Souzek Republic: Speaking too soon

Speaking too soon

Since I offered my initial thoughts on The Matrix: Reloaded, I have spent a good amount of time reading and pondering other people's interpretations, amateur and professional alike, none of which has helped to clear the haze in my head surrounding it. I will concede that my initial frustration may have clouded my ability to find deeper meaning in the themes and plot of the film, but I'm still no advocate of its greatness. It seems to be that piece of the puzzle that makes little sense until the surrounding pieces are in place. There are a million theories, all of which will be tested in November. All I can offer for now is what I've read:

Kung Fu Philosophers, from Corporate Mofo: One of the most cogent and comprehensive interpretations I've come across, mostly read through the lens of Gnosticism. Even if you don't agree that this is the Wachowski brothers' intent, it's still a compelling read.
Matrix thread at kottke.org: A lot of comments = a lot of interpretations.
For your reference: a transcript of Neo's conversation with the Architect.

Related: there's nothing like pretentious journalists (Hank Stuever, worse "Jane Dark") going out of their way to pointlessly belittle anything and everything below them. I can understand lashing out at pop culture and I've been known to do it myself from time to time, but what's wrong with a film that provokes the imagination and interpretation of a large group of people? Do you find the mere presence of their ideas, the exercise of their brains, insulting and intolerable? At least they are trying to find some substance in their entertainment and actually think about it. What harm is in that?