded lives up to fans' expectations in many ways, serving as a bridge between the chapter that sets up the conflict and the chapter that resolves it. It has some narrative weaknesses, but there are electrifying fight scenes, an audaciously dystopic vision, zillions of explosions and car crashes, a steamy love scene, and visual effects that continue to raise the bar.
Some of the action sequences will simply knock your socks off. The Matrix'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 there's a heart-stopping 14-minute chase and crash scene on a freeway. But the movie's 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.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about how this second installment in the Matrix trilogy compares with the first. Is it as exciting and innovative? What impact does the movie's violence have?
Is Neo "the One"? What does that mean? Who or what is the Oracle?
Whose choices led to the conflict between the humans and the machines?
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
The original was better, but still, quite a ride!
The Matrix reloaded is a sequel that seems to know what was popular in the original. The Matrix (1999) was a Sci-fi movie that seemed go down the same brilliant route that Star Wars took by adding fun action to timeless mythology. The Matrix was 75% Socrates and 25% John Woo. However The Matrix Reloaded however was 25% Plato and 75% Jet Li. I can see why Writer/Directors the Washouski brothers would take this route as the action scenes were what got 90% of the attention in the original but still I can't quite envision this being remembered as a classic the way the first will no doubt be remembered.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
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.
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Teen, 16 years old
April 24, 2011
AGE
Ok for pre-teens and up
When I first saw the matrix was twelve, and I fell in love with the entire trilogy. The violence isn't too bad. Sure there's blood but the more violent parts are brief. As fore the one sexual scene. Nothing is shown except for male buttocks and that's only for a few seconds. The matrix is great for a short while, but frankly it depends slightly too much on rich sci-fi ideas and fight scenes. Neo (the main character) is emotionless as possible through at the entire movie. However, I still love and watch it today.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
better than the original
Good social commentary, great action and a real love making scene with emtion and tenderness. Too many fight scenes, some lasted several minutes to the point of boredom....give us more content, but overall it was very good, entertaining and worth full price.
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Teen, 15 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
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!
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Teen, 14 years old
February 16, 2009
AGE
Not as good as the first but more fun to watch
First and foremost, this movie isn't quite as mind-blowing as its predecessor: but personally, I think it's a lot more fun to watch. Carrie-Anne Moss really comes into her own in the role of Trinity - I was very happy to see that character portrayed as strong in her own right as well as in her relationship with Neo (a refreshing break from the regrettable helplessness of Bella Swan in the Twilight saga). I was also pleased that "the scene" between Trinity and Neo was treated as romantic instead of simply a hook for teens. Minority characters are given strong roles, which was also awesome to see. The special effects are dazzling (this movie contains my favorite car chase EVER!), the story and script are acceptable (if not quite up to the standards of the first), the dialogue can be painfully cheesy but still raises many interesting questions, and all in all, this is one of my favorite movies of all time.
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Kid, 12 years old
June 19, 2009
AGE
GOOD
This movie was pretty good. It had very intense action scenes mostly in the car chase. Some blood and brief language but overall good.
What other families should know:
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Adult
August 3, 2010
AGE
there's one scene with Trinity and Neo doing sex and they're naked.
What other families should know:
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Adult
October 22, 2009
AGE
awesome movie 15 and over
damm this is a great movie the truth is it has mild nudity in it 15 and over lots of action worth watching
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| Topics: | robots |
| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Directors: | Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski |
| Cast: | Carrie-Anne Moss, Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Run time: | 138 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 15, 2003 |
| DVD release date: | October 6, 2003 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | sci-fi violence and some sexuality |
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