"Neo, I believe."

Rating: 9/10 (6 August 2011)

In most film trilogies, the third film is the grand finale, and the "Matrix" saga ends with a hell of a bang. After some brief pursuits and fights that wrap up a few loose ends from the last film, this movie goes all-out with a massive battle between men and machines; the Battle of Zion is easily one of my favorite battle scenes among sci-fi films. And then it goes on to show off the final duel between Neo and Agent Smith; this lengthy fight goes literally all over the place, with style and power that elevates it to being one of the best fights of all time.
This movie does get a bad rap for its story; the first half-hour is a bit of a frivolous subplot, and the film's conclusion is quite anticlimactic. Even more frustrating for some is that there's not as much philosophical depth as the last two films. But I've always been pleased with this story; it's linear and easy to follow, it still has quality characterization, and even though the philosophy may be gone, I believe there's a strong theological theme that emerges, thanks to the nature of the main character and his final solution. It may not make good enough sense for some, but for me, it's a sublime ending.
Like its predecessors, this movie has quality photography and editing. Acting is good all around, with the same cast as the last film. Writing is still quite good. Production value is high, with plenty of good sets, props, costumes, and excellent special effects. Music is alright.
Recommended as a rental.
4.5/5 (entertainment: 5/5, story: 4/5, film: 4.5/5)