Journal shepd's Journal: The Matrix Reloaded Sucks 1
[I'll avoid plot spoilers as much as possible]
Honestly, I really tried to enjoy this movie.
In the first movie, the Wachowski brothers did a good job of molding the film around Keanu's wooden, single expression, acting, just like the producers did for Bill & Ted's excellent adventure (his only other worthwhile movie).
But this time they didn't support Keanu with clues from other actors as to what he's feeling.
In the end, this movie felt like watching superman, except with a boring protaganist that never seems at all interested in his job. Ever. Not even when he swears at "The Architect" does Keanu seem honest. Not to mention the fact that Superman had his kryptonite. With Keanu's new moves, he's basically untouchable, which means there's positively no tension during _any_ fight scenes at all. In fact, the only ones that caught my interest _didn't_ involve him.
That and the rest of the newly introduced characters are left _totally_ undeveloped, to the point where I didn't even catch the names of some of them.
And the anti-climax ending, good lord, what a botch job. If the movie needs to be 5 hours long (which, in this case this half could be about 1 hour long, so it doesn't) then just wait until November to release it as an "epic" rather than hacking it in half this way. Hell, if you have to do it, at LEAST wait for a cut scene. Even a 2 year old could have found a better place to edit than at that point.
I'm so disappointed in this movie, I'm really without words to describe it properly. I was expecting a movie that would have a decent plot, with a decent amount of mystery in it, like the first Matrix. This movie delivers like a lead balloon.
If I wanted an action flick devoid of plot, I'd watch an Arnold schwarzenegger film -- maybe "The Last Action Hero" or something.
How they could have improved this movie: Kill off Neo. It's the only way, now. His character is ruined now that he's turned into some sort of totally invulnerable man.
I think I'll wait until the next part is availble as a DVD rental rather than watch it in the theater, unless I'm told it's any different (I highly doubt it). It seems obvious now that the Wachowski brothers are a one-trick pony. They can take any idea, and do a good job of it ONCE. Just don't let them do a sequel.
SPOILER ALERT!
I'm going to give you the entire plot, not really missing an important beat (and dumbed down on purpose -- remember, they didn't bothered with any character development, so I figured I'd do my own):
Some people are threatened by bad things wanting to hurt them. Bad things will be there in 72 hours. Superman tries to get help (vis-a-vis superman *). He is told he needs to find a keymaker (Ghostbusters). So he gathers up his crew (Egon, Spengler, Venkman). They get keymaker from nasty man (Stay-puft). Keymaker tells them special things to help them, and gives them a secret key (hmmm... wow... this is somewhat original). Superman uses the key to save people. Superman is given cliche choice because the bad plot demands it (Gozer). Superman does the cliche thing, and movie ends without letting us know if the cliche choice worked or not.
God, what a suck-ass movie. I take that back. What a suck-ass HALF movie. At least ghostbusters knew it was supposed to be lame, and they made sure it was a funny movie instead of a really bad 50's sci-fi flick.
I think I'll dub this from TV whenever it is on if I decide to add it to my collection of crappy B-grade sci-fi movies. Perhaps they'll cut out the pointless scenes to make the movie shorter (and much better).
I'm with you shep (Score:2)
But the other problems are inexecusable. Keanu's acting is horrible as usual, and his superman powers are over the top. I watched the fight between him and 100 agents as a marvel in CG... it was entertaing, but hardl