The Matrix Revolutions is the third of the Matrix films and picks up where Reloaded left off – Neo stopped the machines in the real world and is in a coma, while Bane – currently acting like Agent Smith, is also unconscious.
One thing is strange though, Neo’s patterns are similar to those of someone who is plugged into the Matrix. We then discover that Neo is inside the Matrix, trapped at the Train Station where programs are shipped in and out of the Matrix – yet he isn’t actually plugged in.
With a visit to the Merovingian by Morpheus, Trinity and Seraph, he allows Neo to leave and he is brought back to the real world.
But something big is happening inside the matrix – The program Agent Smith is duplicating himself everywhere, slowly taking over the Matrix, growing slowly out of control and going as far as taking over Seraph and the Oracle. But this is happening more in the background of the main story which takes place in the real world.
In Zion, the machines are attacking and attempting to kill all of the humans, so an epic battle is taking place to defend the lives of Zion. Meanwhile Neo sees what he must do to end the war, so he travels into the Machine city to make a deal – he’ll destroy Agent Smith, who is beyond the control of The Matrix and Machines, in exchange for Peace.
Choice?
This seems to be a prevalent theme in the Matrix movies. A constant mention of choice and something mentioned during the final battle between Smith and Neo. After a long spiel and a whinge, Agent Smith asks ‘Mr Anderson’ why, why,why do you persist?’ to which Neo replies – “because I choose to”.
Touching on choice (to me) seems to be a major difference between man and machine – men can choose machines simply calculate and act.
It’s all made pretty obvious in the movies, starting off with Neo stating that he does not believe in fate because he doesn’t like the idea that he’s no in control of his life. Then the major theme of the second movie being that Zion’s destruction is planned and executed in the exact same fashion each and every time – can be seen as fate.
But the thing that makes fate irrelevant to the humans in this Matrix Vs the One affair is love – which has Neo choosing Trinity over Zion when faced with his choice from the Architect. But it almost seems like fat that Agent Smith eventually gains massive amounts of power.
It must also relate to peace at the end of the movie when those within the Matrix are now offered a choice – if they don’t accept the program they can go free.
Set in the real world – mostly.
So the movie starts and ends primarily in the Matrix – but the body of the film is in the real world.
This is a stark contrast to last 2 movies, but offers a different, and slightly less entertaining (in my opinion) story of the struggles of the real world as the machines attacks Zion with the intention of destroying it.
It was inevitable (or fate? – just kidding) that this story would have to be told, but it really dampens the action a little bit as it’s mostly Mech vs Squiddy in an all out shooting match which is really nothing special.
What the audiences really want to see (well, the ones reading this website!) – is awesome kung fu!
The Martial Arts
The movie starts off quite well, Seraph (Collin Chou) is being utilised for his awesome martial arts talents as they approach the Merovingian, you get the impression it’s going to go off. But it doesn’t.
We finally see a little more action at the end as Neo fights agent Smith. There is use of Kung Fu at the beginning of the fight to warm up – and it’s quite good before it gets blown out of proportion and it turns into Superman vs his Evil twin with lots of explosive special effects that seem to be repetitive. This is really just disappointing even from a normal, guns and explosions action point of view.
The Mech vs Squiddy fights aren’t bad, but are really pretty drawn out and nothing special. The Kung Fu side of this movie is played down and really takes away one of the key draws of the film in my opinion.
The Verdict?
The first two are excellent, the 3rd is borderline OK. It’s a must to see how the trilogy ends, but the best is over. Check it out though if you already haven’t. It’s not THAT bad.
On Blu Ray –
Region A (US & Canada)
The Matrix Reloaded / The Matrix Revolutions (Two-Pack) [Blu-ray]
Region B (UK, Australia, New Zealand, Europe etc)
The Complete Matrix Trilogy on Blu-ray Region Free]
On DVD –
Region 1 (US & Canada)
The Matrix Revolutions on DVD
Region 2 (UK, Europe, etc)
The Matrix Revolutions DVD
Region 4 (Australia, New Zealand, etc)
The Matrix Revolutions on DVD
