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Once upon a time, “The Matrix” was this word-of-mouth blockbuster
about folks clad in leather that could do really cool things with
bullets. Then again, it was a lot more than that – so much so, that
we’ve got two sequels coming this year. Call it the completion of
what will be the new holy trinity of Sci-Fi.
Much will be argued about “The Matrix” for years to come. Sure, much
of it will happen in Comic stores and at certain conventions, but
there will eventually be a course listing called “The Discussions of
Religion, Race and Sex in ‘The Matrix.’” The Wachowski Brothers have
thrust themselves out of the hip-indie world and taken the head of
the cultural icon table. They are to the new millennium what George
Lucas was to the seventies.
Figuring out what “Reloaded” is supposed to be will be the test of
time. While the Judeo-Christian trinity, Hindu highlights, the
equality of the subjugated sexes and races are all surface themes
readily explored, there begs an even deeper question…
Isn’t this just a cool film with awesome effects?
Of course it is! There’s no reason a film can’t be both fun and
serve as the easiest slam-dunk paper on symbolism in film. Besides,
this gives the uber-geeks even more reason to be superior. For those
that see nothing but a special effects film, the uber-geeks will
gleefully laugh at your ignorance. For those that see symbolism in
the film, the uber-geeks will denounce them as being too ignorant to
not have had a complete understanding of the philosophies by the age
of eight. For the uber-geeks, it’s win-win.
For the rest of us, it’s another chapter in a fantastic series that
seeks to answer the question about our place in the universe. This
is what all good Sci-Fi really does. Let’s face it, we’re all just
accidental heroes waiting to happen – the question is whether we’re
a one-shot wonder or whether we’re the real deal.
Is Neo the real deal? Well, that’s a question left with some
ambiguous answers. He is the real deal, but is it the real deal as
we assumed the real deal was? Is he the real deal IN the Matrix, or
can he also be the real deal outside of the Matrix? Is he the real
deal for love or because he knows it is his destiny?
Most of these questions will be answered in six months – just enough
time to get the DVD out and purchased to fuel the Matrix well into
the holiday season and beyond. For those of you wanting to fill out
your Oscar ballots early, expect “The Matrix” to win in the special
effects category.
Sadly, I feel it is my public duty to inform people that Keannu
Reeves does, in fact, have more lines in this film than in the last.
Fortunately, most of the lines seem to center around Neo’s confusion
– a seemingly natural state for Mr. Reeves.
The Usual:
What It’s Worth: You definitely want to pay full price for this one.
In fact, you may want to pay twice. The first time, see this in a
regular theater (make sure that the sound is digital and you have
access to stadium seating), the second time, you’ll want to see the
IMAX version.
Main Reason To See This Film: If you’ve ever found yourself
surrounded by a second family that became as important as your first
family, this is a film that’s about you.
Main Reason Not To See This Film: You can’t stand Roberta Flack.
MPAA Rating: PG-13
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