Matrix: Reloaded reminds me very much of a filmic version of the mysterious group called Enigma who created music that was classically evocative of the new spirituality that exploded in the 1990s. The last song on their first album (“The Rivers of Belief”) began in the darkness: “... And when the lamp opens up the Seventh Seal, silence covers the sky ...” and ended in the beauty of awareness ... “I look inside my heart, I look inside my soul ... I’m watching out for you until we’re dead ... we’ll watch the leaves ... on our rivers of belief.”

This first sequel to the phenomenally successful and watershed film, The Matrix, sees much through its eyes, has a lot on its mind, speaks words that compel and provoke, and feels deeply in its heart. Even though it is much more of an action film than the original, it is nonetheless a breathtaking and fascinating journey into issues such as control, choice, reality creation, passion, and love. This is a film that confounds, astounds, perplexes, and challenges us as viewers to see beyond the veneers of the matrix into the belly of the beast, into the core of our humanity. I believe that films in Spiritual Cinema ask two eternal questions. Who are we? Why are we here? Matrix: Reloaded revolves — no — SWIRLS! — around those eternal mysteries and provides provocative glimpses into potential answers and, as such, the Matrix films (at least, so far) deserve a place in the pantheon of breakthrough films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Reloaded finds Neo, Morpheus, and Trinity coming closer to the resolution of the prophecy foretold in the original film by the mysterious Oracle who has told Neo that he is “The One,” the appointed warrior who will resolve the mysteries of the matrix. Zion, the world of humans buried deep beneath the surface of the Matrix, is being threatened by an advancing army of machines. Morpheus speaks to the thousands of residents of Zion and exhorts them to see beyond their fears and to know that the “past that threatens them lies behind them, not ahead of them.” (Yes, every reference is a clue and other names such as Osiris, Persephone, Nebuchadnezzar, and Icarus abound!)

The religious and spiritual metaphors for Neo’s character are a clear link to Christ consciousness, there is indeed a very interesting and surprising “Judas” in their midst, and Neo’s relationship with Trinity mirrors Mary’s relationship with Jesus. I have always believed that the “real” story of Jesus and Mary as twin souls who consciously incarnate to change the course of human events is one of the great, as-yet untold stories of our humanity, and Reloaded fearlessly dives into that pool. The love and passion between Neo and Trinity is one of the “upgrades” of Reloaded. Their relationship is sensual, deep, and passionate and the film is much the better for it. In fact, it is Neo’s love for Trinity that propels most of the plot and fuels Neo’s visions of the fateful choice that he has to make near the climax of the film — save the world of Zion or save the woman he loves.

Choice and control are also major elements of Reloaded. Do we indeed have the power of choice or do we live at the mercy of cause and effect? Whatever choice we make, do we create our own destinies, or are we pawns in a battle for which we never volunteered? This is one of the great conflicts within the film and Neo again is called upon to understand the paradoxical nature of our free will. When he meets the Oracle again, she tells him that he has already made his decisions — that he will fulfill his purpose — and now he is to understand why.

The film inexorably leads Neo into a confrontation with the very “architect” of the Matrix, and it is here that some of the secrets of the prophecy and Neo’s place in it are revealed to him and us (but not to the readers of this column!). What we can say is that Neo discovers that his purpose is much more complex than he ever imagined, and that Morpheus’ words about the past that haunts us are prophetic and deeply resonant with the very meaning of human existence.

Reloaded is also is utterly dazzling to watch, experience, and absorb in that it again redefines the kinetic potential of film. Remember “bullet time” from the original? Well, the “bully brawl” in Reloaded, wherein Neo battles a hundred different versions of Agent Smith (who has been cast out as an agent because of his failure to dispose of Neo) is, for me, just possibly the most breathtaking action/effects sequence ever!

Small quibbles? After the “bully brawl” there are too many martial-arts sequences for me, along with a seemingly interminable and incongruous car chase sequence, and an ending that is going to annoy a lot of people, I believe, in that is such an obvious cliffhanger for Matrix: Revolutions which opens in November. (If you sit through the end credits, you can see the trailer for Revolutions, but it doesn’t reveal much.)

In the guise of a cutting-edge action film, Reloaded explores and illuminates the deepest and most absorbing aspects of our humanity. As we navigate this “swing” between the worlds of the old paradigm that is decaying and the new paradigm that is just dawning, Reloaded is a spectacular and deeply spiritual companion for that journey.

Stephen Simon has produced such films as Somewhere in Time and What Dreams May Come. His book The Force is With You: Mystical Movie Messages That Inspire Our Lives, published by Walsch Books/Hampton Roads, is now available. Stephen also leads seminars, telecourses, and inspirational Mystical Movie events around the world. For more information, please visit MysticalMovies.com. Stephen welcomes your comments by email: Stephen@MysticalMovies.com)

MovieMystic Chakra Rating for for Matrix: Reloaded (For an explanation of THE CHAKRA RATING SYSTEM, please visit www.Mysticalmovies.com)

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Rating 3 3 2 2 3 2 3

(For an explanation of THE CHAKRA RATING SYSTEM, please visit www.Mysticalmovies.com.)