10 Most Underrated Sci-Fi Action Movies

The Matrix was a magnificent and thought provoking standalone movie that was so good that the studios demanded not just one sequel, but two. The remaining two films in the franchise were largely viewed as unnecessary and a failure, but this criticism is quite unwarranted unworthy for the second entry in the franchise.

The efforts to produce such a quality final product is remarkable considering the disasters that struck the film, with two actors central to the script dying during the shoot, while filming was also forced to stop when Keanu Reeves' sister died.

The Wachowskis throw everything including the kitchen sink at their follow up, even building a whole freeway to get the best out of the film's central action sequence. There are definitely some issues with the script, most notably what to do with Neo now he is effectively a god.

The scenes in Zion are well staged if a little over the top, while the build up to an upcoming war between the machines and humans builds the tension nicely. The sight of multiple Agent Smiths taking on Neo is a cracker, even if the CGI doesn't always hold up. The choreography in the fight scenes are again brilliant, but it is the freeway chase scene that is the film's masterpiece, like nothing we've seen before or since.

The last 20 minutes loses its way a little, but the action sequences and strong character arcs make this one of the better action films of the century to date.