The Matrix Reloaded (Cinema: May 2003)

The Matrix Reloaded is finally here, one of the most eagerly anticipated franchises around at the mo (behind X-Men, Lord of the Rings & Star Wars) And the studio's have finally gotten savvy with the sequel after much denigrated cult faves like Elm Street, Friday 13th & Halloween paved the way. Proving several important points: one, the fringe is the lifeblood of the mainstream (no matter how much we attack or condemn); two, these same freaks form the most reliable audience fanbase (the cult one) and three, the similarly ridiculed Hollywood horror machine has proved a consistent birthing ground not just for talent (think Roger Corman's stable of young guns many now HW hotshots) but for successful discourse (on and offscreen) - as I pointed out in my dissertation.

Okay, personal diatribe over, is it any good?

Well: yes and no. Firstly, the problem with following up a film like The Matrix is that it's impossible to better. With such a wow! factor in tow, the expectation is massive. Secondly, there the problem of being a sequel in the first place. Any technological trickery loses its impact second time around and the charismatic leads are diluted of substance by their familiarity. Thirdly, there's the problem of making a sequel to a film that doesn't (in cinematic terms) warrant one. The perfect example here being Highlander. Granted, the Wachowski's allegedly dreamt up The Matrix as a Matrices but the problem is they have gone about in a Star Wars manner. The easiest way to get around the problems of a franchise is to do a Lord of the Rings and stretch one tale over 3 movies or episodically like X-Men or the (briefly - as it turns out - abandonned) Conan movies. (You ask why "briefly," well, because part of the Wachowski's deal for the Matrix sequels is to crown the aging Schwarzenegger King Conan). The hardest (& most common) is to do a Star Wars, ie. follow a tale that has essentially concluded in the mind of the audience with the first movie. Therefore any sequel sits uncomfortably (or ridiculously as with the previously touted horrors) with the viewer by following on from a dead end. Star Wars, like The Matrix, was a fine movie in its own right which, though leaving some loose ends, concluded quite definitely in the enlightenment of its central character & defeat of his enemy (destruction of the Death Star & demise of Agent Smith). To then produce a sequel is like trying to revive a corpse (whether that corpse was dead in the mind of the filmmaker or not).

A sequel's due course dictates we delve further into the plot, throw in a bunch of new characters and hope it all sticks. The Matrix & Star Wars franchises adhere to this while suffering this fatal error of starting afresh from a solid conclusion creating a ripple in the cinematic space-time continuum irritated further by making the sequel a prequel to the final conclusion, which in itself, will never work as the tale (integrity intact) concluded at the end of the first movie and actively destabilizes the concept of the series as a trilogy as it is in fact three movies with two conclusions and one ending.

Still with me? The Matrix Reloaded is a film dogged by this conundrum. The new characters are never more than superficial passing acquaintances that although interesting, only serve to delineate the impact of stronger characters like Morpheus (who has become superfluous anyway). Other key personnel like Agent Smith & the Oracle, though refined, have lost some of their shine in the process (it could've been worse, they lost Tank altogether). Even the action scenes, though more advanced & larger in scale, lack the wow! factor (ahhh! the curse!) of it's predecessor and the only big surprise is a hint of some dodgy computer animation reminiscent of Spiderman.

Reloaded's strength (and weakness) is to be found in its backstory development. Although the meandering dialogue debating metaphysical and existential argument will pass over most head's first time round (& probably eighth or ninth), it raises many interesting questions about the story, the medium of cinema, freedom, god and life itself. Do we have a choice or is everything pre-destined by cause and effect? Is the matrix more than just a metaphor? Is god an architect? And if so, are we trapped on some infinite spiral toward perfection? Are the reclusive Wachowski's just ballsy comicbook geeks, great 21st century thinkers or shrewd businessmen? Somewhere in the midst of all this lies the longevity and watchability of The Matrix films. Whether there's any real substance to be found in this verbal spaghetti or whether it's just a cock and bull pretense elluding to some hidden depth in all this superficiality is difficult to determine first time around. But, for me, this proved to be the saving grace of a sequel destined for disappointment. And for sure, it's this philosophical inquiry that'll keep audiences entertained (and coming back) for many years to come.

Whether The Matrix Reloaded will prove as endearing as The Empire Strikes Back ultimately did, only time will tell. But one thing's for sure, despite everything, I'm looking forward to The Matrix Revolutions a helluva lot more than the final Star Wars episode.

RATING:

(c)Limer 2003