I had extremely high hopes for this movie. As with any sequel, there is great fear that a bad attempt will spoil your impressions of the first movie. By watching a bad sequel, we can be left with a bad taste for the whole series. Since I loved the first Matrix movie so much, I was extremely concerned that the sequels were an attempt to simply play off of the success and that there would not be as much attention to detail the second time around. I quickly realized that I had nothing to worry about. The movie was clearly in conception way before the first one was filmed (this was evident by how intimately the two films were entwined). Without a doubt this movie exceeded my expectations.
This movie is one that really takes a day or two to appreciate fully. There is so much depth of plot that you have to allow it to sink in. I even had to go online and download a portion of dialog so that I could read it more slowly and make sure I was getting it all (I want to be prepared when the conclusion arrives this fall). If you think you can go to see this movie and not use your mind, you will leave hopelessly lost and probably disappointed.
I can't write a review for a movie like this one without making a huge deal about the visual effects. The producers of this movie have once again raised the bar for believable effects. The days of visible computer enhancement are over. I sat in awe during more than one scene simply absorbed by what was happening before my eyes. I should also note that I thought the effects were not overdone (despite what some will say) nor were they overwhelming like the ones in Attack of the Clones. I want the DVD just so I can watch these scenes over and over!
My last comment is that it is truly refreshing to see a mainstream movie make such a powerful statement about philosophy. I do not agree with the world view that is being presented here, but it gives me something to talk about with others that have seen this movie. That is a welcomed distinction from most of the mindless entertainment we are presented with today.
The only drawback to the whole thing was that I am not a big fan of cliffhangers. I've read that the last two movies are really just one movie cut in half. This means that there is a certain unsettling feeling at the end. I have so many unanswered questions that it is going to drive me insane to wait 6 months for the next film. If you're like me, you might also feel a little anxious when it's over - just a warning. |
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