I think they get lumped together because the ultimate payoff from the 2 sequels just wasn't there. I get what you mean, I was willing to give Matrix 2 the benefit of the doubt to see where everything was ending. And the chateau scene was amazing. At least more than half of the movie was in The Matrix, unlike the third one.
The Matrix would be viewed as a once in a lifetime type of franchise/achievement. The sequels tarnished it down to being just another franchise. Like the prequels took Star Wars down a few notches. The hardest thing to do in Hollywood it seems is not to make a great movie, it's to let it stand on its own.
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