»What movie was better? Matrix 1 or Matrix 2?«

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M1 got the stunning original idea, the initial set and the introduction of the leading charcters ... eventually, it got a climax hard to top. Unfortunately, there have been zilions of unresolved issues, making the story somehow unyielding. Overall, it remained marvellous.

M2 got a serious challenge: How to keep the standard without the privilege of the initial idea? Well, they have surprised me. Most of the story line got so complex that we can still argue until the cows some home. The FX stuff was overloaded, yet still great. I am in blues, because action movies seem to reach a dead end. Overall, M2 achieved its mission.

m2 was more action.........

M1 was more intellectual...

The first Matrix, definitely. It had more substance behind all the action - it may have confused a few people at first, but this is an idea where you actually have to use the intellectual part of your mind. A great abundance of action, stimulation for the mind, and an ending that I thought suited it very well.

Overall, the first Matrix was better, it set the standerd, so to speak

The 2nd matrix was overall better than the 1st one. The actiion and it made you think a lot. It's one of those movies you can watch like 5 times and still want to watch it 5 more times.

i think 2 was better.


it opened up new doors and better action and better story

I think they're equally good. The Matrix was like the most intelligent movie ever! It made me question a lot of things regarding my purpose on this world, existance, and life as a whole.

Then, 4 years later, comes The Matrix Reloaded with even more brain twisters and much more action. I loved all three movies. I can't say which one is better because they all complement one another.

I loved both movies, but matrix 1 just was so stunning and revolutionary that it just stands out. Reloaded was awesome for carring the story and having awesome action, but the first 30 -45 minutes could've been used to show something better than the "orgy" of Zion, it just felt so out of place and felt wrong for the matrix movie. I understand about having a lot of Zion and the politics there shown, but I don't think the rave scene was needed, it did not deepen the story at all

M2 is slighty better to me. If it were only for the fact that M2 gives more impact to M1.

The action is offcourse also golden. The burly brawl and the freeway are always a feast to the eye.

The rave-scene was very good to my opinion. It gave you an impression of how big Zion really was and that all these people enjoyed their pure freedom.

Although I love Reloaded, in the end it also made me love The Matrix all the more. I began to really pay attention to the aspects and ideas given in 1 and although the Neo vs. The Smiths fight in Reloaded (50 minutes in), was the greatest fight scene ever, I still loved 1 the best.

darC

i loved all the movies!

The first Matrix is a better overall movie to watch. But Reloaded has much better fight scenes and action sequences, plus you get to see Trinity's butt. The only grip I have with Reloaded is the ending, when I saw the ending 'To be continued' I was pissed. The original Matrix I can watch it from beginning to end over and over.

i find it hard to place one above the other, i see the films as one story with breaks in between(piss,shyt,eat.)

Jermaine101 wrote:

The original Matrix I can watch it from beginning to end over and over.

Couldn't agree more! The original Matrix stands alone as a complete movie -- with an excellent plot, good acting and mind-bending philosophy.

As for Matrix 2 & 3, I prefer to think of them both as one movie, because that's exactly how they were made. I found both very similar. They're outstanding movies, and visual-effects-wise, they're a big step forward from M1.

But if you only want visual effects in a movie and nothing more, just go and watch an action movie. I found M1 to be more *ground-breaking*, more entertaining and more in-depth than the other two. The story line in M1 is consistent and tight. The characters are superb. And the dialog is such that you can make a quote out of every second sentence in the movie.

With the other two, I find the Wachowskis confused and desperate with the storyline. There have been many arguments on this forum about whether or not the trilogy is consistent, makes sense and has meaning.

To me, you can theorise endlessly on exactly what happened in M2 and M3. But you get to a point where there's so much complex theory to try to explain and validate the two movies that it gets pointless -- you come to the end and ask, why didn't they just say this and that in the movie? In the end, you might as well have written the script yourself!

So without ignoring the fact the M2 and M3 were brilliant , I think M1 remains the ultimate Matrix movie.

Jermaine101 wrote:

The original Matrix I can watch it from beginning to end over and over.

Agreed; it is perfectly executed, as imo opposed to Reloaded and Revolutions.

But, compared to it's sequels, M1 is a relatively simple, one-dimensional, movie.
The sequels are by far more complex; I believe without some research into it's sources it is almost impossible to understand what the hell is going on; esp. towards the end of Revolutions, which imo is the climatic and crucial moment to an understanding of what the Matrix universe does represent.

When you come to understand the very complex and abstract concepts behind the beautiful metaphor- and symbol-language of the Matrix universe, you start to see the brilliance of the sequel-scripts.

tozy wrote:

When you come to understand the very complex and abstract concepts behind the beautiful metaphor- and symbol-language of the Matrix universe, you start to see the brilliance of the sequel-scripts.

I guess right now I'm in a bit of a dilemna. After having watch both Reloaded and Revolutions umpteen times (usually with subtitles on) and having stayed up till 3 AM (bleary-eyed) reading essays.... (and still feeling "unplugged"! )

...what I'm facing now is two options:

A) I'm right, M2 & M3 were just rushed jobs and are no match for M1

B) I'm wrong -- M2 & M3 were exquisitely crafted storylines hidden behind a wealth of complexity, which I'm either too dumb or too ignorant to understand.

Of course, I'll keep my mind open (free your mind... ) but at this particular time my feeling is that if M2 and M3 really do form a consistent end to the trilogy, then I could have thought of a dozen alternate storylines that would be much easier to handle, without sacrificing the consistency, depth and philosophical diversity of the trilogy.

Well I said that M1 is the most watchable from beginning to end but my favorite is without a doubt Reloaded. I thought Reloaded took everything to another level storyline, fight scenes, action sequences, characters (esp. Merv and Persephone) and dialogue (Architect scene had to go to the dictionary for this scene). M1 is very close to Reloaded I love the dialouge in M1 which I know almost word for word but Reloaded rocks. Revolutions is very emotional and if I watch Reloaded I have to finish it with Revolutions just to have the payoff.

Jermaine101 wrote:

I thought Reloaded took everything to another level storyline, fight scenes, action sequences, characters (esp. Merv and Persephone) and dialogue.

Its interesting that you put it that way. I always thought that its the storyline that comes first and determines when and how fight scenes, action sequences, characters and dialog will appear. Correct me I'm wrong, but aren't you putting it the other way around?

Jermaine101 wrote:

Architect scene had to go to the dictionary for this scene

If there was a scene in M2/M3 that really did do it for me, this was it.

I watched that one about 50 times, with sub-titles and slow-motion. And to my unforseen surprise -- it actually made sense! I do a lot of programming and when he explained the unbalanced equation and the nature of choice it really rang true. Also, the Architect behaved like I would expect from a true program -- fast, accurate responses and choices, comprehensive data, and virtually *no* emotion!

What I meant by M2 taking everything to the another level was that the storyline evolved with turns and things unexpected. I didn't realize from info in M1 the Oracle was a program I thought she was human until M2. No need to explain the fight scenes since I think the best fights in cinema history are in M2. Action sequences like the freeway chase is self-explainatory also.

And the Architect scene is the smartest conversation in a movie ever. After watching that scene I wanted to step up my vocabulary more so you can say I was inspired. It also explained the trilogy or to that point the two movies quite well. You're right DrFunkenstien dude who played the Architect was very program like. His performance reminded of Agent Smith in M1.

DrFunkenstien wrote:

B) I'm wrong -- M2 & M3 were exquisitely crafted storylines hidden behind a wealth of complexity, which I'm either too dumb or too ignorant to understand.

I guess I was sounding like an arrogant bitch? Sorry,... that was certainly not my intention.
That's why I said "I believe without some research into it's sources it is almost impossible to understand what the hell is going on"...

When I first saw Reloaded, I hated it! I felt like it was a betrayal of M1. But because I loved M1, I soon felt like there must be more to Reloaded than I can grasp at the moment.
Like you, I've come to know the architect scene by heart, I watched the movies and I've read the scriptments countless times. But still, even though I saw some faint silver lining at the horizon, it was more the feeling that I was missing something than comprehension, which kept me at it.

My personal dawn came with the end of Revolutions and countless hours of reading eastern philosophies and integral philosophy/spiritualism.
The Matrix trilogy has become a base camp for me, from which I start to trips into different topics, which I feel could be relevant. When I return from these trips and apply my newfound impressions to the trilogy and see these concepts translated into the metaphor- and symbol-language of the Matrix universe, I can't but be impressed.
Even though I am still far from understanding every detail of the movies, the big picture does make sense to me, now.

I am giving you a few links that I find very helpful for an understanding of the trilogy:
hinduwebsite.com...
hinduwebsite.com...
uvm.edu...
wilber.shambhala.com...

Also, I think the Second Renaissance is crucial to understand the concept of separation and reintegration, as described in the Matrix movies.

Peace?

Thankyou indeed. You have inspired me to renew my fervor for getting to the bottom of the trilogy. The sources you listed look most promising.

I'm thinking of watching the whole trilogy in one go, which I haven't actually done yet.

Love and peace.

Definitely the M1 I think all of you still remember the day (or night) they watched this great movie. However, M2 was a lot more anticipated and it didn't dissapoint all the fans, as some other second movies have done in the past.

Matrix 2 is better, its up there with Terminator 2 and Tremors 2, they have all surived they're predisessors