Revolution: n.—the cycle of a phenomena; a radical change often accompanied by violence.
The Matrix Revolutions’ tagline reads: “Everything that has a beginning has an end.” To some, this closing chapter is initially nothing more than an overwrought disappointment; however, in hindsight, Revolutions is a fitting resolution to a monumental trilogy. With the third and final part of the Matrix saga, what once began in March of 1999 comes to a close and goes out with a bang.
Revolutions begins exactly where Reloaded ends. The plot picks up with the machine-controlled Neo (Keanu Reeves) and the Smith-possessed Bane (Ian Bliss) comatose. While in this coma-like state, Neo is stuck in some sort of limbo train station (on the edge of, or between, both worlds — the Matrix and the real world), and the only way to get out is through the smarmy Merovingian (Lambert Wilson) and the homeless-looking Trainman (Bruce Spence).
After making a deal with these two greasy men, Neo is removed from limbo to help fight against the approaching swarm of sentinels and the continuously multiplying, virus-like, angry God of the Matrix, Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving). Neo and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) take off in an unexpected direction in an attempt to save all of humanity and find out in the end if Neo is truly “The One,” and if the prophecy can still be fulfilled.
While the first fifty minutes of Revolutions is packed with philosophical phrases and Freudian-like explanations of love and karma, the second half compiles enough action to allow the reel to be revered. And, although this is the most inferior film in the trilogy, to use the word “inferior” when referring to any of the three blockbusters is simply unjust. Even though Revolutions may rev its engine a little too long for those who are antsy to get the ball rolling, once the film hits the gas, there is no letting up and not one single letdown.
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Article comments
1 - homeosapienpath
I agree the trilogy as a whole is impressive and spectacular. I can understand that some fans and critics may have been disappointed by the way the second film abruptly ended with "to be continued" but taken as a whole Reloaded and Revolutions are if not a masterpiece at least classic.
If it is any indication of its future cult status as a film the religous and philosophical seeds that the Wachowski's sowed in The Matrix have taken root in the form of a religion based on the movies called Matrixism. It took nearly twenty-five years for Jediism to spring up out of the the Star Wars saga. The Wachowski's attained that level of fan devotion with The Matrix after only five years.
2 - Crowjane
While I appreciate your respect for the Matrix trilogy and insistence that it be seen as one story (not "one great film and two inferior sequels", as the popular consensus would have it) reducing the story's complex philosophy to Christian allegory diminishes it. As the Oracle implies, Neo and Smith are both opposite elements in a larger equation larger than either understands individually. Both are necessary in ending the war, though neither fully understands their role until the end. (And in fact, both are tricked into self-sacrifice by the Oracle, who's really the most important character in the film in terms of determining the outcome; Neo is merely her tool, not a "messiah". Smith isn't really "evil" either.
There are allusions to Eastern religions, Greek mythology, Gnosticism and many other traditions in The Matrix but ultimately it should be taken on its own terms, not be read along the tenets of any specific religion.