The Matrix Reloaded has finally loaded, and like many libertarians, I eagerly anticipated seeing it. Would it be as engaging as the original? Is it really all about freedom? And most important, how much of Keanu and Carrie-Anne do we get to see? (Just kidding.) As with most sequels, the questions come so fast and thick it can be hard to know where to start.
Let's do so with the obvious one: no, Reloaded isn't as original as the first -- but really, how could it be? The juxtaposition of deep philosophy and hardcore action was a risk that paid off handsomely in The Matrix, but viewers know to expect that this time. The action scenes and special effects were stunning in the original, and similarly, the sequel falls right into line rather than breaking into new territory. Even so, Reloaded generally does not disappoint.
The focus of Reloaded has shifted from the matrix to Zion, where a quarter-million humans now live, and continue to battle the machines. A hundred years of warring have led to the pivot-point of their future. For those who believe along with Morpheus that Neo is The One who can save them -- and free all humans from the matrix -- the prophecy of the Oracle is about to come true. For the others, the primary issue is how to best use their limited resources to fend off the sentinels that are coming to destroy Zion. Deep within the earth, forged of stone and metal in a cave, Zion is a golden-bronze relief from the black-and-white starkness of the matrix world; the difference between the worlds is almost palpable. But for some, the contrast will be overdrawn; a cold, logic-driven battle zone and warm, secure home are not always the polar opposites depicted.
That polarization gives some hint of the thrust of the philosophizing in Reloaded. Freedom versus destiny, the nature of reality, and reason versus emotion are considered, occasionally in ways more straightforward than Morpheus' assured pronouncements (which are plentiful). Despite the direct approach, the effect is generally leaden, as if, like Neo in a fight, the dialogue is simply going through the motions, doing what's needed to get to the next part. While multiple viewings and the ability to pause the movie to think about what's being said can help tease the ideas out, I suspect that doing so will further sink this element of Reloaded. What's presented are bones, with very little substance to them, and most libertarians will likely be disappointed. After all, we've generally spent years reading and talking and thinking and arguing about these and many more related ideas.
Ultimately, what holds Reloaded back from being a really good film is not so much a sequel jinx, but the bridge effect: we know a third movie, The Matrix Revolutions, is already in the can, and that's when things have to really come together. Much like The Two Towers, most of the sparse plot in Reloaded involves filling in and making necessary introductions -- necessary work, but not always the most fun stuff to watch.
The ideas, except at the end of the movie, are more of the depth of an intro philosophy class than an advanced seminar that thinking people would relish. Neo's expansion of powers offers, I hope, a glimpse of deeper exploration in the concluding movie. While not as breathtaking as in The Matrix, the action scenes are still engrossing. Their choreography and cinematography elevate them to a lush heavy-metal ballet, with appropriate musical accompaniment -- but the scenes, with one exception, tend to drag and let the excitement wane. Carrie-Anne Moss shines, as competent and steely as before, but with a fulgent warmth that rounds out Trinity and adds an unexpected but welcome bit of humor. The much-touted Neo vs. multiple Agent Smith fight scenes had the perverse effect of diluting Smith's impact, just as copies of copies lose their crispness. While an enjoyable movie, and worth the full-ticket price, Reloaded lacks the energy and uniqueness that earned The Matrix its acclaim.
So, are the Matrix movies really about freedom, or simply standard anti-authoritarian fare that's got some jargon to make Objectivists smile? For most libertarian movie-goers, the answer will likely have to wait until the release of The Matrix Revolutions. Thankfully, that's only six months away -- and you can get a taste of it by hanging around after the credits of The Matrix Reloaded.
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Graphic obtained from the Star Cinema web site, and modified by me.