Written by: The Wachowskis
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Jada Pinkett Smith
Rating: [4/5]
When having such an incredible build up, capping it all off takes considerable work, especially when it involves the subject matter and ideas covered in a storied franchise. A task The Matrix Revolutions had to take on and does so in valiant fashion given its narrative disadvantage to the films that came before it. Even so, it infuses the proper gravitas and pulse-pounding finality to one of the greatest stories ever told.
Somehow stuck on the edges of the Matrix, Neo (Keanu Reeves) finds himself with nowhere to go and wait for rescue. Meanwhile, Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) without their ship seek to help Neo as the machines begin their all-out assault on the last standing human city, Zion.
Picking up the pieces following the groundbreaking decisions made in The Matrix Reloaded, this feature needs to bring it all together and cohesively land everything satisfyingly. We have a Morpheus distraught with the knowledge of Neo’s prophecy being untrue after the conversation held with the Architect (Helmut Bakaitis). Neo’s decision to choose what all of his predecessors did not do in saving Trinity puts humanity in true peril unlike never before with this onslaught of machines sent to kill every man, woman, and child inhabiting Zion. Therefore, we have a film filled with all-out war all while strange stuff continues to transpire in the Matrix with a particular former Agent causing some havoc.
One disadvantage compared to the previous film Revolutions needed to face was the lack of time spent in the Matrix itself. The moments within the program made for the spectacular sequences where these characters could bend gravity and have these in-depth conversations with computer programs either trying to help or destroy humanity. With the inevitability of humanity clashing with these machines in the real world, we spend the majority of this film in the drab and cold real world. It does not leave these characters in the most intriguing positions, but the prospect of all-out war gave the Wachowskis the challenge of presenting Zion as a war zone, and the moments where the machines breach the city are nothing short of spectacular. Sequence after sequence showing the horrific battle and the disadvantage faced by the humans compared to their robotic counterparts hoping to wipe them out.
It gives further credence as to the importance of Neo’s decision when he faced the architect that humanity’s survival truly lies outside of their hands, therefore needing this messianic figure needing to do something rather unique. Neo made a choice and must find a way to rectify the consequences that come with it. Neo’s ultimate journey here displays the difference between Morpheus and Commander Lock (Harry Lennix) representing faith versus pragmatism. While perhaps pragmatism makes sense at the moment, the faith Morpheus and others have in Neo will ultimately decide whether humanity has any chance of survival.
Ultimately, the wrinkle that provides the opportunity for Neo to find peace appears in Smith (Hugo Weaving) and the wrecking ball he proves to be with his ability to replicate himself by overwriting other programs in the Matrix. He evidently has no limits as to what or who he can copy himself over, which sets the stage for a finale further exemplifying what makes these films something so special. Even with the inevitability of concluding actions necessary to wrap a bow on this story we still get wonderful in-depth conversations between Neo and Smith in pivotal moments in the film ensuring the core of these films never gets lost. The major themes threading each of these stories together manage to remain ever-present in each conversation and interaction these characters have.
With the lack of time in the Matrix where these characters can bend the rules of physics, spending time in the real world provides a vulnerability to someone like Neo, who could pretty much do anything he wanted when plugged in. Heck, in the previous film he literally restarted Trinity’s heart but when this power does not transcend outside of the Matrix, making the decisions he does prove all the more perilous in the impact it could have on those he loves. Neo can no longer do his Superman thing as Link (Harold Perrineau) loves to call it, making for a different dynamic.
Following two masterful films, The Matrix Revolutions had a tough hill to climb to reach their level and while it does not achieve those heights, it still caps off this trilogy in a scintillating manner. We have all of the integral characters having their moments and it all culminates in the way this story all began with Neo and Smith facing off in one of the great final fight scenes ever put to film. An incredible film, especially when compared to other trilogy cappers that cannot measure up to what the Wachowskis do in landing the plane in an overarching tale filled with such rich themes and ideas.
Films with Josh 