Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Matrix Revolutions


RATING: B-

Seems like the final film in trilogies--or just films that are "threequels" in general--have stuff going against them. The first film, you create something awesome; the second film, you expand on the universe you created in the first one and create a new and interesting plot; and the third film? Uhh... crap happens. Mostly a bunch of battles. Sometimes everyone dies. And you try to wrap up the series in a fashion that will be satisfying for fans--which is a tall order. 

The Matrix trilogy follows this formula almost perfectly. The first movie was one of the most groundbreaking films ever; the second one expanded on it, and in this one? Well, you won't have to worry about much in the way of philosophy if you find that stuff in the first two films boring. Well, save for maybe the first 30 minutes. But after that? Yeah. Basically an hour and a half *straight* of wars and fights. 

In this film, Neo is *still* trying to figure out what he's supposed to do. Especially after the revelation about his supposed purpose as "the One" in Reloaded. Trinity is still fighting alongside him. Morpheus, after the revelations about "the One," seems to be pretty shaken up in this film, and is mostly still in it for the sake of being in it. The army of Agent Smiths is still spreading across the Matrix. And the machines are still digging down into Zion. 

It's hard to write how I feel about this conclusion without giving away spoilers. So, I have to tread lightly here. There were some things I liked and some things I was disappointed by, and other things I was just "meh" about. 

There is some pretty freaking awesome stuff in this film still. The final fight between Neo and Agent Smith isn't quite as amazing as the one in the first film, but it's still pretty darn good. And the machine invasion of Zion, and the apocalyptic-like battle that ensues, is incredibly enthralling. 

There are still some issues to deal with though. We keep hearing stuff about the "Source," and how Neo is connected to it--and apparently Smith is as well--and how important it is--but we never really find out what it is. There is lots of stuff that is more implied than confirmed (can't really say what without giving away spoilers), so again, you *really* have to be paying attention in order to understand this film and the overall Matrix universe, which will otherwise make next to no sense. 

The Matrix Revolutions is about as wild a ride as it gets when it comes to threequels, and can make you go through multiple emotions--such as "Whoa! This is awesome!" and "Why?!" and "What?" As far as trilogy endings go, it's a pretty decent one. Perhaps its greatest flaw is its subtlety--it's pretty darn hard to understand, and is unfortunately sure to leave a lot of people confused. But for me, it is a decent, if not satisfying ending to one heck of a trilogy--even if it is a flawed one. 

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