As we enter an era in which literally any visual that can be imagined, no matter how impossible, can be created on film with seamless clarity, the only limiting factor becomes the imagination of the film makers. In this spellbinding sequel, the Wachowski Brothers and their crew not only prove that they have an overwhelming abundance of inspiration, but after wowing the audience into a swoon, they top it off again with double the intensity, just for the sheer joy of it.

The Matrix is a setting where the logical grounding of the science fiction realm merges seamlessly with the mysticism and magic of a gothic fantasy. Kickass action fits side by side with philosophical pondering, telling a story of mind boggling proportions. Though deeply personal in the depictions of the individual characters, there is also a sense of the grandeur as the epic scope of humanity's fate unfolds. But above all, this movie is FUN.

Well, those two paragraphs were a mouthful. As to specifics, many things could be said. So many that I'm not even sure where to begin. Maybe I'm not even ready to approach it at that level in my writing just yet. I'm still reeling from the multifaceted impact, as it has overloaded my mind with wonder. This effect is similar to what the original Matrix film did when I first saw it.

I need a little bit of time to absorb what I have witnessed. Then I will return to watch it again, and examine more of the details.

As I now read through the imdb comments, I find it difficult to understand how such a significant number of the reviewers were "disappointed" with this film. Apparently, it did not live up to their expectations. I too had a few of my own ideas as to how the plot might proceed (many of which I wrote last night), and it is now obvious that I really had utterly no clue. Am I disappointed because they didn't write it the way I might have written it?

No. In fact, I'm glad they made something completely outside anything I would have envisioned. That's part of the fun of watching.

(Although I have to wonder how representitive those imdb reviews really are. In the theater I attended, the audience was laughing at many of the bits of ironic humor, cheering during the fights, and silent with breathless anticipation in the tense and dramatic moments. Many also applauded as the closing credits got underway.)

Well, I think I'll leave it at that for tonight, and discuss specific theories, events, and interpretations later. I believe there is definitely high potential for interesting discussion about much that was revealed.

I talked about some of it afterwards with the group I went with, attempting to piece together aspects of the history and "how it works" based on what we remembered of the dialog. (That scene were Things are revealed to Neo -- anyone who has seen it will know which part I am talking about -- is so packed full of rapid fire insight as well as back-story that I found myself struggling to keep up and really grok it all.)

I think it's safe to say that we're all going to need to see this thing again. More than once. Many times. Yes, many times. Until, as has become the case with the original, we can recite entire scenes word for word from memory.

This is awesome stuff, guys. Appreciate it for what it is. Exit.