The Matrix Trilogy And You

Rating: Null/10 (24 November 2003)

Finally, The Saga of Neo and the Last Humans has ended. I can't say that Matrix Revolutions was spectacular, it was... satisfactory to say the least.

For those of you who's not in the know, or haven't seen any Matrix movie yet, here's the lowdown (WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS UP AHEAD):
The Matrix:
Thomas Anderson also known as the hacker Neo is an average joe employee of Metacortex, who was contacted by the enigmatic but wise Morpheus, making him choose between two colored pills. Neo chose the red pill and down the rabbit-hole he goes. He was told that he was living in a dream world all along. That the reality he knows is not actually real, but an illusion imposed upon them by the Machines. At first, as in all revelations, Neo couldn't accept the truth, much less accept the fact that he's The One. The messiah to save the last remaining humans from destruction. Until he found out that he knows Kung-Fu and can really kick some serious ass inside the Matrix. And when he jacks in the Matrix again he is reintroduced to one of the coolest villains to ever manifest on film - Agent Smith. Blending evil and sophistication, Agent Smith epitomizes the ultimate antagonist. Hannibal Lecter, Dracula and Michael Corleone all rolled into one. Phenomenal kung-fu fight scenes and wireworks ensue, ridiculous amounts of gun shells litter the streets, and Trinity in all her Latex-fetish glory. In the end, Neo defeated the Agents and Smith, thus scoring one for the team. The action sequences in this movie was really ground-breaking. Spawning the ever-famous and ever-present "bullet-time" event, photocopied by many action movies, but never surpassed. It's a fact, The Matrix raised the bar so high for action movies, I haven't seen any action movie lately without at least one scene with bullets ripping through the space-time continuum in slow-motion. Oh, and the flying-crane-kick-in-3D rendered by the lovely Trinity was also a keeper.

The Matrix Reloaded:
Now, if you're a real detail freak, you have to at least see The Animatrix and played Enter The Matrix video game before seeing this one, because the sequence of events leading to Reloaded started in The Animatrix episode: "The Final Flight of the Osiris". In a nutshell, Neo & the crew of the Nebuchadnezzar must find the Keymaker, who's being held captive by the uber-slick Merovingian and his wife Persephone (played by the goddess of desire Monica Bellucci!), and guarded by the Phantom Twins. As expected, Neo & the gang find the Keymaker and make a run for it. However, the movie wouldn't be complete without fantastic kung-fu brawls, samurai sword fights, and the most spectacular car chase ever caught on film. If you have a weak heart, you might want to close your eyes on the motorcycle escape scene, let me tell you, I'm still peeling my jaws off the floor because of that! The trucktop scuffle is not to be missed and of course the nick-of-time rescue by SuperNeo is heart-stopping. Special effects galore, ultracool fashion, and Monica Bellucci, what else could you possibly want? Although the long-winded and convoluted philosophical exchange between Neo and the Architect is the only drawback, which by the way didn't contribute anything to the story, nevertheless, Matrix Reloaded is one wrapped in grandeur, delivered in style, and presented in superlative coolness.

The Matrix Revolutions:
This concludes the Matrix Trilogy. It doesn't go any further than this one. This is it. The do-or-die ending of the series. Picking up the story moments after Reloaded, you'll see Neo physically in a comatose state but his conciousness trapped in Purgatory, the world between the Matrix and the Real World. Trinity & Morpheus consult the Oracle and find out that the Merovingian is the one responsible for Neo's predicament, resulting in a magnificent Club Hell melee. Several gunfights, scorpion-kicks, and a Monica Bellucci (sporting the world's most tortured cleavage) later the Merovingian conceded and told them how to rescue Neo in the world's cleanest train station ever. If there is one drawback from Reloaded, Revolutions has a trainload of it. From the quasi-philosophical ramblings of the Hindu software exile, to the Merovingian's S & M-induced nonsensical discourse, you have to stretch your patience a little farther to keep yourself from yawning. But don't lose heart, after all that jazz you'll be rewarded with the Siege of Zion.
The machines finally penetrated the underground human city of Zion and the humans, led by the pompous Commander Lock, has to make a daring last stand to avoid extinction. This scene is really impressive. Anime-inspired, adrenaline-energized, and loaded with so much firepower it's obscene. And lastly, the mother of all climactic fight scenes. Neo versus the super-enhanced and insanely-replicated Agent Smith. This brawl has everything but the kitchen sink. Bruce Lee, Mike Tyson, Superman, the X-Men, and the Hulk ain't got nothing on this one. This knock-down-and-drag-out tango will determine the fate of everything, especially the fate of the movie itself. I guess since this is the last part of the trilogy, WB pulled all the stops and threw in every penny they have to make this one special. In a way, it was a compelling watch but not sensational. It took me a while to make it all sink in, but after discussing it with some friends, Revolutions is not so bad. No, not bad at all. Just don't expect to see more jaw-dropping action scenes in this installment, after all, it's just the conclusion. It's thrilling but not striking, heavy but not dramatic, and amazing but not superb.
All in all, I love the Matrix Trilogy. It gave everything and nothing. But the legacy of the Matrix is what makes it outstanding. The concept of the Matrix made the viewers think, think about the reality of everything we hold dear, and everything we fear. I read from somewhere that the Wachowski Brothers (the writers and directors of the film) subtly injected some Judeo-Christian ideologies and Zen philosophies in the story. Some even said that Neo was really Jesus The Messiah, Morpheus was really John The Baptist, and Trinity was really Mary Magdalene. I don't know about that one. But for me, whatever message the makers of the film wants us to believe, I believe that in this world, I make my own Matrix. I fight my own battles. I fire my own guns. And I pilot my own ship. Of course, with much needed love and support from my wife and some guidance from the Divine Providence to help me light the dark corridors of my own wicked fantasies.
So for those of you who haven't seen The Matrix Trilogy yet, I suggest you go see it now before Neo loses the battle and we'll forever be slaves to the Matrix.
A reminder before you Log On, I can only show you the door, you're the one who has to enter. Because unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is.
Peace.