Matrix Corrupted?. Review on Matrix Revolutions Movie

Everything that has a beginning… has an end …hopefully.

In what is perhaps the best scene of the movie, a confused Neo is in a limbo, a train station – a place neither in the MATRIX, nor in the human world, but somewhere in between; and he encounters an Indian Couple and their sweet girl daughter. An interesting premise is held there on the talk of one’s Karma and path of one’s attainment. Quite paradoxically, Neo who still hasn’t understood the answer to the questions he’s been asking everyone, once again finds himself lost, literally, as he tries to make sense of the MATRIX. In a brilliantly executed shot, Neo runs into the tunnel after the train, only to emerge back on the same station from the other end – alone.

Perhaps, that is what summarizes the movie fairly enough.

In what could have been a brilliant finale to a grand series of techno-spiritual science fiction trilogy, MATRIX REVOLUTIONS spins itself into a series of mumbo-jumbo, and a biblical confrontation of the good and the evil, and finally ends on a wondering note. However, looking at a closer view, REVOLUTIONS answers all questions of the original, leaves RELOADED questions with itself, and then leaves a few more questions of itself to be answered, well, perhaps, who knows by the vagaries of Hollywood.

Note: You cannot relate MATRIX REVOLUTIONS to MATRIX RELOADED. MATRIX REVOLUTIONS is not a continuation of MATRIX RELOADED as a sequel, rather MATRIX RELOADED and REVOLUTIONS are a single sequel to the MATRIX, spread across two parts.

While REVOLUTIONS in itself is not really a spectacular spectacle, as a complete trilogy, REVOLUTIONS is a spectacle. Don’t worry, I am going to contradict myself throughout this review; maybe not perhaps. While the first MATRIX introduced us the world of machines and artificial intelligence, it ended on a brilliant note with Neo realizing he is the ONE. RELOADED began rather awkwardly, regained control and ended on another brilliant note taking the whole concept of MATRIX to a new level. REVOLUTIONS begins rather quietly, though superbly, spins out of control for the next one hour, and then regains its composure towards the end, rather shakily, and ends on a note, which is neither High or Low, almost like the limbo.

Oracle as always becomes the most interesting and the most confusing character of the trilogy. Her existence is never clearly explained in either of the two parts, and for those looking for answers in this movie about Oracle, maybe its time for them to visit Larry Elison instead. Oracle remains as she was. Agent Smith returns and I always fall in love with hundreds of him whenever he comes up on the screen – that he is the best actors of the movie is a understatement. A plethora of Agent Smiths turn up a deliciously wicked performance, against the other characters that don’t really belong anywhere. Morpheus, a leader and a strong person in his original loses steam all the way to become a mere onlooker. Naobi looks strong and gives in a riveting performance. The rest of Zion Cast is either wiping each other’s tears or shouting in unison over anything hopeful. Neo still the ONE, realizes that the power of his antithesis is as strong as he himself.

But perhaps that is where the beauty of the original comes in. The ultimate keyword in the movie was about choice one makes. Those expecting a sequel to RELOADED will quite simply miss the whole point of ‘choice’ in the movie. That is where REVOLUTIONS begins to holds itself. The prophecies, the dreams, the Oracle’s theologies, all begin to make sense rather clumsily towards the end. That it left the viewer to link the original and REVOLUTIONS together makes us wonder why then was there a RELOADED ever. That is perhaps the biggest problem of RELOADED and REVOLUTIONS – together as one, they did have been a splendid movie – instead REVOLUTIONS bangs on and on for what could have been an incredible ending to the sequel in just one movie. Did I just say incredible ending? Yes. I did. Did I say a clumsy way to end? Yes I did. I guess, I too am in that limbo.

Special Effects have been the USP of MATRIX Series, and this one comes as no surprise. The battle of Zion is breath taking to watch, which however after half an hour seems irresistibly enough. SFX are absolutely high class, to the point that you gape with awe and yet come off with a feeling of having watched a video game. They are that good. [Well, I said I did contradict right?] MATRIX has redefined special effects to such an extent, that only a MATRIX can beat MATRIX. Hopefully not though. Dialogues range from absolutely crappy stuff found in average American war movies in Vietnam to an absolute zinger of a dialogue between Agent Smith and you guessed it Oracle. Trinity stays true to her role, in the movie, as Trinity, as her name and as her choice. Perhaps, hers was the most definitive role in the MATRIX Trilogy, and hers is the best handled role too. Everyone else, blink and you don’t see them – That includes the… well, find out :-)

Wachowski Brothers created a cult classic in every term with MATRIX and tread on dangerous ground trying to take it further. They succeed in giving MATRIX a new dimension, and yet they fail to deliver. While they become the victims of the sin of greed themselves, they got carried away in realizing their own philosophies – to such an extent that well, neither the Trilogy looks brilliant, nor is the Trilogy Bad – It just cannot be bad at all. What is it then? Well, the Trilogy tries hard to get on the train but as Neo himself doesn’t get it the first time in the limbo, probably the brothers didn’t too. That they find themselves back in the same station after running through the tunnel is a tribute they pay to themselves towards the end of REVLOUTIONS [if you get what I am trying to hint here, all Neo-phytes].

In the end, is MATRIX REVOLUTIONS immensely watchable? Most definitely is!! You wouldn’t want to miss it for anything in this world; believe me, in spite of the hour wasted. Is the movie satisfying? Not quite. But then that was how MATRIX was in the first place. MATRIX cannot be shown, it has to be seen. Till then, its more questions and less answers.

p.s: There is an amazing techno rendition of 'asotama sadramaya' in the ending credits. Dont miss it for anything!