Change Your Image
kuypy
Reviews
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Plugged in, Online.
For those who are still yet to see The Matrix Reloaded, please note this *Spoiler Warning* just to cover my tracks...
The Matrix Reloaded is the second part of this brilliant Trilogy (The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded and in late 2003, The Matrix Revolutions) story thought up and directed by the Wachowski brothers. The story about a young Man, a former computer hacker, Neo (The one) who like most other humans, seeks to know his own identity and understand his place in the world. The purpose to his life and perhaps, life in general to a lesser degree.
Where the first Matrix movie was about birth and awakening to the world, the Real World, Reloaded is about life, finding out about life and its answers. But of course, nothing is as it would seem in the The Matrix and finding answers to all life's questions and Neo's own, of course raises more conundrums than it solves.
As Morpheus tells us in the first Matrix "What is real anyway?" a sentiment he again repeats in Reloaded with `I have dreamed a dream, but now that dream is gone from me." Confusion reigns (not in storyline but in theories and actualities) in Reloaded, philosophy's are spouted and answered and then re-addressed with further questions, actions and possibilities. Belief is held up for questioning.
Keanu Reeves again goes through Reloaded with a single expression on his face and seemingly, easily enough since his character is that of a brooding and unsure saviour. Unsure of him heightened status as Messiah and deliver to the people of Zion, although more sure of himself and his newfound abilities (flying about like superman).
Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity provides plenty of cool action as well as supporting strength both physically and mentally to our hero.
The great Lawrence Fishbourne seems to have been downgraded to mere philosophical side of things for most of the movie, until his lengthy fight scene on the Freeway against the bad forces that be.
Some people would tell you that all there is to this movie is the special effects, some of which do look obvious to spot (like the 100+ smith fight scene)and the involved fights scenes (some of which are unnecessary - see Scene between Neo and Seraph - but it looks cool).
But The Matrix Reloaded is much more than that.
It's involved movie that requires the brain to follow through sometimes heavily laden but intriguing dialogue, which is given relief through bursts of action and even a little romance on the side. Like the first Matrix movie evolved the genre of Sci-Fi to another level, this secondary movie has also evolved in storyline.
References are made to at least two of the short Animatrix films (The Final Flight of The Osiris & Kids Story) that were shown in cinemas prior to Reloaded. Although, the need to have seen this to understand Reloaded, is not necessary. But it's nice to be in on the little things.
The sudden ending is abrupt and will of course, as it is designed to, leaving audiences hanging for more. Note if you stay until the credits at the end of the entire film, you will be rewarded with a trailer for the upcoming Revolutions. More than enough to get your juices flowing and brain working overtime.
The Wachowski's have created an influential thinking person's film that is more than the action, special effects and hype.
Go See Reloaded.
I can't wait to see how the final story will play out and whose theories and thoughts on the film will be right on.
The Animatrix: Final Flight of the Osiris (2003)
Another Layer of the Matrix!
Animatrix: The final flight of Osiris is a short, computer generated film which demonstrates the wonder-stuff that is the Wachowski brothers.
Osiris is a ship that like the Nebacaneza and crew of the Original Matrix feature film flies aimlessly around the matrix trying to avoid nasties and keeping its small crew alive.
The opening fight training scene is amazing to say the least. The use of this short animation film as a background filler to the release of The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions (coming out in 2003) is a clever idea that definitely gets the juices flowing and wanting more.
A tantalising teaser of what is to come and what we want to see.
Chicago (2002)
Give 'em the old razzle dazzle
I was extremely hesitant about going to see this movie. Because I'd seen it as a theatre production and loved it. I was quite mortified to find out Hollywood had decided to touch it, and then put an actress not known as having a song or dance background (Renee Zellweger) into it.
However, I can safely report that Chicago, city of murder, jazz, sin and fame is a highly watch able movie. Due mainly to the great performances by all the female leads, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly is very vampish and sexy and more than capable of dancing her way through any little murder number, pity the cops didn't see it the same way hey Velma?
Renee does good with her naive belief in her own abilities and that of Roxy Hart's (her character) and proves she can keep up with Zeta Jones in the dancing and mostly, singing department easily enough.
Queen Latifah proves a great up and coming actress and if you heard her at the Academy Awards preforming "Moving On" with Zeta-Jones, then you'll know she has an amazing voice.
John C. Reilly as the foolish Amos, is a great performer who for me, stole the show with his solo number "Mr Cellophane".
Richard Gere is the only odd choice as the scheming lawyer and should really stick to his day job of just acting as a result.
Chicago the movie is much like the theatre production, if you've seen one, then really you've seen them both. There was no new breaking ground of this interpretation, which is how they've managed to score the rave reviews, by doing an un-Hollywood thing and staying true to the original production. Just with 'movie bits' thrown in-between.
A good (read safe) movie musical of the old Hollywood kind.
Signs (2002)
You will gasp and jump with fright!
Signs is a great movie reminiscent of the old way of making a movie, built on suspense, great acting and the single most significant ingredient - FEAR. No computer graphics, no high tech weaponry, no non stop action. Just the slow building and continual hold of fear, and tension through out the entire movie.
The formula of Signs relies on the simple fact; that we as individuals fear the unknown.
The story is about a farming family who are dealing with the fairly fresh death of a family member. Gibson's Character, Graham "father" Hess has to deal with his own grief, let alone his children's. One morning, he finds the beginning of a Crop Circle, and thus the weirdness and installation of fear begins.
Is it Aliens, the local mischief makers or something else entirely?
A lot of the movie we go through a cat and mouse approach. You can hear the sounds of whatever is "out there", but you very rarely see what it is, as a whole. In one great scene, the Hess family are trapped in their boarded up house. The camera pans, as if our eyes, looking at the areas where we hear the movements of what is outside the house. And we know there is no where for these people to go, and no one can help them. They are a every day family, there are no weapons for them to use for protection. All they have is each other.
The suspense of Signs works because the story is realistic enough to relate to. All the emotions of fear, panic and the instinct to survive, the family go through in their secluded location, is to be expected of anyone in the same circumstance.
Mel Gibson is brilliant as the grieving father, once a priest, as he questions his faith. Signs would have to be the best movie I have ever seen Mel Gibson in and I've seen most of his movies!
Signs is one of the best suspense movies of recent years. If you decided to see only one movie this year, make it this one. You will not be disappointed. You'll be scared.