What Are People Smoking?

Rating: Null/10 (24 September 2006)

**** No real spoilers, but of course since I hate spoilers, a tiny line in my review may be regarded as one, so be warned ****
I read another user review that very accurately stated one's expectation in terms of the "kind" of film they are going to see in REVOLUTIONS will determine their opinion of it more so than its content. I completely agree, and though that may seem obvious, this film has been so horribly under-appreciated and criticized due to wrongful or misguided expectations. I think it's an absolute gem and now, having seen it again about 3 years after seeing it during the opening weekend, I am even more fond of it.
The story of The Matrix and all the layers within the main arc is a wonderful story. The first film was truly about belief, and believing that you are powerful and capable of what you believe you are capable of. It had a great message, and then of course RELOADED took us deeper into the world of The Matrix itself, increasing our understanding of just how much more there is to all of it. I believe what happened was a bit of the message of the first film was lost on audiences as it was slightly missing from the sequel, which focused on the plot of the free humans vs. machines itself far more. However, here comes REVOLUTIONS, bringing us right back to the concept of belief, and even more so, the ongoing dispute between logic vs. faith. The Architect is of course a program of complete logic, whilst the Oracle is evidently faith-based. This is alluded to throughout the film, and the film progresses along these opposing ideas, with a fantastic scene where Neo enters the machine world and engages "belief" from the most unlikely possible source (something many have missed).
And what can I say about the CGI and SFX overall? Absolutely unbelievable. I have watched the great battle sequence between Zion and the squids many times now, and it still blows my mind. The level of detail is unmatched in any other action sequence(s) that I have seen in any films. The quality of the CGI and the intertwining of live-action humans with the CGI is breathtaking, and the sound effects are extremely well-done. 3 years later, I have seen several of the big-budget effects-heavy films, and none hold a candle to what this film offers. There is so much in here to enjoy and to make repeat viewing a pleasure.
9/10