The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Directors:

Andy Wachowski
Lana Wachowski

Writers (WGA):

Andy Wachowski (characters) &
Lana Wachowski (characters) ...

Release Date:

15 May 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Free your mind.

Plot:

Neo and the rebel leaders estimate that they have 72 hours until 250,000 probes discover Zion and destroy it and its inhabitants. During this, Neo must decide how he can save Trinity from a dark fate in his dreams.

Plot Keywords:

The Matrix | Oracle | Agent | Sentinel | Rebel

Awards:

5 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Ray Anthony	...	Power Station Guard
Christine Anu	...	Kali
Andy Arness	...	Police #2
Alima Ashton-Sheibu	...	Link's Niece
Helmut Bakaitis	...	The Architect
Steve Bastoni	...	Soren
Don Battee	...	Vector (as Don Batte)
Monica Bellucci	...	Persephone
Daniel Bernhardt	...	Agent Johnson
Valerie Berry	...	Priestess
Ian Bliss	...	Bane
Liliana Bogatko	...	Old Woman at Zion
Michael Budd	...	Zion Controller
Stoney Burke	...	Bike Carrier Driver
Kelly Butler	...	Ice

Also Known As:

The Burly Man (USA) (fake working title)
The Matrix 2 (USA) (working title)
The Matrix Reloaded: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version (promotional title))

MPAA:

Rated R for sci-fi violence and some sexuality.

Runtime:

138 min

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English | French

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

South Korea:15 | USA:R (certificate #39829) | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:18SG | Portugal:M/12 | Philippines:R-18 | South Africa:13V | India:A | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Chile:TE | Denmark:11 | Egypt:(Banned) | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15 | Israel:PG | Japan:PG-12 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Bern) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

16th Street, Oakland, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Lambert Wilson's French accent as The Merovingian is intentionally exaggerated at the directors' demand. Wilson speaks English very well and said it was his only deception towards the movie.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the highway chase scene, when the agent leapfrogs onto the hood of a moving vehicle (which crushes into the ground in slow motion), you can see that the only light source is the sun, which is perpendicular to the highway (low and off to the right), and all objects in the scene are casting long shadows only to the left. The agent casts his long left shadow (which extends from the edge of the car's shadow as he lands on it), but also casts a second shadow just below and behind him directly on the car's hood. He is the only object in the scene that casts a downward shadow.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Power Station Guard: See you tomorrow.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The Helix... Loaded (2005)

Soundtrack:

Sleeping Awake

A Second Part that Improves the Whole

Being a casual fan of the original The Matrix, I was looking forward to seeing The Matrix:Reloaded in the theaters. However, I was not quite ready to line up at the door donned in a Neo costume for a midnight showing on opening day. Having seen Reloaded, I can now say that I may be one of those people (sans the Neo costume) when The Matrix:Revolutions is released this winter. I cannot say that I think that Reloaded was as good as the original. Yes, it contained more action. Yes, the special effects were better. Yes, both the plot and the dialogue were more intricate and at times more head scratching. But Reloaded lacks what its predecessor had, the element of complete surprise. The wool has already been removed from our eyes. We know what the Matrix is. I cannot think of any plot twist that will be able to match what happens when Neo swallows the Red Pill. All that being said, after seeing Reloaded, I now appreciate the story as a whole. The Matrix and The Matrix:Reloaded when viewed as one complete story far surpasses viewing each as it's own single entity. While the original had mildly peaked my interest, I am now fully enthralled by the entire mythology of The Matrix (I highly recommend viewing the back stories available online on the Animatrix). Much like The Lord of the Rings series, I can no longer imagine The Matrix without contemplating Reloaded. As for Reloaded as a movie itself, the fight scenes are amazingly choreographed, though sometimes a little excessive. I would recommend the movie for the fight with the multiple Agent Smiths alone, as it is a phenomenally staged battle. My criticism lies mostly in the editing. This is a movie that could have definitely been shorter. Many scenes were unnecessarily long, such as the dance orgy after Morpheus' speech, or flat out unnecessary, such as Neo's fight with Seraph. But beyond the flashy fight scenes and special effects, its strength lies in the most unlikely (to me at least) of places, its story. It is a movie full of philosophical questions and religious allusions. The end scene with the Architect in and of itself warrants a second viewing, as it is quite a bit to wrap the brain around. And the way it handles its main theme is done exquisitely. What is reality? Is the "real world" just another part of the Matrix? Is Neo The One? All questions I will be asking as I stand in line for the midnight opening of The Matrix:Revolutions.