The Matrix Reloaded 2003

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: Reloaded might not have the power to change the way you see the world, but it just may change the way you look at movies. Read more

Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: As a piece of razzle-dazzle, shut-your-mouth -and-slap -you-silly eye candy, Reloaded more than delivers. But where's the head candy? Where's the complexity? Where are the goods? Read more

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: In the face of almost unbearable expectations, the Wachowski brothers deliver a sequel that soars to places only hinted at in the original. Read more

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com: A sadder, wiser, more grown-up movie than its predecessor. Read more

Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune: For such a rich visual movie, Reloaded tells far more than it shows. Read more

Elvis Mitchell, New York Times: The martial arts sequences are breathtakingly staged. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: If you're 14 or younger in age or sensibility, you may giggle at some of the bons mots. Read more

Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Plug in. Again. But be prepared for some glitches in the software. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: The thrill isn't gone from the sequel, but the surprise is, and it hurts more than you'd think. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Simply not as satisfying as the original. Read more

Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle: Perhaps because this story is slacker, it's more obvious the way the Wachowskis strain to keep us wowed -- not only in special effects and action scenes but also with dialogue and fashion, too. Read more

Paul Clinton (CNN.com), CNN.com: Ultimately, all the razzle-dazzle becomes mind-numbingly repetitive and drains the film of any tension involving the main players. Read more

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: A kinetic, digital feat. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Trash made heady and volcanic and bravura. Supersized. Read more

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: Buckle up and enjoy the ride. Read more

John Powers, L.A. Weekly: Feels like a jerry-built sequel. Read more

John Anderson, Newsday: Much-anticipated sequel to The Matrix is both phenomenally talky and loaded with action and effects. How can this be? It's long. Read more

David Ansen, Newsweek: Reloaded is more of a straight-ahead action movie than the original, and it's filled with spectacular mayhem. Read more

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine/Vulture: You don't have to buy into the geeky mythmaking in The Matrix Reloaded in order to enjoy its kinetic pleasures. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: The film has the same problems as The Empire Strikes Back, offering neither the novelty of an initial episode nor the satisfaction of a climactic one. Read more

Jami Bernard, New York Daily News: Early in the movie, Morpheus warns a new character that he's got to have faith. All things considered, The Matrix Reloaded justifies that faith. Read more

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: I liked this movie and can recommend it with a clear critical conscience, but it never moved me even half as much as Steven Spielberg's A.I. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: On balance, The Matrix Reloaded does an admirable job of filling the niche it's supposed to -- that of an action-oriented science fiction adventure. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: An immensely skillful sci-fi adventure. Read more

Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle: A worthy sequel. Read more

David Edelstein, Slate: An ugly, bloated, repetitive movie that builds to a punch line that should have come an hour earlier. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: For sheer exhilarating spectacle, The Matrix Reloaded is the film to beat this year. Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: Judged strictly by the story line, this one plays like what it is, a rather meandering second act that advances the plot only slightly and doesn't pretend to be a complete or self-sufficient film. Read more

Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star: While it is both naive and unfair to expect lightning to strike terrain this fertile twice, the most distressing thing about the reloading of The Matrix is just how much it feels like The Phantom Menace. Read more

Derek Adams, Time Out: Worryingly, the longer this movie goes on, the harder it is to care. Read more

Mike Clark, USA Today: Reloaded seems less tired than X2. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: Delivers enough thrills, kicks and cool moments to satiate geeks, fans and mere general viewers worldwide. Read more

J. Hoberman, Village Voice: The refreshing draft of effervescent movie magic leaves a sludgy sediment of metaphysics. The latter may be less than brain-buzzing; the former is something else, thanks largely to genius fight choreographer Yuen Wo Ping. Read more