WARNING!

I SPOIL everything. Don't read this if you want to be surprised by The Matrix Reloaded.

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> Also, apparently the Real World is also The Matrix? Is that what the ending is about? That's kind of lame, but we'll get to see how it pans out in the next movie.

I'm interested in this too. How could it be, exactly, that Neo has anything like the control he shows over the sentinels?

I agree about the bad philosophy, and I really think that the Architect scene fails because of the yammering and explanation. It seemed as though I were reading a book, and rather than let me figure things out on my own, the author-as-narrator jumps in to try to explain things without actually doing so.

I thought the whole explanation was a little far-fetched, too. The One is intentionally programmed in so that he can choose individuals to rebuild Zion, while the A.I. 'restarts' the Matrix as version such and such? Why not just kill the Zionites* over and over and over again, as they escape the Matrix due to the flaws in the program?

That whole bit about juxtaposing choice and fate was just a big mess.
>
> What's better than one Agent Smith? 500 Agent Smiths. I'm ready to put that down as the best fight scene, ever. Just ruling beyond belief, and I had a huge smile on my face the whole time.

Yeah, this scene was much better than I expected it to be. I can't imagine the work that went into it.

> The entire chase that begins with them finding the Keymaker is so incredibly well done. I think the fight Neo has against the people in the lobby of the Merovingian's house goes on too long, but all the stuff in the freeway is amazing. The Twins were really cool villains, and seeing a 3-way battle between them, the agents and the humans was neat.

It is a good scene, and the freeway chase is incredible. I liked the Twins, but as a friend of mine said, "I had the same disappointment with them that I did with Darth Maul and Lady Death Strike: all action and nothing else". In the fight at Merovingian's house, I really like the mace in the head bit. It is really cool to see characters use melee weapons to good effect in this movie, not just guns. Case in point: Morpheus and his katana.

> The instant that "Captain Soren" stood up to volunteer his services, I knew he was dead. Oh, look, some random character we haven't yet met is going to volunteer for a dangerous mission? I AM SURE HE WILL LIVE A LONG TIME!

No kidding. This is more transparent than any other event in the movie. I mean, come on, he is even wearing a RED SHIRT! What self-disrespecting geek would not know that Soren was about to meet a messy, violent end?

> Did we really need that rave/orgy scene? Just because all the characters in the movie are dressed as though they're in a bad techno music video doesn't mean the movie has to become one. But, then again, I've never been one to suggest movies have less sex and nudity, so there is that.

Terrible. A completely worthless scene. What is the temple for, anyway? Future humans, once they escape the Matrix, follow all the forms of some ancient Canaanite sex-cult without the religion? And I had no need to see that much of Keanu.

The clothes are funny, too. Everyone in Zion manages to wear slinky, sexy clothing that reveals more than it hides, and despite everyone's obvious ability to choose their clothing, soldiers on ships wear the rattiest, drabbest, threadbare clothing they can find. Like my friend Kevin said, "You only get one shirt, soldier; don't lose it".

> The whole concept of rogue computer programs is pretty cool.

Yeah, that's great. I really liked Seraph ... he was very cool.

I can't wait to see what will come of the Agent Smith story bit. It is a little confusing at this point (i.e., how is THAT possible?) but it could be played out well.

> Stephen

frum

*Zionists opens up a can of worms I would rather keep closed, hence Zionites.