Neo Sparrin'

But can anybody keep all this stuff in his or her head in a useful way, while watching the film?

The last few scenes include a baffling event that points toward a possible upcoming explanation in part three. We won't spoil it, but, if it's where we're heading -- and it could be a total red herring -- things could turn out to be either very satisfying or very irritating. Be forewarned that The Matrix Reloaded is really only half of a two-part story. Unlike The Matrix, it ends with a cliffhanger and represents less of an independent whole. (If you sit through the nine or so minutes of closing credits, you'll see a preview of The Matrix Revolutions.)

In the meantime, the Wachowskis still hold the current franchise on intellectually engaging action films. It's not like we won't be heading back for a second (or even third) look.