The Matrix Reloaded

The Matrix Reloaded is the second installment of the Matrix series, written and directed by the Wachowski brothers and released by Warner Bros. in North American theaters on May 15, 2003 and around the world during the latter half of that month. The Matrix Reloaded earned $281 million in the US and $735 million worldwide. The other parts of the second installment are the computer game Enter the Matrix, which was released May 15, and a collection of nine animated shorts, the Animatrix, which was released on June 3. The Matrix Revolutions was released six months after this film, in November 2003.

Overview

The Matrix Reloaded was largely filmed at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney, Australia. The freeway chase scene was filmed at the decommissioned Naval Air Station Alameda in Alameda, California. Producers constructed a 1.5-mile freeway on the old runways just for the movie. Portions of the chase were also filmed in Oakland, California, and the tunnel shown briefly is the Webster Tube connecting Oakland and Alameda. Some post-production editing was done in old aircraft hangars on the base as well.

Related Topics:
Fox Studios Australia - Sydney - Australia - Freeway - Naval Air Station Alameda - Alameda, California - Oakland, California - Webster Tube

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The Matrix Reloaded surpasses the first part of the trilogy in cinematography and special/visual effects budget and scope. However, advancements have also been made in the story and plot of the sequels with scholars saying that the relatively simple tale of "dualism" in the first film has advanced to the level of "complex literature" with the second (Ken Wilber), though the topic is a highly debated one. Many viewers have also supported this view that that the philosophical insights of the first movie were relatively simplistic, and that they are extremely satisfied with the continuation of the original film's plot and an exponential increase in metaphysical speculation in Reloaded. It is a view held by many that the first film was relatively simple and that its sequels pushed past the boundaries of the first film in terms of the complex philosophical issues the trilogy grapples with. There are also some who have suggested that the sequel adheres more closely to the action genre with less of a focus on the intricate plot and philosophical musings that made the first film the subject of intense fan devotion, but many fans dismiss this arguing that The Matrix Reloaded exceeds the first film in both these areas of philosophy and plot. By contrast, there are also viewers who believe that the intellectual underpinnings of the films are overrated, which are unfortunately the majority view. A sound thrashing by critics and a big drop in follow-up weekends followed by a very underwhelming performance of the final chapter indicate strongly to the hype machine being responsible for the success of the second sequel rather than the quality of the film itself. Conversely, it has also been suggested that general audience and critical dissatisfaction is merely a reflection of the film being ahead of its times, much like other now-reverred science fiction classics such as ' and Blade Runner, which were also critically mauled upon release and soon developed reputations of being the most distinguished works of science fiction cinema.

Related Topics:
The Matrix Reloaded - Ken Wilber - Action genre - Philosophy - Blade Runner

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Reloaded earned an estimated $42.5 million on its Thursday opening day in the United States, a new record surpassing the one set in May 2002 by Spider-Man, which took in $39.4 million on its first day. The movie earned $91.8 million over its first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, establishing it as the second-best opening weekend ever after Spider-Man's 2002 record of $114.8 million in ticket sales during its three-day opening weekend. Reloaded garnered the biggest debut ever for an R-rated film, topping by far the $58 million for 2001's Hannibal. Reloaded eventually broke Beverly Hills Cop's 19-year-old record for the top-grossing R-rated film of all time, holding that record only briefly, until it was taken by The Passion of the Christ a few months later.

Related Topics:
United States - May - 2002 - Spider-Man - R-rated film - 2001 - Hannibal - Beverly Hills Cop - The Passion of the Christ

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Most of the main characters from its prequel, The Matrix, are included in Reloaded, including Neo (Keanu Reeves), Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss). There are also many new faces such as Link, the Merovingian, and the Architect. Filmed simultaneously to the third movie, The Matrix Revolutions, it includes action scenes such as a chase involving over 50 vehicles, including motorcycles and 18-wheelers. In addition, there is finally footage of Zion, the underground city alluded to in The Matrix.

Related Topics:
Neo - Keanu Reeves - Morpheus - Laurence Fishburne - Trinity - Carrie-Anne Moss - Link - The Merovingian - Architect - The Matrix Revolutions - 18-wheelers - Zion

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The film was banned in Egypt because of the violent content and because it put into question issues about human creation "linked to the three monotheistic religions that we respect and which we believe in". Egyptian media claimed it promoted Zionism since it talks about Zion and the dark forces that wish to destroy it.

Related Topics:
Egypt - Zionism

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Pirate copies of The Matrix Reloaded appeared on file sharing networks such as BitTorrent and eDonkey2k. Links first appeared on the Digital Update Site within two weeks of its theatrical release. Unlike some pirate copies of new movies, which are covertly filmed from a cinema screen, the Reloaded copy is high quality, and is believed to have been made from a film print. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/2940270.stm

Related Topics:
BitTorrent - EDonkey2k

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