The Matrix: Revolutions 3.5 / 4 stars
R, 130m Starring: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Lawrence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving Directed by the Wachowski Brothers
The time has come. The final installment of a film trilogy that has defined our generation the way "Star Wars" defined our parents' has arrived at last. "The Matrix: Revolutions" is here.
The question on all our minds is: How will it end?
Or better yet: Will it live up to our expectations after "The Matrix: Reloaded" failed so miserably?
Trilogies are interesting phenomena. In the past, the second film of a trilogy has often proved to be the best of three, with the first and last merely holding the story together. "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Godfather: Part II" are living proof of this notion.
The "Matrix" trilogy is a whole different story. "Reloaded," one of the most highly-anticipated film releases of the last few years, and one of the highest grossing films to ever hit the box office, was an enormous disappointment. One could go so far as to say that it was a horrific insult to the first film, and to its fans.
However, all hope is not lost. The third, and final, film in the trilogy, "Revolutions," almost lives up to the original film, and far surpasses "Reloaded." In fact, after seeing "Revolutions," it almost feels like "Reloaded" never existed. And that is a good thing.
It is curious that the final two films feel so different because they were shot as a single movie and cut into two, initially intended to be released within six weeks of each other. But the truth is that "Revolutions" and the original "Matrix" are remarkably similar, and barely resemble the middle installment.
"Revolutions" starts off where "Reloaded" left off.
Neo is in a coma. Agent Smith has acquired extraordinary powers and a large army of clones. Thousands of machines are on the brink of entering, and ultimately destroying, Zion. It seems like there is no hope for survival.
Luckily, Neo is not really in the coma. His mind is trapped somewhere between the real world and the matrix. In order to save him, Trinity and Morpheus must battle through a bondage-laced nightclub owned by the Merovingian to negotiate for Neo's freedom. Negotiations can, of course, only mean one thing: A gravity-defying fight sequence and lots of guns.
Once back inside the matrix, Neo visits the Oracle, played this time by Mary Alice, to determine his fate. The role of the Oracle was played in the first two films by Gloria Foster, who died after the filming of "Reloaded" was completed. In order to ensure that films flow together cohesively, the Wachowski Brothers altered the third film to address the change in the Oracle's physical appearance. The video game "Enter the Matrix," which supposedly ties the final two films together, explains that the Merovingian terminated the Oracle because he was angered that she had chosen to help Neo. As a result the Oracle was forced to find a new "shell" to live in.
Mary Alice does an admirable job filling in for Foster in this key role, however those who know the films understand that the change in appearance was not made to advance the plot, but rather to cover the filmmakers' footsteps. In all honesty, the shift in the Oracle's image is distracting from her character, and while a valid effort is made to pay homage to Foster in the film, the change only leaves the audience wishing the filmmakers had been more creative in their last-minute script alterations.
After meeting with the "new" Oracle, Neo realizes what he must do: Go to the machine city and attempt to save humanity. Neo and Trinity set off in Niobe's ship to strike a bargain with the machines, while Morpheus and Niobe head back to save Zion from the quickly-approaching Sentinels.
Meanwhile, in Zion the leaders and citizens plan their final defense against the machines. The resulting battle is an impressive fight sequence highly unlike anything we have seen in the previous two films.
Due to the risk of ruining the film (although by the time this review comes out, most of the world will probably already have seen this film at least once), certain things are not included in this summary and review. It is sufficient to say that "Revolutions" does what's necessary to successfully conclude in a way that will satisfy most fans.
Many aspects of the film are also extremely predictable. Inevitably, a major character must die. And unfortunately, of all the characters to kill off, this one is the most disappointing choice. But hey, who didn't see this coming?
"Revolutions" does a lot of things right. The directors carefully tie it to the first film in a way that causes viewers to feel like they are making valuable connections between the two movies, and almost nostalgically reliving that very first viewing experience. Happily, besides picking up where "Reloaded" left off, this film does not connect too much with the second film.
So, how does it end? There are not many ways this film can end. Let's just say that some will leave the theater, at peace with trilogy, feeling satisfaction with an ending that was everything they had hoped for. Others will leave wanting something more. And for those people, a prequel might arrive 10 years down the road.
