Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - [SPOILERS!!] The Matrix Reloaded: Who's seen it and what did you think?

Bob Biter · 05-16-2003, 06:17 AM

SPOILERS (but who cares at this point?)

While I liked the plot twists and "middle-of-the-trilogy" feel Reloaded had, I was generally disappointed by the movie as a whole. Matrix, IMHO, was flawless. Of course, I might simply feel this way because the first flick was a totally new concept and had a nicely wrapped up ending, as was mentioned before, but some elements of Reloaded really detracted from my enjoyment:

1- The crappy "video-game" feel caused by excessive use of CGI: OK, so Neo tangles a shitload of Smith agents; obviously, we need some computer back-up here, but this was ridiculous to the point of being offensive. I really enjoyed the live-action fight scenes, with the light CGI touches for sudden movements and blocks and whatnot, but was an ENTIRELY computer-generated sequence really necessary? If so, couldn't they have made it better? If I were playing a game, I'd be sprating my shorts if it had graphics like that. However, this is a movie, so I expected much higher quality. Perhaps it would have been better if they kept the CGI-only stuff exclusively on the long distance angles, like the bird's eye view when Neo was knocking agents around with the lamp post.

2- 360 sequences: OK, we were all blown away when Neo dodged the bullets in Matrix while we got a nice slow-mo view at all angles in 1 fluid motion. However, in Revolutions, quite a few scenes used that technique, which cheapened it immensly. There is such a thing as "too much of a good thing."

3- Stereotypes: When I first heard Merovengian speak, I knew I was in for the pinnacle in stereotypical overload. They made him French. Now that they did that, why stop there? Let's make him an arrogant, mysoginistic, cowardly sex-hound. Let's make him the embodiment of everything most North Americans think of when presented with a French person. I bet that went over really well in theaters. Sure, being from Montreal, one might think I took it personally, but aside from language I have nothing in common with European French. I'm simply disappointed that they used an easy, unimaginative way to bring out an antagonist. I would still feel the same way if he had been German, English, Italian or whatever. My point is that there are other types of character development that would've been much better.

4- Trinity: There was almost no character progress with Trinity. Along with Neo and Morpheus, she is the core of the "good guys" and therefore could have used more details or progress. I sincerely hope we don't have another "(insert verb) this" in Revolutions, since I really find that gimmick tired. We had "Dodge this" in Matrix, which was poignant and very appropriate, then "Sample this" in Reloaded, which was part of an almost totally useless scene. Leave the recurring one-liners to Ahhnold, not her.

Of course, I did enjoy a number of things about the movie, such as the highway chase against traffic on a speed bike and the meeting with The Architect, but then you have the "rave" scene and the rather formulaic approach of the whole film... Anyway, I still can't wait for Revelations.

05-16-2003, 06:17 AM	#42 (permalink)
Bob Biter Non-smokers die everyday Location: Montreal	SPOILERS (but who cares at this point?) While I liked the plot twists and "middle-of-the-trilogy" feel Reloaded had, I was generally disappointed by the movie as a whole. Matrix, IMHO, was flawless. Of course, I might simply feel this way because the first flick was a totally new concept and had a nicely wrapped up ending, as was mentioned before, but some elements of Reloaded really detracted from my enjoyment: 1- The crappy "video-game" feel caused by excessive use of CGI: OK, so Neo tangles a shitload of Smith agents; obviously, we need some computer back-up here, but this was ridiculous to the point of being offensive. I really enjoyed the live-action fight scenes, with the light CGI touches for sudden movements and blocks and whatnot, but was an ENTIRELY computer-generated sequence really necessary? If so, couldn't they have made it better? If I were playing a game, I'd be sprating my shorts if it had graphics like that. However, this is a movie, so I expected much higher quality. Perhaps it would have been better if they kept the CGI-only stuff exclusively on the long distance angles, like the bird's eye view when Neo was knocking agents around with the lamp post. 2- 360 sequences: OK, we were all blown away when Neo dodged the bullets in Matrix while we got a nice slow-mo view at all angles in 1 fluid motion. However, in Revolutions, quite a few scenes used that technique, which cheapened it immensly. There is such a thing as "too much of a good thing." 3- Stereotypes: When I first heard Merovengian speak, I knew I was in for the pinnacle in stereotypical overload. They made him French. Now that they did that, why stop there? Let's make him an arrogant, mysoginistic, cowardly sex-hound. Let's make him the embodiment of everything most North Americans think of when presented with a French person. I bet that went over really well in theaters. Sure, being from Montreal, one might think I took it personally, but aside from language I have nothing in common with European French. I'm simply disappointed that they used an easy, unimaginative way to bring out an antagonist. I would still feel the same way if he had been German, English, Italian or whatever. My point is that there are other types of character development that would've been much better. 4- Trinity: There was almost no character progress with Trinity. Along with Neo and Morpheus, she is the core of the "good guys" and therefore could have used more details or progress. I sincerely hope we don't have another "(insert verb) this" in Revolutions, since I really find that gimmick tired. We had "Dodge this" in Matrix, which was poignant and very appropriate, then "Sample this" in Reloaded, which was part of an almost totally useless scene. Leave the recurring one-liners to Ahhnold, not her. Of course, I did enjoy a number of things about the movie, such as the highway chase against traffic on a speed bike and the meeting with The Architect, but then you have the "rave" scene and the rather formulaic approach of the whole film... Anyway, I still can't wait for Revelations. __________________ A plan is just a list of things that don't happen.