--- title: "The Matrix Reloaded: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-matrix-reloaded/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-matrix-reloaded" critics_score: 63 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Matrix Reloaded (2003): what the critics said Critics' score 63 from 13 reviews: 4 positive, 7 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics find The Matrix Reloaded a qualified success, and the reviews lean more warm than cold. Nearly everyone agrees that the action is the reason to watch: the freeway chase comes up in review after review as the film’s high point, and the fight between Neo and a crowd of Agent Smiths is close behind. The praise clusters on the stunt choreography, the performers’ physical work and the scale of the effects rather than on anything the characters say or think. The reservations cluster just as tightly. Critics complain that the story is overcomplicated, the philosophy thin and the whole thing less fresh than the first film, and several note that it is slow to get going. The spread is fairly wide, from four-star notices to two outright rejections. The AV Club goes furthest, finding the mythology muddled and the characters flat, while the Los Angeles Times adds that the large-format print shows up weaknesses in the computer effects. ## Total Film — Total Film Rating 4/5. 21 May 2003. The review finds the film flawed and slow to get going, but ultimately a thrilling action spectacle. It especially praises the freeway chase for its dazzling choreography and visual freedom. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-matrix-reloaded-review/) ## Evening Standard — Alexander Walker Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. Walker finds the film a dazzling, entertaining spectacle despite its thin philosophy and eventual weariness. He especially praises the gravity-defying fight against Agent Smith’s duplicates and the spectacular freeway sequence. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/amazing-matrix-7432061.html) ## The Guardian — Rob Mackie Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 17 October 2003. Mackie finds the sequel less conceptually fresh than the original but highly entertaining. He especially praises the Smith-clone fight and freeway chase, highlighting their choreography and spectacle. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/oct/17/dvdreviews.shopping2) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 May 2003. Festival review. McCarthy finds the sequel thrilling and compulsively watchable, though less fresh and mysterious than the original. He singles out the freeway chase as an exhilarating showcase of action staging and stunt choreography. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2003/film/reviews/the-matrix-reloaded-1200541817/) ## Empire — Colin Kennedy Fi1m's normalised score 68/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Kennedy gives the film a qualified thumbs-up, finding its action exhilarating despite a cumbersome, sometimes confusing story. He singles out the Burly Brawl, freeway chase and other set pieces, along with the performers’ physical work. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/matrix-reloaded-review/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The URL identifies a review of the specified film, but the page content is inaccessible. The critic’s verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be verified. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-matrix-reloaded-2003) ## Screen Daily — Mike Goodridge Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 9 May 2003. The page identifies this as a review, but its text is unavailable behind a paywall. The critic’s verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be determined from the available content. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/the-matrix-reloaded/4013261.article) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 14 May 2003. The URL identifies this as a New York Times film review of The Matrix Reloaded. The page was inaccessible, so its verdict and specific praise or criticism cannot be verified. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/14/movies/film-review-an-idealized-world-and-a-troubled-hero.html) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. Its snippet frames the original Matrix as a postmodern pop product, but does not provide a specific point of praise or complaint about this film. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-matrix-reloaded) ## Los Angeles Times — Robert K. Elder Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 13 June 2003. Elder finds the Imax presentation impressive but says its magnification exposes weaknesses in the computer-generated effects. He praises the Wachowskis’ visual ambition, especially the dazzling scenes of sentinels attacking Zion and Neo racing through a city. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jun-13-et-elder13-story.html) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez Rating 3/5. 1 October 2003. Gonzalez finds the film philosophically shallow and overstuffed, though its highway chase sequence stands out as a thrilling highlight. He also praises the DVD’s strong picture and immersive surround sound. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/matrix-reloaded-dvd/) ## The AV Club — Nathan Rabin Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 13 May 2003. Rabin finds the sequel visually spectacular but narratively unsuccessful and lacking the original’s human grounding. He praises the ambitious effects, especially the car chase and the battle with cloned Hugo Weavings, while faulting the muddled mythology and flat character dynamics. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-matrix-reloaded-1798198595) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2003. The critic finds the sequel overcomplicated and less inventive, though its love story offers a kernel of appeal. The graceful fight choreography and beautiful effects stand out, but repetition and muddled plotting detract. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-matrix-reloaded-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-matrix-reloaded.md