Fitting finale *Spoilers within, so be forewarned*

Rating: Null/10 (11 April 2004)

"The Matrix Revolutions" is a necessary and fitting finale to the series. The movie's plot is simple: Save Zion, defeat Smith and the Machines. These are both very well crafted, and solved nicely.
There has been some negative comment about the lack of "bullet time" use and that the action wasn't crafted as well as it should have been. Considering the battle for Zion is in the "Real World," bullet time should not and is not used. It is a trick that can happen only in the Matrix, as in the battle between Neo and Smith. Those who aren't spoiled by Hollywood's over use of bullet time (see MI:2, for one) will be pleased with the battle in Zion. The scene is very intense, even if predictable.
The final fight between Smith and Neo was mind-blowing. The use of bullet time was wonderful, and every powerful clash or punch thrown was wonderfully accentuated by the energy waves affecting the rain, which was a nice touch.
**POSSIBLE SPOILER -- IF YOU WHINE ABOUT KNOWING TOO MUCH ABOUT MOVIES, DON'T READ ON**
The Wachowskis made a little mistake in action: In the scene in which Trinity, Morpheus, and Seraph go to see the Merovingian and wind up in a shoot-out, it felt like they dusted off the classic lobby gunfight from the first movie, and just re-wrote the scene. It worked, and the addition of the villains running across the ceiling was nifty, but it would have been nice to see something a little different (but, how do you do different these days?). In the scene's defense, there was fantastic acrobatic work.
**END SPOILER**
The acting from most of the cast was better than the average sci-fi/action flick. Laurence Fishburne was intense as always. Hugo Weaving portrayed Smith beautifully, especially as his confidence leaves him towards the end of the battle with Neo. Carrie-Ann Moss gave a stellar performance, especially in her final scene. The only severe acting problem was Keanu Reeves, who, apart from the "Bill and Ted" movies, has never found a role he could play well. He was bland, though part of that may be on the writing.
**SPOILER**
Reeves did a decent and appropriate job during Trinity's death scene. It was believable and honest, even if it's an overused piece of scriptwriting.
**END SPOILER**
All in all, this movie, though not pleasing in all the stereotypical, Hollywood happy endings kind of way, was written the way that it had to be to end the series. There were some unanswered questions, but thus is "The Matrix" -- if all the questions were answered, then it would just be another meaningless piece of sci-fi/action film. The mystery is what made the entire series (i.e. "What is the Matrix?" promos and ads). Some things could have been done better, but nothing that anyone else could have done could have improved on this movie.
8/10.