Good, but requires a lot of outside knowledge

Rating: 7/10 (9 November 2003)

Matrix: Revolutions has been getting a lot of flak recently. Part of the reason has been because of lack of understanding, the other part is that the trilogy didn't end the way most people were expecting it to. Although I enjoyed the movie, I admit that it requires a lot of outside knowledge. Part of the problem is that it is assumed that the viewer is familiar with a lot of things that aren't specified in the movie. For example, the origin of the man vs. machine conflict is explained in the Animatrix short films, and references are made to events that happened in the Enter the Matrix video game. The second major problem for a lot of viewers is that the film didn't end the way they were wanting it to end. I'll explain this below:
POSSIBLE SPOILERS: ******************************************** I've heard many people say that they wanted to see a colossal showdown with man and machine, with man coming out victorious and destroying the matrix. They evidently viewed the film through a western standpoint of black and white / good vs. evil thinking. Humanity was supposed to represent pure good and the machines were supposed to represent pure evil. However, in spite of the Matrix films being American, they are very much influenced by Japanese animation, not just in terms of action and stylistic elements, but also in terms of story, plot, and moral message. In most Japanese animation there isn't as much black and white as there are shades of gray. This is also true in the Matrix films. The humans aren't totally noble and innocent. If you watch the Animatrix, you find that humans started the war, nuked the planet, and blackened the sky in a futile attempt to eradicate the machines. Also the machines aren't totally evil. In the beginning of Revolutions there is an indication that they are developing human emotions (recall the program Rama saying that he loved his "daughter"). Hence, with neither side completely good or evil, the only acceptable solution is peace and coexistance, not annihilation (a common theme in Japanese animation).
Also a lot of people were wanting to see the Matrix destroyed, but I don't believe that this would have have ever been a viable option. Recall in the original Matrix, Morpheus says that not everyone is ready to be free. If the matrix suddenly was brought down, how would the masses handle the situation? Many people would rather live in the virtual world rather than the ruined, post apocalyptic real world. Hence the matrix remains, but people who want out can leave rather than being trapped. (Remember the last scene where the Architect relunctanly agrees to let everyone who wants to be free of the matrix free?) ****************************************************
Anyway, I overall enjoyed the movie. The fight scenes were spectacular and imaginative. It pretty much answered most of the questions, although not in the way many people would have liked. Toward the end it went a little overboard on the religious symbolism. There was so much religious symbolism that I was half way expecting Neo to cry "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" If you like action and don't mind the religius symbolism, and don't have any preconceived expectations for the ending, then you will probably like Matrix: Revolutions. If not, you will probably be pretty disappointed.