Having said that, “Reloaded” may still be confusing as hell even for scholars of Matrix 101. The plot veers off into various unexpected tangents as the Wachowskis expand and explore their virtual universe to great lengths. But in broadening their philosophies, the brothers seem to have disregarded a few basic essentials (such as the notion of reality vs. illusion) that made the original “Matrix” so intriguing and challenging. While that film was composed and soundly structured, “Reloaded” is hard to classify. It’s much deeper, but also dumber. It’s flashier but emptier. It is more, but also less. To understand what I mean, please see the movie.

The biggest problem with “The Matrix Reloaded” is that it is incomplete, and – depending on whatever lies ahead in “The Matrix Revolutions” (shot simultaneously and due in November) – largely inconsequential. When “Reloaded” ends on a stupid and abrupt “To be Concluded” cliffhanger, important questions are unresolved and crucial plot elements are left unattended. We can only hope that “Revolutions” can deliver all the answers with a wealth of clarity, but for now the overall success of the series remains to be seen. Thus, “Reloaded” is difficult to grade as a singular entry. So bear with me.

Zion, the last human city in the “real world”, is under threat from burrowing Sentinels that could exterminate the human resistance to the machine army that has imprisoned mankind. It is prophesized that Neo (Keanu Reeves) is “The One” who will save the human race from this fate, and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) believes the prophecy is true. But Neo must first conquer his fears and doubts, including a recurring dream of his lover Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) falling to her death from a high rise building. After meeting with the Oracle (the late Gloria Foster) once again, Neo, Morpheus and Trinity set out to find French overlord Merovingian (Lambert Wilson, sneering delightfully), who is holding a character named The Keymaker (Randall Duk Kim) captive.

Reeves is more than adequate as Neo this time around, while Fishburne is a valuable asset as Morpheus, delivering various Obi Wan-isms with cool conviction, and Moss radiates strength and sexuality as Trinity (who is one of the best female action heroes in recent memory). This is thankful, because “Reloaded” features several new faces and very few make an impact. Italian beauty Monica Bellucci has only about 10 minutes to look gorgeous as the temptress Persephone. Jada Pinkett Smith is barely there as resistance leader Niobe. As the new operator of Morpheus’ hovercraft, Harold Perrineau Jr. has the rather thankless duty of sitting around, staring at a screen of encoded computer language. Meanwhile, the ridiculously cool Hugo Weaving makes a welcome return as the intrepid Agent Smith, who now roams The Matrix with his own agenda: to find and destroy Neo. This leads to a courtyard brawl between Neo and Smith that is noteworthy because multiple opponents are part of the fray, and all of them look like Hugo Weaving. With a newfound ability to duplicate himself, 100 Smiths swarm Neo in a sequence that provides an amazing showcase of digital trickery. But then again, what’s the point? Not only is Smith virtually indestructible, but Neo could fly off at any moment and avoid the bother of kicking his ass 100 times over (which he eventually does, after much showboating). I guess the “point” is to have a cool fight scene. In that case, bravo boys.

“X2: X-Men United” is a more full-bodied summer blend than “Reloaded”, but this movie has the upper hand in cool spectacle – which is, chances are, cooler than anything we will see all year. The action centerpiece is a freeway chase that is totally exhilarating, as the Wachowskis delight in flipping cars, crashing semis and causing enough wild and audacious slow-motion mayhem to make John Woo throw up his arms in defeat. “The Matrix” may have gathered legions of fans for its intricate plot, but contrary to some, I wouldn’t call it visionary or revolutionary – merely intelligent, especially for a science fiction film. I loved the original for its groundbreaking arsenal of special effects and awesome action. Here, the Wachowskis (with help from Hong Kong legend Yuen Wo Ping) continue to choreograph some of the most deliciously operatic fight scenes in movies today, set against a landscape of truly eye-popping visuals.

While huge portions of “Reloaded” are disappointing, it’s still a pretty good ride. The special effects continue to obliterate all borders imposed in former sci-fi films, and the story is far more evolved and ambitious than anything in this genre from the past decade. It’s frustrating, then, that the first half is crammed with portentous, clumsy and obvious dialogue, with a Zion that seems to be populated by refugees from “Mad Max” and “Planet of the Apes”, and the second half becomes so painfully “deep” and super-serious (with Neo eventually winding up talking to a prophetic Colonel Sanders-look-alike who uses a lot of really big words) that it completely smothers the fun. There is no happy medium. “The Matrix Reloaded” is dazzling, but ballooned with its own unwieldy self-importance, and without “Revolutions” it cannot measure up to all expectations. Not yet, anyway.