The Matrix Reloaded

Part sci-fi, part action film, all entertainment, The Matrix was the movie that brought black back into fashion and gave special effects new meaning. Four years after their initial success, the Wachowski brothers continue the tale of Thomas "Neo" Anderson (Keanu Reeves), the man who may have the power and will to free humankind from the oppression of the Matrix. With mentor Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and love interest Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), Neo fights to save Zion, the last refuge for "liberated" humans. Judging by the decor and the populace, Zion is a pretty boring place and you may wonder if it's worth saving, particularly when Neo and friends are able to escape to where every true fan wants to go anyway - into the Matrix.

It's not just that the action is better in the Matrix world, the characters are more fun too: the Oracle (the late Gloria Foster), the Keymaker (Randall Duk Kim), Lambert Wilson and Monica Bellucci as an aristocratic French couple right out of Rules of the Game. Wilson's Pepe Le Pew delivery is hysterical, and Bellucci in white latex is ... well, Bellucci in white latex. Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving all gentlemanly menace) reappears and through new powers keeps reappearing until there are 100 Smiths to do battle with Neo. And what a battle! Choreographed by Yuen Wo Ping of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fame, it's like watching a glorious ballet of bloodless violence. And the car-chase sequence has to be the most spectacular 15 minutes of speeding, crashing and exploding vehicles ever filmed.

Despite some slightly ponderous new-age dialogue and a few moments of longueurs, the reclusive boys from Chicago have provided a great two hours of summer entertainment. Plus there's the promise of more to come when Matrix Revolutions opens later this year.

Atlantic

ul. Chmielna 33, tel. 827-0894

Fri.-Sat. 9 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m., 8:45 p.m., 10:45 p.m., 11:30 p.m.; Sun.-Thur. 9 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m., 8:45 p.m.

Femina

Al. Solidarności 115, tel. 654-4545

Fri. 9:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 3 p.m., 5:45 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 11 p.m.; Sat. 9:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 3 p.m., 5:45 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 11 p.m.; Sun. 9:30 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 3 p.m., 5:45 p.m., 8:30 p.m.; Mon.-Thur. 9:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 3 p.m., 5:45 p.m., 8:30 p.m.

Silver Screen

ul. Puławska 17, tel. 852-8888

Fri. & Mon.-Thur. 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m.; Sat. 9:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9:45 p.m., 10:45 p.m.; Sun. 10:15 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 1:45 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 8:15 p.m., 9:45 p.m., 11 p.m.

Relax

ul. Złota 8, tel. 828-9434

Fri. 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 8:15 p.m., 11 p.m.; Sun.-Thur. 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 8:15 p.m.

Cinema City Bemowo

ul. Powstańców Śląskich 126a,

tel. 560-4000

Fri. 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 11 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 11 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m.; Mon.-Thur. 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m.

Cinema City Sadyba

ul. Powsińska 31, tel. 550-3333

Fri.-Thur. 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 8 p.m., 9:30 p.m.

Multikino

Al. Komisji Edukacji Narodowej 60, tel. 543-5166

Fri.-Thur. 9 a.m, 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m.