Good movie could have been better!

Rating: Null/10 (5 November 2003)

Let me explain Matrix 3 by going through the other 2 movies. There will be spoilers.
THE MATRIX: This film benefited greatly from the unknown. At the time of it's release in 1999 no one knew what the Matrix was only that it had cool looking special effects based on the trailers. What viewers found was a thinking mans movie not just action. This was a complex movie that left the viewer contemplating the story line well after they had last seen the movie. At the time of the films release the viewer was not sure if there would be any sequels and had to fill in the open ending based on their own beliefs and understanding of the Matrix. It was a perfect blending of story, action and special effects.
THE MATRIX-RELOADED: Perhaps the most most anticipated sequel since STAR WARS-THE PHANTOM MENACE. After 4 years of waiting viewers finally were able to satisfy their hunger. This film release in spring 2003 suffered from special effects fatigue. Where as the first film won oscars and set new standards in the FX industry this movie felt it had to top those effects. I personally feel the new effects such as the brawl scene were not up to par and had a video game look to them. However, the effects were for the most part good. When I first saw the film I was a little disappointed. I felt the film was bogged down in complicated conversations with little character development for the new characters. However, during the following months I realized the various conversations between characters were the real strength of the movie. I had great fun in monitoring the message boards as fans tried to figure out part 3.
THE MATRIX-REVOLUTIONS: Released in fall 2003 it finished of the story but not at all in a satisfactory manner. The special effects were the best I've seen this year and probably should win an Oscar. However, the story line took a beating. The fight in Zion was good and the watching Niobe pilot the remaining ship back to Zion was good viewing. I felt that the ending for Neo was predictable but well done. What I thought was in bad taste was unspecified future of the Matrix and the Zion inhabitants. It appears that the Machines will free the humans they have in pods. That's how I interpreted the closing conversation between the Oracle and the Architect. It was a cryptic conversation that left a lot to interpretation. It appears that new Matrix after the reload has new enhancements. A blue sky for one. The green sky that marked the Matrix is now replaced with a more real lighting and colors. However, the Brothers should have had a conversation between the Oracle and perhaps Morpheus that spelled out exactly what the future would hold for man and machine. This was not spelled out. Instead a 16 year old kid runs around telling everyone the war is over and everyone believes him. For all the Kid knew it could have been a temporary cease fire. This ending had too many unanswered questions.
Lastly, this is still a great trilogy. I don't think the Brothers could ever have written sequels that lived up to the original. The original was just that, ORIGINAL!!! No precedents had been set or pre-conceived notions of what to expect were in place. The sequels cold never be as original as the first. I will add viewing the ANI-MATIRX and completing ENTER THE MATRIX adds in quite a bit of back story that will add depth to the story.