Completing the cycle

The original Matrix very nearly defined a whole new visual style in moviemaking. Its successor, Reloaded, seemed perfunctory after that - the same again, with the volume turned up. This third Matrix rises nearly to the level of the first Matrix's novelty.

Novelty, by definition, can't be a repetition. This time, it comes from a pervasive combination of live action with computer animation. The animation is outstanding - hugely complex scenes, with hundreds or thousands of separate robotic characters. The dim-lit, robotic cityscapes create a grim sense of scale and majesty. Best, though, was what the director chose not to animate, the human figures. Animation can't yet produce the subtlety and expression of human actors, so no attempt was made to synthesize them. Instead, elaborate compositing combined real actors with computer-graphic sets and props. It's the best, and certainly the most complex example to date of the merged techniques. Enjoyable extras on the second disk show how the actors played their parts in this movie - showing that acting is a whole different craft than it used to be.

This is a definite end to the Matrix franchise, a satisfying resolution of the basic conflict that's driven the series. I guess there's still room for prequels and such. Any sequels would have to have such different premises from this trilogy that they'd hardly be recognizable. I'm very glad to see the series end on such a high note.

//wiredweird

Another Hollywood Dumb Down

It's pretty sad when you find yourself using the fast forward button on your DVD player the first time you watch a movie. I was ecstatic when after a 40 minute fight scene between the machine army and Zion, they finally moved to something else...that is until they went back to the fight scene for what seemed like another 20 minutes. By the way, did I mention the 30 minute kung fu fight between "Mr. Anderson" and the agent? At this point I wasn't sure if I was watching a movie, or a video game? This movie had very little meaningful dialogue and even less than a plot. The clincher is the horrible ending. A tie between the machines and the humans is the worst possible ending they could have come up with. This is a far cry from the original masterpiece, you know the one that required at least an IQ of 30 to comprehend. A fitting title for this movie would be "Matrix for Dummies". They definately cashed out on this one.

A visual effects masterpiece

The Matrix Revolutions has great graphics and great action, and it's pretty touching too--a surprise for most action-based films. Too bad parts of it are quite clique, like the Hammer's Captain Rowland (of the ship Jada Pinkett Smith's character pilots into Zion who comments on her flying throughout the sequence) using profane language in every sentence he speaks. Except for those slight "Hollywood moments," this film rocks on every level--it's full of great special effects, thoughtful introspection (it's got a great meaning) and some superb acting (except for those constant stereotypical curses). Overall, extremely satisfying.