Matrix Revolutions

I’ve never been a big fan of The Matrix franchise, and I felt the first film was highly overrated (to me, slowing everything down in “bullet time” was a cop-out instead of actually having compelling action sequences). I admit I did enjoy puzzling over the smattering of existential philosophy, however, and that brought it closer into the realm of true science fiction for me (as opposed to, say, Star Wars or the Star Trek motion pictures, which aren’t really science fiction — they’re just enjoyable space action/adventures). I enjoy real science fiction, like Contact, Deep Impact or A.I. — movies that actually make you think and wonder and marvel at creation. When I heard that there would be sequels to The Matrix, I squeezed my eyes shut and hoped really hard that they would move more into the realm of science fiction, and away from the stylized carnage and the glorified and glamorized violence. Silly me, hoping for such things.

The Matrix Revolutions is an unmitigated disaster. I had hoped that their pseudo-philosophical dialogue and allegorical symbolism would actually LEAD somewhere — but it doesn’t. In the end, none of that matters a whit. It’s all revealed to be so much less than it seemed — It is summed up thus: Neo is awakened, unplugged from the Matrix, and then revealed to be the only person who can help the Machines destroy a rampant virus in their system. Neo cleans the virus in return for a promise of peace from the machines. “We need them, they need us.” That’s it. All of the intriguing philosophical undertones and nuances were absolutely wasted in the end, when it all comes down to an elaborate fist-fight between Neo and Smith. [sigh] What an horrible waste.

2 stars (out of 5)