Just better than awful

Rating: 5/10 (16 November 2003)

**Spoilers**
The Matrix Reloaded was a movie filled with pseudo-philosophy pampering to the egos of people who desperately wanted to see something deeper and more meaningful in a film which was essentially a string of disjointed ideas. That film was almost saved by one spectacular and inventive car chase. The Matrix Revulsion has no such redemption.
The story is really poor. I get the impression that the W brothers had one great idea and managed to turn it into a fantastic movie, but were totally unable to reproduce this form again.
Neo lurches through the entire film either not knowing or being sure what he has to do. At no point do we see the process that he goes through to get from the former to the later. The Oracle seems to operate entirely on this basis, telling everyone that when the time comes they will know what must be done. This advice seems to me so open ended and ambiguous that it must call into question her use as an Oracle.
The battle for Zion, while interesting, goes on way too long, and from the moment the irritating sycophantic kid appears in the dock its obvious that he will save the day. That part of the film was totally pointless as far as I could see.
The whole Agent Smith thing was stupid and the final battle between him and Neo ridiculous and over done.
I think I, like most people, hoped that this film would answer many of the questions raised in Reloaded. Instead, all it does is present more.
What is the Merovingian?
Why cant the machines just build a very tall tower an put solar panels on it, thus removing the need for people?
What *is* Neo?
Why can Neo now move in and out of the matrix without being jacked in?
Why did invincible Agent Smith suddenly loose the plot right at the end, seemingly without any good reason?
Why didn't the machines let Neo defeat Smith and then wipe out Zion anyway?
I can't believe people are asking the question about a sequel. I don't recall a movie that was left so open ended for a follow-up. All the movie really needed at the end was a "Neo will return in The Matrix - Rehashed", like all the old James Bond movies.
Pants.