Review of The Matrix Revolutions (2003) by Kai82 — 03 Jun 2021

The conclusion of the Matrix trilogy. It is excellent and also a bit of a disappointment for me at the same time. Lets start with the good things: The characters, style, special effects, fights, action scenes, set up and story (mostly) are really good.

I enjoyed the movie a lot because of this. On the other hand the conclusion is a bit unsatisfying, the climax of the movie battle is also a bit underwhelming (expected more with this build up), parts of the story are weaker and some questions are not answered or better said there are teaser that there was more than meets the eye.

I read that the Wachowski brothers (now sisters) had not developed much for a sequel when the first movie became far more successful and influential as they expected. This put them under pressure when a sequel must be made to use the tide of the success.

So I will say they had to make some sacrifices here but it is not garbage by any reasonable standard. The story continues after the cliffhanger ending of Matrix Reloaded. The machines have found the location of the underground city of humanity and started their attack.

The human resistance has neither the resources or manpower to win an open war. Sidenote: I say this is beyond stupidity to have no back up. Meanwhile Agent Smith is turning the Matrix upside down with his new powers while Neo is unconscious and maybe even in a comatose state.

As set up this is amazing. The situation is at an all-time low and the next hours will be the make or break point for everyone. I truly enjoyed the set up and the heroes journey against the overwhelming odds.

Some parts are weaker like for example parts of the conclusion, some side story arcs and the climax. Visuals and special effects are awesome. Again they create something that feels disturbingly realistic and believable.

The action and fight scenes are well done and do not disappoint. I dislike the final confrontation a bit as it feels a bit short and underwhelming but I will admit it is still awesome too. The actors deliver again a good performance.

Keanu Reeves as Neo is fully convincing and I praise his role. Sadly Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus is barely in the movie. It is just slightly more than blink and you miss him ;-). Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith is the hidden star again.

He is such an enjoyable antagonist and now he is overwhelming like an unstoppable force of nature. Carrie Ann Moss can shine a bit more with showing a bit of more facets of Trinity’s character. For the side characters I will praise Jada Pinkett Smith as Niobe, Mary Alice as the oracle and Ian Bliss as Bane (I could Morpheus put also in the side character list for this movie but refused).

Overall this movie hits more than it misses. It is good enough to be a satisfying conclusion but not awesome enough to get a higher rating. I say most people agree for this as mostly the first Matrix movie is brought up in movie conversations and the sequels are always seen as inferior.

I would still recommend the whole trilogy but say it is not on the level of the best movie trilogies like for example the original Star Wars movies, Back to the Future or Indiana Jones. Bonus thought with a !!!Spoiler Warning!!!: After watching it I say Neo was never the chosen one.

He was just the catalyst for agent Smith who is the true chosen one. This is not a joke. Think about it: Firstly: He fits all descriptions of the prophecy. Secondly: Without the thread of Agent Smith what could Neo hope to get done except slowing down the inevitable (Nothing to bargain with the machines)? Thirdly: It is already told by the creator that Neo is not that unique or the chosen one and a conversation near the end says all this was a dangerous gamble.

Alternative: I could also argue that both Neo and Agent Smith are the chosen one as both were needed and one without the other could not start the chain of events that result in the outcome. This would be the two sides of a coin argument.