Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12115 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-10-10
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen, Dolby, Digital Sound, Surround Sound
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: German, English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 133 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Matrix Reloaded delivers added amounts of everything that the first film had, with the exception of surprises. We see more of the "real world" in the "last human city" of Zion and we go back to the 1999-look urban virtual reality of the Matrix for more encounters with artificially-intelligent baddies and--the real reason you've turned up--a lot more martial arts superheroics.

The downside is that this is just part one of a two-pack of sequels, with Revolutions required to tie up the story and sort out a great deal of plot confusion. There are other problems: none of the stars have much good material to work with outside the fights and stunts, which makes the film sorely miss the mix of science fiction thrills and character interplay of the original instalment.

However, the Wachowski Brothers still deliver more than enough stand-alone instant classic action sequences to make you ignore their duff script: in particular, Reeves and Hugo Weaving square off in a rumble that gets dicey, as more and more identical Weavings come out of the woodwork to pile on the lone hero; and a full quarter of an hour is devoted to a chase through the Matrix that lets Laurence Fishburne shoulder the heroic business. A last-reel encounter with a virtual God, the architect of the Matrix, finally delivers some major plot advances, but the scene is so brilliantly shot and designed--with Reeves framed against a wall of TV screens that show multiple versions of himself--that it's easy to be distracted by the decor and miss the point of what's being said. --Kim Newman

On the DVD: The Matrix Reloaded two-disc set amazingly has very little in-depth stuff on this physically impressive movie; there's not even a commentary track. Perhaps the Wachowski Brothers want to keep their enigmatic aura, or perhaps there's a better DVD coming after the trilogy ends? Best here is the 30-minute feature on the incredible freeway chase: here you get the inside scoop on how the titanic 12-minute sequence was put together. There's plenty of material on the second disc, but it's just filler, with the actors talking about how great it is to work again with the Matrix team and plenty of quick edits of explosions and other "cool" things. There's a segment on product placement, 30 minutes on how the video game was created and the MTV Movie Awards parody. The features feel more like pre-movie hype than post-film deconstruction. Dolby 5.1 sound is suitably spectacular--but there's no DTS option--and the super-wide 2.40:1 picture is, of course, pin-sharp, bringing out all the lavish detail and highlighting the contrast between the green-hued Matrix and the grimy grey real world. --Doug Thomas

Special Features

• Preload – get behind the scenes
  
• The Freeway Chase – how they did it
  
• The Matrix Unfolds – a look at the Matrix phenomenon
  
• MTV Movie Awards Reloaded
  
• What is "The Animatrix"?
  
• Enter The Matrix – making the game
  
• Get Me An Exit – inspired design and advertising

DVD Technical Information:

• Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
  
• Aspect ratio: 2.40:1 widescreen
  
• Languages: English, German
  
• Hearing impaired: English, German
  
• Subtitles: English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, = Icelandic

Synopsis
Neo (Keanu Reeves), Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) continue their battle against the machines in THE MATRIX RELOADED, the second chapter of Larry and Andy Wachowski's MATRIX trilogy. As RELOADED begins, Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus arrive in Zion with new crew member Link (Harold Perrineau), and discover that 250,000 dreaded sentinels are close to launching a massive attack on the underground haven for the liberated minds of humanity. When Neo seeks advice from the prophetic Oracle (the late Gloria Foster), their meeting leads to a sorely outnumbered fight with Neo's old nemesis, Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving). While the sentinels advance on Zion, various battles within the Matrix continue to escalate, culminating in an extended highway chase sequence involving Morpheus, Trinity, more imposing agents, and two new adversaries--the relentless white-clad Twins (Adrian and Neil Rayment).
With RELOADED, the Wachowski brothers delve deeper into both the realm of the Matrix and the apocalyptic, machine-controlled future reality. Initially giving ample attention to both the romance between Neo and Trinity and to the vast underground city of Zion, the film eventually delivers one stunning set piece after another, with the amazing martial arts sequences and jaw-dropping effects of the first MATRIX elevated to even more astounding heights. In addition to the returning cast of Reeves, Moss, Fishburne, Weaving, and Foster, Perrineau and Jada Pinkett Smith make for welcome new additions, and Monica Bellucci offers up an unforgettably sensual appearance. Larger than the original scale on every level, THE MATRIX RELOADED is a thoroughly entertaining sequel that will leave viewers eager for the trilogy's conclusion, THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS.

Customer Reviews

Something's Missing.
"The Matrix Reloaded" was a difficult movie for me to review. I saw it theatrically in the summer of 2003 and then I saw it yet again on DVD very recently. A seamless melange of martial arts, science fiction, and Christian overtones, 1999's "Matrix" was both an unexpected smash hit and ignited a cultural phenomenon in the age of digital video. The Wachowski brothers, who directed the movie, were faced with the daunting task of topping themselves, which they don't quite do on the sequel "Reloaded." Here is a film that's intermittently thrilling, sometimes boring, and often confusing. Never mind that Keanau Reeves, as an actor, is as wooden as mahogany furniture; what really matters are the stunts, which range from good to breathtaking. Highlights include an extended car chase and a scene featuring Neo (Reeves) going to battle with tens of Smiths (the underrated Hugo Weaving). New to the cast is the ever-striking Jada Pinkett Smith, who, as Niobe, doesn't have much to work with, but makes the most of what little screen time she is given. But as soon as the action stops, "Reloaded" hits some bumps with long stretches of dialogue that, quite frankly, are tedious to listen to. And there's a long, pointless "rave scene" that seems to go on and on and doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the picture. If any clip belongs in the "deleted scenes" section, it's this one. While I'm not as rabid a fan of "The Matrix" as some people are, I was somewhat entertained by "Reloaded." But for all its stunning visuals I couldn't help noticing that it also lacked the unexpected punch of its predecessor. Maybe a better title for this movie would have been "The Matrix Unloaded."

Not bad for a sequel
It can't be denied that this film is flawed. Despite probably the best special effects in history and some incredible stunts, there are simply so many on this movie, and they go on for so long (eg.neo fights Smith for ten minutes, 12 minute freeway chase) that they just lose their effect.The action should have been used more sparingly for it to appear as striking as it did in the original Matrix.

Other parts of tyhe film suggest that the directors have just lost the plot. There are too many comedy moments, which make the film seem like a bit of a farce at times. The actor who plays 'Lock' is embarrassing, and the Zion scenes look too much like Star Wars. Morpheus talks in his monotonous philosophical voice incessantly, so that unlike the first film, where he was the most complete and impressive character, he ends up looking more than a little silly. Neo suffers in the same way when Larry and Andy have him flying around like Superman, one arm outstretched. The Merovingian was surely included for a bit of light relief.

This film could have been brilliant, but as it is it's just good.
The common fate of sequels is evident again here, as for the most part it's just more of the same, and although it's extremely well made, we've seen it all before. The truly new ideas are rare, but have the same startling effect of the original. Examples are Neo meeting 'The Architect'( fantastic scene), his developing relationship with Trinity, and the discovery that he has power even in the real world.

The MTV Movie Awards parody on disc two, featuring Seann William Scott and Justin Timberlake, is almost as funny as the film itself.

The Matrix has you again!
Having been a huge fan of the original Matrix back in 1999 I awaited this new outing with excitement and some dread. In most case sequels never live up to the original with some exceptions (Two Towers for example). So when Matrix Reloaded finally came onto the big screen I didn't know what to expect but I wasn't disappointed.
The opening titles sent a tingle down my spine and the sight of Trinity, leather clad, is enough to spark my interests. That aside the first half hour was slow going but worthwhile in my mind, the story is just as important as the action. It was good to see the real world and see what the fight was all for. Once inside the Matrix the action was awesome and the scene with the many Agent Smiths was breathtaking along with the car chase, which had me dodging the traffic. The action is just as good if not better than the first and Neo does it all without breaking into a sweat, now that's coolness for you!

Yes the lines can be cheesy at times but wasn't the first? This is a different film to the first, a film in it's own right and yet a part of something greater. The film isn't for those with short attention spans, you have to concentrate and follow the story especially when Neo is in the room with the architect, that takes concentration but doesn't it raise some serious questions. It does for me and I can't wait to see Matrix Revolutions, what is the truth and how will it all end?

I don't want to give too much away for those who haven't seen the film but if you haven't seen the film then ignore all the bad reports, what do they know, judge for yourself and I'm sure the Matrix will have you!