THE MATRIX RELOADED (2003)

MORGAN'S RATING

Neo continues his exploration of his nature and his destiny in a future where mankind is locked in a battle for survival against an army of machines that use the remnants of humanity as batteries, as they dream of an artificial world set around the end of the 20th century, an artifiical world called "The Matrix." Aiding Neo in his journey are his lover, Trinity, and the evangelical captain of the Nebuchadnezzar hovercraft, Morpheus, whose belief in the prophecy of "The One" led to Neo's discovery of his amazing powers. Standing in their way are the Agents, the super-powered guardians of The Matrix, as well as the mysterious Twins and the return of Agent Smith, who can now copy himself on to other people inside the Matrix to create an Army of Agent Smiths. From the last human city of Zion to the inner complexities of the Matrix, Neo finds himself tumbling farther and farther down the rabbit hole...

Keanu Reeves (Thomas A. Anderson/Neo), Laurence Fishburne (Morpheus), Carrie-Anne Moss (Trinity), Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith), Matt McColm (Agent Thompson), Jada Pinkett Smith (Niobe), Monica Bellucci (Persephone), Nona M. Gaye (Zee), Harold Perrineau Jr. (Kain), Harry J. Lennix (Commander Lock), Clayton Watson (Kid), Daniel Bernhardt (Agent Johnson), Ray Anthony (Power Station Guard), Christina Anu (Kali), Helmut Bakaitis (The Architect), Steve Bastoni (Soren), Don Battee (Vector), Valerie Berry (Priestess), Christopher Kirby (Mauser), Ian Bliss (Bane), Nathaniel Lees (Mifune), Peter Lamb (Colt), Michael Budd (Zion Controller), Stoney Burke (Bike Carrier Driver), Kelly Butler (Ice), Sing Ngai (Seraph), Paul Cotter (Corrupt), Collin Chou, Lachy Hulme (Sparks), Roy Jones Jr. (Ballard), Malcolm Kennard (Abel), David Klide (Agent Jackson), Randall Duk Kim (The Keymaker), Adrian and Neil Rayment (Twins), Rupert Reid (Lock's Lt.), Che Timmins (Radio Man), Gina Torres (Cas), Lambert Wilson (Merovingian), Anthony Zerbe (Councillor Hamann).

FREE YOUR MIND.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTORS: Andy and Larry Wachowski (The Matrix Revolutions). WRITERS: Andy and Larry Wachowski. PRODUCER: Joel Silver. ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS: Vicki Popplewell and Steve Richards. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Bruce Berman, Grant Hill, Andrew Mason, Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Don Davis, Rob Dougan and Ben Watkins. DISTRIBUTOR: Warner Bros.

QUOTES

Seraph: You do not truly know a man until you fight him.

Trinity: You told me never to get on the freeway. You said it was suicide. Morpheus: Then let us hope that I was wrong.

Commander Lock: Not everyone believes what you do Morpheus. Morpheus: My beliefs do not require them to.

FACTS

RELEASE DATE: May 15th, 2003 (USA) DVD RELEASE DATE: October 14th, 2003 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $91.7 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $281.5 million (USA) BUDGET: $127 million (USA) SHOOTING DATES: March 2001 -- August 2002 - In August 2001, R&B singer and actress Aaliyah was killed tragically in an airplane crash. She was to have played the role of Zee, which was recast. Among the many actresses who were rumored to be close contenders for the part were: Eve Mendes, Samantha Mumba, Brandy and Tatyana Ali. - In late September 2001, actress Gloria Foster died of disabetes. She had completed most of her filming for this film but had not done any for the third film. - This film (along with the third one) took four years to make, and were filmed back to back. - A 17-minute battle sequence alone cost over $40 million. - The 2-mile loop highway was built specifically for this film for a chase scene on the decommissioned Alameda Point Navy Base at a cost of over $2.4 million. - The sequels took so long to finish because several CGI firms went bankrupt while working on rendering the effects for both movies. - It was reported that Keanu Reeves volunteered to give up a claim to a share of ticket sales amounting to around $38 million when producers feared the film would never recoup the cost of the special effects. - The special effects alone cost $100 million (US). - The script for the movie (while in production) was code-named "The Burly Man". This came for an epic fight that the developers code named "The Burly Brawl". - GM donated 300 cars for use in the production. All were wrecked by the end. - There were several injuries on the set: Carrie-Anne Moss broke her leg training for a wire stunt, Laurence Fishburne fractured an arm in a training accident and Hugo Weaving put out a disc in his neck while being pulled back on a wire. - The film's concluding highway chase sequence took 45 days to shoot (long than many films' entire shooting schedule). - The 100 Agent Smiths battle alone took two years to complete. - Matrix Reloaded promotional material was in such high demand, that distributors were extremely worried about it being stolen. To combat this, standees and banners were sent out with the code names of "Caddy shack 2" and "The Replacements". Several cinemas thought they had not received the materials due to these names, and as such, did not display them until the last minute. - Nominated for one 2004 Razzie Award for Worst Director (The Wachowski Brothers).

Twin #1: We are getting aggravated, aren't we? Twin #2: Yes, we are.

Bane: Oh God! Agent Smith: Smith will suffice.

Merovingian: French is the best language to swear in. [stream of curses]. It's like wiping your ass with silk.

The Architect: Hello Neo. Neo: Who are you? The Architect: I am the Architect. I created the Matrix. I have been waiting for you. You have many questions and although the process has altered your consciousness you remain irrevocably human, ergo some of my answers you will understand and some of them you will not. Concordantly, while your first question maybe the most pertinent you may or may not realize it is also the most irrelevant.

Morpheus: I have dreamed a dream, but now that dream is gone from me.

The Oracle: It seems like every time we meet, I've got nothing but bad news. I'm sorry about that, I surely am. But for what it's worth, you've made a believer out of me.

Trinity: Touch me and that hand will never touch anything again.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

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

"Buckle up and enjoy the ride." -- Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

"Simply not as satisfying as the original." -- Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

"Eyes will pop, nerves will jangle, thoughts will be provoked and other summer blockbusters will shrink in comparison. But to quote from one of the few cultural touchstones not referenced in this film: "Houston, we've got a problem." -- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

- It took four years to render the effects in this movie using several companies, a task which would have taken one computer in upwards of 300 years to accomplish. - When Trinity hacks the Power Station's computer, the password she uses is "Z10N0101". - Remain seated at the end of the credits. - Followed by a sequel: The Matrix Revolutions (2003).