History YMMV / TheMatrixReloaded

* InvincibleHero: Now that he has the powers of The One, Neo is simply too overpowered for there to be much real tension in any action scene involving him. He ''opens'' the film effortlessly fighting off three Agents, and only shows off greater powers from there. The biggest action scene actually doesn't involve him at all, with the tension shifted to whether he can get there in time to save the day.

** The film insisted on acting like Bullet Time was still just as fresh and cool as it was in the first movie...while ignoring how [[DeadHorseTrope it had become a tired cliché]] in the years between ''The Matrix'' and ''Reloaded''.

** For ''Series/{{Mystery Science Theater 3000}}'' fans, the agent Morpheus fights on the truck is Daniel Bernhardt, aka "Jean-Claude Gosh Darn" from ''Film/FutureWar''.

* BoringInvincibleHero: Now that he has the powers of The One, Neo is simply too overpowered for there to be much real tension in any action scene involving him. He ''opens'' the film effortlessly fighting off three Agents, and only shows off greater powers from there. The biggest action scene actually doesn't involve him at all, with the tension shifted to whether he can get there in time to save the day.

* ContestedSequel: While it'
s action scenes such as the highway chase are highly praised, it's often debatable how well it holds up to the original film. With time however, this film's reception has dwindled.

* ContestedSequel: While it's action scenes such as the highway chase are highly praised, it's often debatable how well it holds up to the original film. With time however, this film's reception has dwindled.

* HilariousInHindsight: The comparison between Neo and Superman become this now that [[WesternAnimation/TheLEGOBatmanMovie Agent Smith is a prisoner in the Phantom Zone]]. Also, Creator/LaurenceFishburne and Creator/HarryLennix were both in the FranchiseDCExtendedUniverse.

* HilariousInHindsight: The comparison between Neo and Superman become this now that [[WesternAnimation/TheLEGOBatmanMovie Agent Smith is a prisoner in the Phantom Zone]]. Also, Creator/LaurenceFishburne and Creator/HarryLennix were both in ''Film/ManOfSteel''.

* RewatchBonus: People will never see the monitors the same way in the first film after [[spoiler:the Architect's appearance]].

** Morpheus when he learns [[spoiler:the prophecy was a lie]]. He doesn't want to accept it, but you can tell from his face that his entire world just came crashing down on him. Things get worse for him soon afterwards, as [[spoiler:he mourns the destruction of his ship]].

* HilariousInHindsight: The comparison between Neo and Superman become this now that [[WesternAnimation/TheLEGOBatmanMovie Agent Smith is a prisoner in the Phantom Zone]]. Also, Creator/LaurenceFishburne and Creator/HenryLennix were both in ''Film/ManOfSteel''.

* HilariousInHindsight: The comparison between Neo and Superman become this now that [[WesternAnimation/TheLEGOBatmanMovie Agent Smith is a prisoner in the Phantom Zone]].

* TheWoobie: Persephone, a beautiful and lonely woman stuck married to, in her own words, a "pompous prick" who treats her like crap and slips away from dinner to cheat on her with a random patron he likes the look of. And it's pretty heavily implied this isn't the first time he's done it.

* VindicatedByHistory: Inverted. It was well-received by fans and critics during its initial release, and was financially successful enough that it held the title of the highest grossing R-rated film at the box office, until it was dethroned a year later by ''Film/ThePassionOfTheChrist'' and in 2016 by ''Film/{{Deadpool}}''. However, both critical and fan opinion soured after the release of ''[[Film/TheMatrixRevolutions Revolutions,]]'' and the general perception today is that both films are pretentious and bloated. Although ''[[Film/TheMatrixRevolutions Reloaded,]]'' is still considered the better of the two by a fair margin.

** Persephone heavily implies that stories of creatures like werewolves and vampires come from old programs with unusual abilities and weaknesses. This seems like it is foreshadowing a major fight with such things, but nothing really comes from it. Once again, this idea was relegated to the video game ''Enter the Matrix'', where Niobe and Ghost fight vampires and werewolves in the Merovingian's mansion.

** Neo dominating them is hardly badass decay. He's the One; look how effortlessly he beats Smith up at the end of the first movie. If anything he has a much harder time fighting them than he should have. Morpheus and Trinity is fair enough.

* FanService or FetishRetardant: The rave/sex scene. The humans are variously dirty and sweaty as they dance in a highly sexual manner, and we see Neo and Trinity having sex with the plugs on their bodies in full view as they do so. May only appeal to a subset of the population.

* Fanservice or FetishRetardant: The rave/sex scene. The humans are variously dirty and sweaty as they dance in a highly sexual manner, and we see Neo and Trinity having sex with the plugs on their bodies in full view as they do so. May only appeal to a subset of the population.

* FetishRetardant: The rave/sex scene. The humans are variously dirty and sweaty as they dance in a highly sexual manner, and we see Neo and Trinity having sex with the plugs on their bodies in full view as they do so. Odds are no one is going to be aroused by this.

* NightmareFuel: "There are levels of survival we are prepared to accept." Zion has always been in danger, but this is the first time it becomes clear that the ''entire'' human race has no secure stake in this world, and its continued existence has hung on the mercy of the Machines.

** Persephone heavily implies that stories of creatures like werewolves and vampires come from old programs with unusual abilities and weaknesses. This seems like it is foreshadowing a major fight with such things, but nothing really comes from it.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: The rave scene. Almost five minutes of highly sexually suggestive dancing intercut with Neo and Trinity having sex. And it serves no purpose whatsoever. Though given that the film runs on RuleOfSymbolism, it likely symbolized freedom of sexuality and life.

** Not enough time is given to Smith!Bane, even though it's his first time in the real world and he's become the thing he despises. It would have been interesting to see Smith!Bane's reactions to a real body; you can see a little bit when he's staring at his own cut hand.

* SlowPacedBeginning: The battle between Smith and Neo doesn't start until forty minutes later.

* SpiritualAdaptation: Seen by some people as a live-action version of ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'' thanks to the usage of magical doors and keys that are important to the plot.

* SugarWiki/MostWonderfulSound: The Architect's voice.

* MostWonderfulSound: The Architect's voice.

* HypeBacklash: The first one was so beloved that everyone got pumped up for the sequels, everything was hyped to hell and back... and when ''[[Film/TheMatrixReloaded Reloaded]]'' came up, it made loads of cash but left many disappointed. (So much that ''[[Film/TheMatrixRevolutions Revolutions]]'' couldn't even match the first film's box office.)

* ContestedSequel: While it's action scenes such as the highway chase are high praised, it's often debatable how well it holds up to the original film. With time however, this film's reception has dwindled.

* ContestedSequel: ''[[Film/TheMatrixReloaded Reloaded]]'' and ''[[Film/TheMatrixRevolutions Revolutions]]'' probably count as the second greatest examples after the ''Franchise/StarWars'' prequels.

* HypeBacklash: The first one was so beloved that everyone got pumped up for the sequels, everything was hyped to hell and back... and when ''Reloaded'' came up, it made loads of cash but left many disappointed. (So much that ''Revolutions'' couldn't even match the first film's box office.)