Real Kato Blog: Movies: Matrix Revolutions

For "Matrix" fans, most will find something to like in the final chapter of the trilogy. But don't expect to leave feeling satisfied.

The original "Matrix" movie put me in the uncomfortable position of actually liking a Keanu Reeves flick. For a while, I wasn't sure if I had just been fooled into liking the movie by the awesome visual effects. But over time, I've come to appreciate the tightly-written storyline and the well-paced action.

The second movie, "Matrix Reloaded" was a disappointment. While the action element was still there and the visual effects were even more astounding, the storyline started to become a tangled mess of shallow secondary characters, melodromatic acting, and overblown metaphysics. One felt tempted to forgive this sequel, though, knowing that the final installment was yet to come.

Unfortunately, "Matrix Revolutions" continues along the path of "Matrix Reloaded". Yes, the action is still fast and furious, and yes, the special effects will amaze you. But the plot seemed to be filled with elements that didn't quite fit together; from the mixed up metaphysics to the inexplicably irrelevant supporting characters, I was left with the impression that there was a vastly larger story that wasn't being told, for the sake of editing the movie down to a watchable length. I found myself making up my own storylines in order to tie everything together. Some might argue that the Wachowski brothers did this intentionally to make the story open-ended, but I suspect that even they fully didn't understand the universe that they created. The result is a ragged, rambling plot that barely carries us from one action scene to the next.

All that being said, I did have fun watching hailstorms of bullets mow down legions of creepy-crawly robots. The visual effects were enough to carry the movie... once I figured out that I was supposed to turn off my brain.

Rating: 2 / 5

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