| Sum Yung Guy |
2003-05-14 11:20 AM |
The Matrix Reloaded is here.
Movies.com took in a press screening of The Matrix Reloaded and offers this report:
We know you have questions, so we'll try to answer them. Here we go:
Q: First, were you frisked for recording devices? I heard security at theaters is going to be tighter than Carrie-Anne Moss' PVC pants.
A: Surprisingly, despite a detailed memo warning journalists to expect a thorough pat-down and search, a shakedown never materialized. Our book bag was examined almost as an afterthought. But that doesn't mean you should try sneaking a camcorder in.
Q: How badass is Neo?
A: Pretty badass. He can stop dozens of bullets merely by raising his hand. Whoa! Plus, the dude is stronger, faster, and (get this) he can fly! When he does, he's described as "doing his Superman thing."
Q: What's this I hear about all these Agent Smiths?
A: It's true. During the movie's most incredible fight scene, Neo at first fends off one Agent Smith, then two, then 12, then dozens more, until he's eventually battling roughly 100 of 'em (Weaving, 12 look-alike stuntmen, and the magic of special effects created the illusion). At one point, there's a gigantic doggie pile, with Neo on the bottom, and you can't help but think, "How about doing your Superman thing now?"
Q: What new characters stand out?
A: The freaky, white-dreadlocked evil twins are pretty cool, and Monica Bellucci's Persephone is drop-dead gorgeous, but it's her husband the powerful, pompous, and French-speaking Merovingian (Lambert Wilson) who gets off some of the movie's best lines. Example: After Neo performs awesome aerials and quickly dispatches some of his henchmen, Merovingian deadpans, "OK, you have some skills."
Q: Without giving too much away, how cool is that chase sequence I keep hearing about?
A: On this aspect at least, believe the hype. It's dizzying, death-defying, and damn exciting. Plus, it's 14 minutes long. It features tons of gunfire, fights inside cars and on the tops of speeding semis, and a bullet-bike ride that's out-of-this-world wild. You'll be blown away, gripping your seat's armrests, with your eyes glued to the screen.
Q: Is the "To Be Concluded" ending as brutal as rumored?
A: No. The movie ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, sure, but it's not during the middle of an action scene or anything cruel like that.
Q: Last question: I heard you should stick around after the end credits because the trailer for The Matrix Revolutions is shown.
A: Two warnings: The credits must be the longest in the history of cinema. Hundreds and hundreds of names and titles go by
for a good 10-15 minutes. So you can easily sneak away to the restroom and return in time. But the Revolutions clip is a true teaser, lasting about 30 seconds and offering little but a hint of a final battle between Agent Smith and Neo.
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