Well, I went and saw this movie (brought by my wife) with an open mind, never having liked the original. I have to say, it looked pretty amazing, but I was left with a very empty feeling throughout most of this movie.

First thing I want to point out, is just how many people were leaving this movie mid stream. I myself am a die hard film enthusiast, and have only left 2 movies in my whole life before they were over. No matter how much i disliked it. In a half full theater, I noticed at least 16 people leave before the mid way point.

The car chase scene worked okay, but am I the only one who thinks the whole Slow-mo bullet time thing is getting EXTREMELY TEDIOUS? All flash and no substance. It was just one kung fu fight after another, for seemingly no reason. Even my wife (a fan of the first) was being bored to tears. Dont get me wrong, I loved crouching tiger, so, if done right, martial arts can entertain me, but this was just boring as hell.

I will stay away from the other criticisms I have seen in many places (Like I thought Neo was now all powerful in the matrix, why is he still fighting the agents) but who can honestly say that the dialogue was not retarded philosophising? It was terrible, I have read more profound statements on a Bazooka Joe comic. And it just seemed like they were saying the same thing over and over in the same pretentious way every five (non kung fu) minutes.

It also seemed to me that there was about 30 minutes worth of movie here! Take out the gay rave scene, the kung fu fights and the redundant dialogue and you have maybe a half hour worth of film.

The worst thing of all is...

....it hooked me in the end. That last scene between Neo and the Architect, and the inside the matrix resolution which I will not spoil here, finally, after being bored and over saturated with meaningless scene after scene, i was Interested. Which leaves me wishing i could have completely hated this movie, or completely liked it. Maybe someday, somebody will take Reloaded and Revolutions and combine them into one 2 hour movie and i will be satisfied.

Until then, reluctantly, I find myself slightly anticipating the Third film...

...and hating it.

One last thing... Can everyone please stop wearing all the leather and sunglasses in these movies?! It looks rediculous. It looks like what a complete dork (or Geek) thinks is cool in his comic saturated brain. I have to say, it also looks really gay. (no offense intended to anyone homosexual)

I really have a lot of trouble believing this.

I agree with pretty much everything you said. Also, the repetitive heavy handed philosophizing really got on my nerves. I was like, WE GET IT, you're trying to be a deep movie!!!

Morpheus's lines were especially gag-inducing.

Regardless of what you believe... it happened.

On the same note. Fellowship of the ring, a movie I loved, also had people leaving mid stream, though not as many as this film.

Not to nitpick but do you think perhaps these people were using the restroom? I mean in 21 years of moviegoing, I've yet to see a film where 16 people left the theater, let alone a film as "big" as the Matrix. Doesn't really matter but I wonder how much of that is hyperbole/simple misunderstanding.

As far as the rest of your post, I agree with certain parts, namely the overuse of the slo-mo bullet time, though even that was still good eye candy (who doesn't like eye candy?).

As far as the "retarded philosophizing," you should try reading the threads that discuss the film in this forum. It really is deeper than you think. Not to sound rude or anything but I respectfully think your own lack of comprehension of the film's deeper elements lead you to believe it was mere heavy handed pseudo philosophical psycho babble. I also hate movies that put the pseudo-philosophy on thick and try to sound deep. Reloaded, with very few exceptions, does not do that; rather, almost everything mentioned is mentioned for a reason. Again, read the other threads to get a better glimpse into this. There is much more to the movie than I'm sure you caught (I didn't catch much of it either, I didn't realize a lot of the stuff until I read some of those threads).

They may very well have snuck in after a previous showing ended next door to see a few crucial scenes again.

You sure they aren't just going to the bathroom or to get something to eat/drink? it seems like you assume once someone leaves a theater for any reason, that they hate the movie.

Souljahh... I will admit, some interesting questions are raised in the forums (took a look at your request, dont want to be unfair)
While some of it seems intriguing, so much of it is put forth in such a heavy handed manner in the film that it has a strong odor of self importance. Yes, it is some of those questions postulated towards the end (The last 20 minutes?) that, as I said hooked me. Some theories I share with those in the forums, others seem a little reaching and a few more hair brained. I wish the first 2 hours could have been as interesting for me as the last 20 minutes. I hate having such a lopsided opinion of a movie. My other criticisms stand (in my opinion of course)

Lets hope the brothers can learn to edit themselves better in the third film. I grow very tired of pointless action scenes. If it has a purpose, fine, but otherwise, just leave it out. Or better yet, save some money and dont film it in the first place. I have a feeling this film was much more expensive then it needed to be.

let me put it to you this way... I saw alot more leave then came back. It happens alot actually, especially at certain theaters in certain cities. but this movie just seemed to have alot more walk outs than some others. I think alot of people found the early parts of the film quite boring actually. I myself have ever only walked out on two films... Cannonball Run 2 and Sleeping with the Enemy (Sleeping I had seen for free anyway) So, I usually stick it out til the bitter end when I see a movie.

I saw a lot of people come in, watch some of the "money scenes" and then leave. I'm guessing that's what happened here.

rushmore, understood. Actually, I agree with you with regard to editing. I don't think editing is the Wachowski Bros.' strongest suit.

With regard to people leaving the theater, maybe it is more like that where you live. I've lived in Los Angeles and Austin (two very big movie cities) my whole life and have yet to encounter something like you described.

edit: what BigPete and Groucho pointed out makes sense. That is probably what is happening here.

could very well be, I of course do not know Why these people left the film. I have entered a later showing to see a few scenes before as well. so, it is possible.

Although, a couple next to me was one that left, and they kept groaning and moaning throught the film, almost to the point of where I wanted to tell them to shut up.

Nice review but I just can't see accepting a review from someone who admits to not liking the first movie. It's obvious that you don't like the style. CTHD has a different "charm" about it but that's definitely not what The Matrix Gives you. The Wachowskis are Anime, Kung-Fu and Philosphy fiends. Reloaded is what you're going to get with these guys. They've never mistated their intentions.

I like Kung fu even if it's over the top. Even if I'm watching a somewhat boring movie...I don't observe the whereabouts of others. If they're going or coming doesn't matter to me. Do you always show a lack of focus at theaters because that seems somewhat odd to me that you your eyes should be on the screen but are actually watching other patrons.

The Matrix is Sci-Fi and Kun-Fu mixed. Some people have an aversion to one of the two or both. That's fine.

Here's what I would do.

Reduce the Rave scene and Neo vs Agent Smith Gang by a couple of minutes. Focus more on the love interest between Trinity and Neo, Show more "humorous" interation between Zion member. War should not be treated as so Heavy Handed. Hell I was playing Volleyball in Saudi Arabia and enjoying it...sometimes you need a "getaway". The Dialogue wasn't that bad but didn't hold up to the highs of the action scenes. We must have more dynamism here..more passion. Morpheus seems to be the only one with a shred of it.

Can't wait to see this movie again. It's more sophisticated than people give it credit for. I'm glad I don't have to wait that long for Revolutions.

I acutally like the depiction of war in Zion. This is a far different situation then you being able the play volleyball in Saudi Arabia. In this case, they're fighting for their existance and fearing for their lives... the 'rave' scene was one of the few chances to feel hope.

Anyway... as for people leaving, i actually never notice anyone leave during a movie. I guess i'm too intuned to the movie to let distractions like that get to me. I agree partly about the philosophy throughout the movie... i love how it works as far as making you think (loving the threads about it here) but they were easily all 2-3 minutes too long. Feels like even longer when you're sitting there confused at what they mean

I wanted to leave. I asked my daughter if she wanted to go to Target, but she said no. I haven't walked out of a movie in 20 years, but I would have left this if she'd agreed. I ended up falling asleep at the theater for the second time in my life (first time was at The Phantom Menace.)

tasha

Maybe your going to the wrong kind of movies. It shoulds like Daddy Daycare would be right up your alley.

I enjoyed every aspect of the movie. The action, the dialogue, the camera angles, the editing. But I guess it isn't everyone's cup of tea. I didn't really see anything wrong with the editing myself. I recall the first Matrix movie winning an academy award for film editing.

Do you think so? I was planning on waiting to buy it on DVD, but on your recommendation, I'll go see it right away.

I liked the first Matrix just fine even though I thought Dark City handled the same themes a lot better. I just mentioned that I would have left because no one seemed to believe rushmore223 when he said 16 people did when he went to see it.

tasha

I almost left the theater too during the Architect's speech. They kept cutting back and forth between it and Trinity fighting the agent and I got annoyed big time.

For rushmore:

How could you say that you didn't like the first movie, and expected to like the second?

Listen, folks. Just because its a big budget action flick, doesn't mean you HAVE to see it. If Sci-Fi, Kung-Fu, or Religious philosphy are not your cup of tea, then DON'T SEE THE MOVIE. You won't like it, period.

There are lots of big movies that I won't be seeing just because they're not my types of movies. Like Legally Blonde 2. Reese Witherspoon is hot, but those movies are chick flicks to me. So I won't be there.

Reloaded was AWESOME. It made me think, and it is still making me think, of all the possibilities. Maybe those of you thought of walking out should go the movies with an open mind next time, maybe you'll enjoy it.

You guys have problems. In no single moment minus the rave scen was I even remotely close to bored. NO ONE LEFT THE THEATER when I saw it, NOT EVEN TO GO TO THE BATHROOM!!!!! Perhaps it may be OK to leave during a movie, no matter how bad it is, in your area, but where I live this is considered incredibly rude (oh jeez, who would've thought?) and being an aspiring director myself, I don't appreciate people gloating and seemingly being PROUD that they've left during the middle of the movie or actually fell asleep during one!!!! HELLO!!!!!?!!?!?!?!?!

This movie shines when you accept the thought and care put into it that you don't realize on the first viewing.... the more I think about it, the more discussions that take place, the more interesting the movie and the trilogy gets. Just take a look around this forum.

if people can sit through "Solaris" they damn well better be able to sit through this movie...........people just have no attention span or respect for artistic expression............the directors of this movie obviously put a lot of thought into this movie and it is entirely their baby. if you don't like the movie, fine don't see it again

Movies that raise the bar, music that raises the bar as well is often times look upon as misguided attempt to raise our social awareness. But this movie has put new elements into the realm of filmmaking. The revolutionary attempt at action sequences the "brothers" have tried will only improve. Not long from now you may ask your self when watching a movie is this person real or a computer image. If you walked out or thought this movie was boring your not able at this point and time to wrap your mind around it's ideals.

Yeah, my second time going I saw people walk in fourty minutes late and leave half an hour early.

I'm sorry if my posting that I didn't like the movie offended you, but both places I posted about my disappointmnent were threads about the movie's flaws. I didn't feel it was threadcrapping since there are a lot of I-loved-the-movie threads out there.

Where I live, it IS okay to leave or go get popcorn if it doesn't bother anyone. I always go to matinees that aren't crowded and sit off by myself, so who would care? I snored, but that was an accident and my daughter woke me up before anyone got extremely annoyed (I hope). To me, movies aren't the same as live theater because they are so loud and dark--you can sneak out easily without being a nuissance unless you sit smack dab in the center of a crowded theater.

That's cool that you're an aspiring director. I'm an aspiring writer, and I would never crap someone's story if they ran it through a critique group. What makes this different, is I paid nearly $20 for a product--an afternoon at the movies with my daughter, and I thought the movie was terrible. Maybe I missed a lot of good stuff--the movie definately looked more interesting after I woke up than when I fell asleep, but a failure to hook your audience is a pretty big flaw in either a movie or a story.

As for the movie being especially deep and thought provoking, I don't know since I slept through much of it, but I'm skeptical. I do think that print is decades ahead of film in the science fiction genre (most blockbuster movies are based on ideas and books that are decades old), so maybe I'm jaded that way.

tasha