THE MATRIX RELOADED (2003) A review by Shlomoh Sherman

Director(s): Andy Wachowski & Larry Wachowski Stars: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss Also Known As: Matrix 2, The (2001) (USA: working title) Matrix Reloaded: The IMAX Experience, The (2003) (USA: IMAX version) MPAA: Rated R for sci-fi violence and some sexuality. Taglines: Free your mind. Genres: Action - Sci-Fi Runtime: 138 min 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. Country: USA - Australia Language: English - French Release Date: May 15, 2003 (USA) Also Known As: The Burly Man Filming Locations: 16th Street, Oakland, California, USA

Storyline: For most of us who saw and liked THE MATRIX, and patiently awaited this sequel with anticipation, the letdown is more than just an insult from the Wachowski boys. To begin with, the movie doesn't know where to go or what to do with itself. Instead of continuing an interesting story, the film makers chose to present us with a series of ongoing fight sequences and "stunt photography". Agent Smith, the most interesting of villains, is misused, hardly used at all except to constantly engage in supernatural martial arts with Neo, the messianic hero. There appears to be something like an orgy scene stuck into the film that makes no logical sense. Laurence Fishburne [Morpheus] has put on so much weight since the first film that he looks as though he's eaten an elephant, even if it is only a make-believe one in the matrix. One can only wonder what horror awaits us in the next sequel. Not horror in the sense of scaring us but in the sense of duping and cheating us once again. My girl friend, who left in mid-showing and said that she was going home to prepare a nice dinner for me, said she was happy that we had brought two cars to the show. Several Arab newspapers have labeled the film as Israeli propaganda because the home land of the rebels is named Zion, pronouned ZAYON. Finally, Keanu Reeves [Neo] looked as though he couldn't wait to run out of the film and get back to TED AND BILL'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE. Please save your money. Wait till it comes on televeision. Maybe the boob tube will enhance the movie by making it smaller.

Cast in alphabetical order: 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 Josephine Byrnes .... Zion Virtual Control Operator Noris Campos .... Woman with Groceries Sing Ngai .... Seraph (as Collin Chou) Paul Cotter .... Corrupt Marlene Cummins .... Another Old Woman at Zion Attila Davidhazy .... Young Thomas Anderson at 12 Essie Davis .... Maggie Terrell Dixon .... Wurm Nash Edgerton .... Security Guard #5 Laurence Fishburne .... Morpheus Gloria Foster .... The Oracle David Franklin .... Maitre D' Austin Galuppo .... Young Thomas Anderson at 4 Nona M. Gaye .... Zee (as Nona Gaye) Daryl Heath .... A.P.U. Escort Roy Jones Jr. .... Ballard Malcolm Kennard .... Abel (as Malcom Kennard) David Kilde .... Agent Jackson (as David A. Kilde) Randall Duk Kim .... The Keymaker Christopher Kirby .... Mauser Peter Lamb .... Colt Nathaniel Lees .... Mifune Harry J. Lennix .... Commander Lock (as Harry Lennix) Tony Lynch .... Computer Room Technician Robert Mammone .... AK Joshua Mbakwe .... Link's Nephew Matt McColm .... Agent Thompson Scott McLean .... Security Bunker Guard #2 Chris Mitchell .... Power Station Guard Steve Morris .... Computer Room Guard Carrie-Anne Moss .... Trinity Tory Mussett .... Beautiful Woman at Le Vrai Rene Naufahu .... Zion Gate Operator Robyn Nevin .... Councillor Dillard David No .... Cain Genevieve O'Reilly .... Officer Wirtz Socratis Otto .... Operator Harold Perrineau Jr. .... Link (as Harold Perrineau) Jada Pinkett Smith .... Niobe Montaño Rain .... Young Thomas Anderson at 8 Adrian Rayment .... Twin #2 Neil Rayment .... Twin #1 Rupert Reid .... Lock's Lieutenant Keanu Reeves .... Neo David Roberts .... Roland Shane C. Rodrigo .... Ajax Nick Scoggin .... Gidim Truck Driver Kevin Scott .... 18 Wheel Trucker (as Kevin C. Scott) Tahei Simpson .... Binary Frankie Stevens .... Tirant Nicandro Thomas .... Young Thomas Anderson at 2 Gina Torres .... Cas Andrew Valli .... Police #1 Steve Vella .... Malachi John Walton .... Security Bunker Guard Clayton Watson .... Kid Hugo Weaving .... Agent Smith Cornel West .... Councillor West Leigh Whannell .... Axel (as Leigh Whannel) Bernard White .... Rama-Kandra Lambert Wilson .... Merovingian Anthony Wong .... Ghost Anthony Zerbe .... Councillor Hamann