Today’s quick review: The Matrix Revolutions. With the Machines mere hours from breaking through to Zion, Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) dive back into the Matrix to rescue Neo (Keanu Reeves), whose mind has become trapped. With the Matrix itself threatened by Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) and Zion preparing its final stand, Neo attempts to reach the Machine City to fulfill the destiny of the One and put an end to the war.
The Matrix Revolutions is a science fiction action movie and the final film in the Matrix trilogy. The story of the Matrix reaches its climax as the plot threads established in The Matrix Reloaded begin to come together. Featuring the same compelling style as the first two films and much of the action, The Matrix Revolutions makes for a solid watch on its own but a mediocre ending to a reputable series.
The Matrix Revolutions has flaws that its two predecessors lack. The movie spends very little time in the Matrix, opting instead to focus on the grim war going on in the real world. As such, the movie’s action sequences have a very different flavor than those in the previous films. The smaller number of Matrix fight scenes are supplemented with competent but more conventional action scenes set in the real world.
The third movie is also heavier on plot and drama than the previous films. The movie slows down in the middle as it sets up for the finale, with several sequences that could have been cut or abridged with little damage to the story. The film’s greatest weakness is the way it wraps up the plot of the series. Its tonal shift, unclear logic, and ambiguous ending make The Matrix Revolutions a less than satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.
Nevertheless, The Matrix Revolutions remains a strong science fiction film in concrete terms. The special effects are as polished as ever, the setting is well-developed, and the action scenes are still exciting. Between its swarms of robots, hovercrafts, power armor, virtual reality, and dystopian future, The Matrix Revolutions is quintessential science fiction, with the budget and action to back up its premise.
Watch The Matrix Revolutions to find out how the Matrix trilogy ends. The Matrix Revolutions is a decent film with several virtues of its own, but it is a marked step down from the quality of the first two. Skip it if you disliked The Matrix Reloaded or you are invested in the trilogy ending on a high note.
6.7 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for fine science fiction and visual spectacle that fails to live up to its predecessors.