What makes it even better is that Morpheus, instead of using Neo as a symbol of hope (since not everyone believes in The One), reminds Zion that they've fought back the machines before and they'll do so again. Granted, the upcoming invasion is an unprecedented threat, but it's still impressive that Morpheus manages to appeal to the people without forcing his ideology on them.
The "Burly Brawl", which has Neo battling an army of Smiths.
The fight in the Merovingian's chateau between Neo and the Merovingian's goons.
Neo stopping a sword on the edge of his hand just to show off nearly matches Trinity's "Dodge this" moment from the first movie. That he bled a single drop of blood somehow made that moment even more awesome.
Especially that it makes the Merovingian raise an eyebrow, which doesn't sound like much, but it really completes the scene. Also, the bassline kicking in right after that.
Merovingian's goons also deserve some credit for being able to last up to 4 minutes against The One. Sure, none of them actually manage to land a single hit or even remotely threaten Neo, but they still put up a better fight than "Upgraded" Agents.
Morpheus fighting Agent Johnson on a moving semi. At first, he's only managing to hold his own with difficulty, at one point resorting to grabbing the Agent's tie to stay on the truck. He eventually gets knocked across the back of the truck, flat on his stomach, only to see his katana still stuck in the side after his Stepping-Stone Sword earlier. Johnson fastidiously tucks his tie back in, with the most contemptuous look on his face, before moving in for the kill...at which point Morpheus leaps up, sword in hand. Johnson stumbles back, his tie cut neatly in two, while Morpheus performs his classic Bring It stance. The grin is what sells it.
And that was after taking out the Twins (who were driving an Escalade SUV) with a katana and a Glock 18 in a slow motion maneuver that has to be seen to be believed.
That entire gloriously OTT sequence was a Crowning Car Chase of Awesome.
The Vigilant gets taken out by Sentinels, so the third team required to pull off the climatic mission drops dead in the Matrix.
Trinity:[starts setting up to jack into the Matrix] I will not stand here and do nothing, I will not wait here and watch them die. Link: Trinity, we're talking less than five minutes here! Trinity: In five minutes, I'll tear that whole goddamn building down. [proceeds to complete an entire team's mission alone]
Reloaded is arguably a long string of Crowning Moments...until it slammed to a screeching halt when Neo metthe Architect. But then you've got Neo saving Trinity, Morpheus' line after the Nebuchadnezzar is destroyed, Neo stopping the Sentinels...
Even the Architect scene is a Crowning Moment for the machines, as it takes everything Neo (and by extension, the rest of the rebels) thought they knew about Zion, and revealed it to be nothing more than part of the machines' plan.
Neo "doing his Superman thing" so fast that everything he passes is either shattered or sucked down the street after him while flying to rescue Trinity.
Smith: I want what you want. I want everything. Morpheus:*instantly snaps his pistol to Smith's head* Would that include a bullet from this gun?
Ah, but the most awesome moment of all is the most subtle. It goes to the unlikeliest of characters— the nerdy Keymaker. Trinity's guarding him, and she needs to steal a ride...
Trinity: I need a download to hotwire a motorcycle. Link: Not a problem, one crash course in motorcycle... Keymaker: *gives her exactly the key she needs* Trinity: Wait. Cancel that. *hangs up* You are handy.
Somehow this hasn't been mentioned, so, Neo vs. Seraph. It's a quick and raw fight that nicely establishes Seraph's skill, what with being able to match a fully awakened Neo in a fashion that's only ever matched and outdone by Smith.
What makes it even more awesome, especially for British fans of the movie, is just who the Twins are. When the original Matrix movie was released, Neil and Adrian Raymentnote despite having got into acting and modelling at the tail end of their teens were still a pair of sidekick handymen on a British DIY shownote Namely the Carol Vorderman-hosted Better Homes, which lasted from January 1999 to July 2003. Away from acting, Adrian specialised in Victorian-era wirework, while Neil was a silversmith.
When Niobe starts second-guessing the prophecy and questioning what will happen if it's wrong, Morpheus settles her doubts with one awesome speech:
"Then tomorrow we may all be dead, but how would that be different from any other day? This is a war, and we are soldiers. Death can come for us at any time, in any place. Now consider the alternative. What if I am right? What if the prophecy is true? What if tomorrow, the war could be over? Isn't that worth fighting for? Isn't that worth dying for?"
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