00s Movie Review - The Matrix Reloaded

Director: Lana Wachowski, Lily Wachowski
Genre: Action/ Science Fiction/ Thriller
Runtime: 136 minutes
Year: 1999
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Aaliyah, Harold Perrineau Jr., Monica Bellucci, Gloria Foster, Daniel Bernhardt

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 5: SECOND MOVIE IN A TRILOGY
 
Description: Freedom fighters Neo (Keanu Reeves), Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) continue to lead to revolt against the Machine Army, unleashing their arsenal of extraordinary skills and weaponry against the systematic forces of repression and exploitation.  

Review: The sequel to the blockbuster “The Matrix” falls far short of the original. Some nice scenes are interspersed with uninteresting scenes that disrupt the rhythm of the film and undermine the story. In 1999, people worldwide were surprised by “The Matrix”, which gathered mostly rave reviews around the world and became a huge success. As a result, more films were made.
At first, the film seems to revolve around the machines’ attack on the city of Zion, with 250,000 human inhabitants who were freed from the Matrix or born on Zion. But actually, that’s not what the film is really about, since you also don’t get to see anything of the actual attack on Zion. This is one of the changes that “The Matrix: Reloaded” makes to the story and characters of the first film, which doesn’t really help the continuity and is also a disappointment to some.  
The film has some really cool scenes, like the fight scene between Neo and Agent Smith and the chase scene.
Overall, the film is not nearly as impressive and surprising as its predecessor. Even though I’m not a fan of the film, I can acknowledge its quality and see clearly that this sequel is okay, but never reaches the lever of the first film.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 101: Magic Mike XXL

Director: Gregory Jacobs

Genre: Comedy/ Drama

Runtime: 115 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Elizabeth Banks, Amber Heard, Donald Glover, Andie MacDowell

Description: Three years after Mike (Channing Tatum) bowed out of the stripper life at the top of his game, he and the remaining Kings of Tampa hit the road to Myrtle Beach to put on one last blow-out performance.

Review: Channing Tatum broke through as the lead in a dance movie called “Step Up”and returned to his ‘roots’ in “Magic Mike”. This Steven Soderbergh directed movie was loosely based on Tatum’s past as a stripper. The movie was a hit and fans were really excited about a sequel. This time without Matthew McConaughey and director Soderbergh, but some extra women in the cast and more sexy dance movies and six-packs.

Like the character that Donald Glover plays says in the movie: “All we got to do is ask them what they want”. And that is “Magic Mike XXL”. We get more naked body parts and lap dances. The ‘Kings of Tampa” have to practice for their last performance, where Mike returns after being absent for three years. During their road trip they get in trouble a couple of times and they meet some colorful people along the way. Like Rome, played by Jada Pinkett-Smith, the owner of a club. She actually outplays all the guys in the film.

There isn’t as much humor in this film as the first. The story on the other hand, has become more important. This takes the pace out of the movie, it drags a bit. And that final dance act should be the highlight of the film. For many people it probably is, but I hated it. Male strippers should look masculine, but for me it’s a big turn off.

For the fans of the first movie, they get what they want: more half naked men and more sexy moves. But for the people who want a bit more, like humor and pace, it’s a letdown. The movie was saved by the women, pretty strange when it’s about stripper men.

Rating: 2/ 5