Suddenly, Reloaded doesn't seem that bad...

Rating: Null/10 (8 November 2003)

I wanted to like this SO much, I wanted this to make up for Reloaded's ponderous dialogue and underwhelming fights. However, Revolutions is unspectacular, incoherent and an utterly unsatisfying way to end the trilogy.
Following on directly from Reloaded's "cliffhanger" ending (note:sarcasm), we find Neo alone, disconnected in a way that doesn't seem to make any sense within the structure of the film. Trinity et al. track him down, in what is probably the most entertaining section of the film. Then, he has a bit of contemplation, involving more pseudo-philosophy from the Oracle, then decides to go it alone to Machine Land.
Oh yes, meanwhile, Zion is under attack. What is supposed to be the spectacular centrepiece of Revolutions is a cheesy, cliched, run-of-the-mill action movie, where the impressive special effects manage to generate zero excitement. Let's face it, we only really care about our central trio of characters, and we'd rather see Zion reduced to a crumbling wreck as long as Morpheus, Trinity and Neo make it out OK.
Neo's final fight with Smith is good in parts, but didn't we all prefer it when it had an element of believability? They may be flying through the night sky but compare it to the Subway fight in the first Movie and it lacks all of the flair of choreography and direction, it lacks the gritty violence, and it lacks any sense of compassion for Neo, or triumph at the end. And the robot face that represents the machine consciousness in the real world? Where did all the Wachowski's IDEAS go?
The first film was like a band's first album - all those concepts that have been formulating in the mind for years, waiting for the chance to show people their incredible visions. The two sequels are crippled by that first success, feeling like committee-written excuses to show how much money can be spent and made in one go.
Not worth waiting four years for.