Matrix Reloaded

This topic contains:

• details about Matrix Reloaded's classification and consumer advice lines
• a review of Matrix Reloaded completed by Young Media Australia (YMA) on 17th May 2003.

About the movie

This section contains details about the movie, including its classification by the Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) and the associated consumer advice lines.

YMA review

This review of the movie Matrix Reloaded contains the following information:

• a synopsis of the story
• use of violence
• material that may scare children
• sexual references
• nudity and sexual activity
• use of substances
• coarse language
• the movie's message
• overall comments

A synopsis of the story

Matrix Reloaded is a sequel to The Matrix, both science fiction action movies set in a future where machines rule the planet. The majority of humanity, enslaved by the machines, is kept in a comatose state permanently, connected to the Matrix; a computer program built by the machines to simulate twenty-first century life. The remainder of humanity resists the machines living life kilometres beneath the surface of the earth in a fortified city called Zion, using space ships like vehicles and a network of tunnels to travel to the surface.

The safety of Zion is threatened when the machines tunnel down from the surface leaving the free people of Zion with thirty-six hours to prepare for war. Neo Anderson, a human who was once connected to the Matrix, has the unique ability of being able to control and manipulate the Matrix program giving him superhuman capabilities when inside the Matrix. Neo is referred to as ‘the one’, who has been foretold in prophecy as the saviour of Zion. Neo connects to the Matrix and meets with the ‘Oracle’, an individual with the ability to prophesy the future. The Oracle informs Neo that he can save Zion if he is able to reach the ‘Source’, the machine’s mainframe, but that to reach the source Neo must first rescue the ‘Key Maker’, the only person with a key to the door of the mainframe.

Neo, along with comrades Captain Morpheus and Trinity, enter the Matrix and after a fierce battle and high-speed car chase involving wraith-like computer programs manage to escape with the Key Maker and out of the Matrix. The Key Maker informs Neo that the Source is located in a fortified building wired to explode if the building’s alarm is triggered, and that in order disconnect the alarm, the city’s power supply must be destroyed. Neo, Captain Morpheus and several Zion warriors return to the Matrix. The Zion warriors destroy the city’s power supply while Neo gains access to the Source and encounters the ‘Architect’ (the creator of the Matrix).

Captain Morpheus’ ship is attacked and destroyed by sentinels (mechanical droids). Neo and his followers manage to escape from the ship with the sentinels in close pursuit.

Use of violence

Research shows that children are at risk of learning that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution when violence is glamourised, performed by an attractive hero, successful, has few real life consequences, is set in a comic context and / or is mostly perpetrated by male characters with female victims, or by one race against another.

While Matrix Reloaded does not necessarily glamourise violence itself, it does highly glamourise those who use violence, whether hero or villain. All film characters who employ the use of violence, whether male or female, are strong, athletic, very attractive, dressed in stylish well tailored suits, and very, very effective at employing violence.

Violence is employed as the sole means of resolving conflict between the machines and the people of Zion with the only acceptable resolution being the complete annihilation of either the machines or people.

Matrix Reloaded presents the consequences of violence as realistic with people dying as a result of violent conflict. The film also contains scenes portraying the consequences of violence on the extended family. While violent images are continuously presented throughout the film, there are in general few graphic images involving blood and gore. The most graphic scene involves images of several people with stab wounds to the chest and throat.

While males dominated the use of violence, females who do employ the use of violence are as effective as males.

Material that may scare children

Under seven

Children in this age bracket are most likely to be frightened by scary visual images, such as monsters, physical transformations, the death of a parent or child abandoned or separated from parents, children or animals being hurt or threatened and / or natural disasters.

There are many scenes that could disturb children under the age of seven:

• images of people being kicked, punched, shot, stabbed, impaled, bludgeoned and burned alive
• guns being stuck into peoples faces
• people being threatened with guns and knifes
• images of people lying dead with stab wounds to the throat and chest.
• a rough and tumble fight on top of a moving truck
• multiple car crashes, cars exploding and rolling over
• loud explosions, gun fire
• buildings exploding, glass shattering, a motorbike flying off of buildings and crashing into other buildings, petrol tankers exploding, fast car and motorbike pursuits through busy city streets
• slow motion images of people falling from sky scrapers while being shot at
• slow motion images of a bullet piercing the chest of a woman who is falling off of a roof top.
• alien looking space ships
• grotesque images of faces distorting and transforming, images of men transforming into skeleton looking wraiths,
• images of mechanical droids with octopus like appearance attacking Zion ships and killing the occupants
• images of a man self mutilating his hand with a knife

Aged seven to twelve

Children in this age bracket are most likely to be frightened by realistic threats and dangers, violence or threat of violence and / or stories in which children are hurt or threatened

Most if not all of the material described as being capable of scaring children under the age of seven would also apply to the seven to twelve year old age range. The more vivid images were the sentinels (mechanical droids), the wraith/skeleton images, and the attack by the sentinels on the Zion ships.

Over the age of twelve

Children in this age bracket are most likely to be frightened by realistic physical harm or threats, molestation or sexual assault and / or threats from aliens or the occult.

Most early adolescents would be more capable of coping with the violent and scary images presented in The Matrix than children under the age of twelve years. However, the more vivid images such as people with their throats cut, people with multiple stab wounds to their chests, and the sentinels attacking Zion ships may be interpreted by some early adolescents as scary and threatening.

There are no scenes involving molestation, sexual assault, or children being threatened or harmed.

Sexual references

The Matrix Reloaded contains few sexual references. Those that are there are done in subtle manner and relevant to the story. One reference, ‘I need you bad’ related to Neo expressing his desire to have sex with his partner. A further reference was dialogue with clear innuendo about oral sex.

Nudity and sexual activity

Matrix Reloaded contained two scenes involving sexual activity and nudity with both scenes occurring simultaneously:

• several hundred Zions dancing in a type of ‘Mosh Pit’ to hypnotic sounding music. The dancing was erotic involving many of the dancers sensuously caressing their partner’s thighs, stomaches and sides. Most of the clothing was tight fitting and revealing
• Neil and Trinity naked on a bed while engaged in sexual activity (lots of kissing and caressing of arms and legs). There was no frontal nudity shown in the scene, only images of the naked sides of the couple.

Neither of the two scenes could be described as integral to the story.

Use of substances

Other than a scene involving a character sipping from a glass of wine there was no alcohol or substance use.

Coarse language

There was no coarse language used in film. The use of low level language was kept to a minimum and included: goddam, bullshit, shit, must take a piss, where’s my pussy and wipe my ass with silk.

The movie's message

Matrix Reloaded is basically a ‘good verses evil’ battle with a twist, i.e. the evil was created by man; technology becomes the consumer and man the consumable.

Values presented in Matrix Reloaded that parents may wish to encourage include: friendship, loyalty, endurance through adversity, responsibility, equal gender roles.

Parents may wish to discourage the concept that the use of violence is acceptable when used in the name of the greater good for all, or as a means to an end.

Overall comments

Adults who enjoy action packed science fiction full of special effects will not be able to take their eyes from the screen; the special effects and stunt scenes are a cut well above average. There are a number of big name actors adding to the overall quality of the film and the storyline is unique. Matrix Reloaded would appeal highly to the adolescent audience, and while gender roles are represented somewhat equally in the film, the high level of violence presented in the film may in general, be of greater appeal to a male audience.

Children under 12	Based on violence and scary content, Matrix Reloaded is not recommended for children under the age of twelve years.
Children aged 12–14	In general, children over the age of 12 years, depending on the child’s level of exposure to on screen violence, should be able to cope with the film’s violence and horror. However, children within this age group may benefit from parental guidance, providing children with the opportunity to discuss any concerns or and parens the opportunity to debrief concerns and mis-conceptions. Parents watching Matrix Reloaded with their children will be able to observe and deal with their child’s behaviour and reactions to the on screen violence
Children over the age of 14	Most children over the age of 14 will be able to watch this movie with or without parental guidance.