Review: Matrix Revolutions, The (2003)

THE MATRIX: REVOLUTIONS
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Neo (Keanu Reeves) is lost somewhere between the Matrix and Zion, Niobe's (Jada
Pinkett Smith) ship is missing and the machines are due to attack within twenty
hours.  The odds are stacked against the renegade humans at the beginning of
the final part of the Wachowski brothers' trilogy, "The Matrix: Revolutions."

The Wachowski's Matrix phenomenon created a fan base eager to delve into the
complexities of their science fiction and unravel its riddles.  After the
disappointment of "The Matrix: Reloaded," which at the time of its release
seemed nothing more than the bridge to the episode everyone really wanted to
see, "Revolutions" is a loud finale that presents a jumble of ideas and images
already seen in "Star Wars," "Alien," "Robocop," "Minority Report" and "The
Terminator" to name but a few.  The Wachowski's religious symbolism, which had
a compelling, Catholic-based mystery to it in early goings, is revealed to be
pretty simplistic and often as random as references to "Alice in Wonderland"
and Greek mythology.  "Revolutions" makes "Reloaded" look a lot better.

Neo is awakened by a little girl, Sati (Tanveer Atwal), in a pristine subway
station, who asks if he is lost.  Her father, a computer program, explains that
they await the train operated by the Trainman (Bruce Spence, "The Road
Warrior") who works for the Merovingian.  Neo is stranded in the station with
an explanation about a program's love of its daughter ('It's a word.  What is
important is the connection that word implies.') after a dustup with its owner.
 Meanwhile, Seraph (Collin Chou), who knows about the Trainman, leads Trinity
(Carrie Anne Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) to the Merovingian
(Lambert Wilson) who demands the eyes of the Oracle ('new shell' Mary Alice of
"Sunshine State" replacing the late Gloria Foster).  Trinity gets riled by this
demand, and, in another scene we've all seen before, everyone pulls guns on
everyone else and Neo is released.

Morpheus finds Niobe and after some contemplation, Neo tells the assembled
group that he needs to take one of their two ships to Machine City.  Roland
(David Roberts) declares him insane, but Niobe presents Neo with her ship,
stating that she will pilot the Nebuchanezer through a machine line back to
Zion.  Trinity, of course, leaves with Neo and a stowaway, Bane (Ian Bliss) who
is really carrying Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving), the out of control program
intent on battling both the humans and the machines.

These two story lines now continue in parallel as Lock (Harry J. Lennix) mounts
Zion's defense, although we see little of Neo and Trinity after their initial
encounter with Bane until the film's conclusion.  Giant borers set upon Zion,
which allows multitudes of sentinels to enter. These are fought by an army led
by Mifune (Nathaniel Lees), controlling giant mechanical robots which they wear
like Sigourney Weaver in "Aliens."  Ground troops are represented by Zee (Nona
Gaye), who has volunteered in order to see Link (Harold Perrineau Jr.) get a
chance to return home.  (When the Nebuchanezer does finally make it onto the
dock, the remaining citizens of Zion are ecstatic, as if they've won the war. 
It takes Lock to tell them it isn't over, which is as obvious as Bane's true
identity).

"Revolutions" is full of battles, explosions and light effects (a blinded Neo
sees light, symbolizing the tunnel which leads to death or hellfire or
whatever).  Its familiar score is cranked up to accompany the mayhem.  The
series lost any humor after its first installment.  The familiar cast do their
thing (Reeves must be admired for the physical aspects of his performance) with
Jada Pinkett Smith and Nathaniel Lees impressing with their resolved fury. 
Hugo Weaving, whose Agent Smith is like Jack Nicholson in "The Shining" toned
down to pass for F.B.I., is one of filmdom's great screen villains.

But have we travelled this far to discover that The Architect (Helmut
Bakaitis), Neo and The Oracle are some sort of Father, Son and Holy Spirit and
the Seraph has a past with Lucifer stand-in the Merovingian?  (It should be
noted that the final installment leaves a gaping opening for another round of
sequels.)  The Meaning of Life, which is alluded to throughout, is, apparently,
free will. The Wachowskis have served up passable entertainment with "The
Matrix: Revolutions," but they fail to deliver on their own mythology.

C+

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X-RT-RatingText: C+