Revolution, or Disillusion? a Review of MATRIX 3 B...

Rating: Null/10 (5 November 2003)

Revolution, or Disillusion? a Review of MATRIX 3 By Jiggy
Readers, if you have not been following this trilogy for the past 4 years (The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, and now The Matrix Revolutions) you must be living under a rock, or so plugged into the `system' that your on-board software won't allow you to see the truth, for fear of being terminated by your own version of Agent Smith (Ego, Obscurations, Kleshas, Inhibitions, Perceptions of social control, or Fear of movie theatres and/or Chinese VCD shops, etc.). For the benefit of those just becoming `unplugged' and seeing one of the Wachowski brother's dissertations on the meaning of life, liberty and search for truth for the very first time, let's quickly bring ya up to speed. In short, the trilogy revolves around Nemo (Keanu Reeves: well known in KTM for his role as Prince Siddhartha in the film Little Buddha) and Nemo's journey of self and worldly discovery; a classic epic set in a sci-fi not-so-distant future, where machines rule (ala T1 thru T3) and where humans are enslaved - as yet another variation of an X-File.
I remember screening Matrix 1 back in '99; I had just lost quit my job, sold all my possessions, and in short, was having an early mid-life crisis and asking `What's it all about? Why do I feel I'm just a cog in a machine? Are things really what they seem?' So I was stunned to have a movie fit so auspiciously into my life just when I had gotten `off the grid' as they say. I used proceeds of my used college-book sale to view the movie dozens of times, examining every aspect of this movie's spiritual connotations, religious references, and philosophical conundrums. I began to think that I was, in fact Nemo, or a real-life version of him - sans the ability to dodge bullets in slow-mo or afford a really cool black leather trench coat. I even began looking at any potential GF like she had to be a re-incarnation of Trinity - the movie's love interest. (I want a girl with a mind like a diamond / I want a girl who knows what's best / I want a girl with shoes that cut and eyes that burn like cigarettes / I want a girl with a short skirt and a long jacket - Cake).
Well, four years later and after screening the second installment of the trilogy, The Matrix Reloaded, I had long realized that movies are just that: entertainment! And they should not be used as a spiritual guide, material for a PhD thesis, or a bible by any means. And entertainment this all is; the Wachowski Brothers, with help from special effects editor and Oscar Winner John Gaeta provide plenty in all three episodes. Enough to keep even the most diehard hindi-action film freak glued to their seats with the shear quality of it all, even if Trinity never, or ever would, spontaneously break into dance wearing a long but low-cut shiny black leather sari.
Where The Matrix Revolutions differs from its predecessor The Matrix Reloaded (released just 6 months ago and shot at the same time) is that Revolutions offers up the secret of life, liberty, and unplugged happiness that we were not given after the first film, forgot about in the second (due to a mind-warping car chase and multiple spinning self-replicating fight scenes) as a plate of old bones that we can pick through for ourselves after leaving the theatre. Only this time, the journey of matrix-discovery was propelled along with seemingly tired action scenes and a really lame sound track.
Everything that has a beginning has an end, so the movie poster says (and I once thought that tripe like that was prophetic). I was glad when this flick ended. The Revolution is indeed over. And unlike what Gil Scott Heron predicted in the Black American '70s, this Revolution will be televised, and is now being merchandised, plagiarized, and even corporatized long before The Matrix Revolution spreads to theatres world-wide. Perhaps that's the true meaning of the title, `revolutions' like in revolving charge cards or department store doors. Well readers, see it today at Jai Nepal or purchase at your local chinese VCD shop, and then tell me if I am wrong in being disillusioned with the whole shebang.
THE BOTTOM LINE A Must See for those who saw the first two; a decent film to see at Jai -if ya are in need of an adrenalin fix, and a Skip if you would rather save your money to see a new movie starring Preity Zinta.
Reviewer's Bio: Jiggy Gaton is the pen name for a new WAVE contributor, who not only spends a lot of his time watching films and searching for the meaning of life, but is also selling a used long black trench coat, cheap. Jiggy loves to read reader's comments, and can be contacted by email: . Your thoughts on films showing or soon to be showing in Nepal are especially appreciated.