The Matrix Revolutions, dir. Wauchowski Bros, 2003.
I am vastly disappointed with this film. I was hoping to like it more after I'd slept on it but alas, such did not occur. It was beautiful to look at, but it failed on just about every other level.
I think that also "Animatrix," which is a far superior production IMO, led to a lot of the revelations in this film being less than a surprise. It seems to me that what was in the film could have been put in "Reloaded," and we wouldn't have had to suffer through 2 1/2 hours just for a few revelations that were't that great.
"Revolutions" is HIGH on Christian symbolism, more than the preceeding two films. There is also the annoying tendency to beat the viewer over the head with the tagline - 'Everything that has a beginning has an end.' Yes, okay, thanks, we get it. Sheesh.
The Merovingian made an appearance, though he and his wife were underused. They did have a kick ass nightclub though. That was cool. The twins were not in it at all, unless they were somewhere in the club and it was a case of blink and you miss them. There was little sympathy generated for the characters, the kid in Zion was totally annoying, Agent Smith wasn't as threatening as he was in the other films, Neo had the appearance of giving up on everything...bah.
"Reloaded" was FULL of information. You could interpret that film any which way and still come out of it with a million questions. "Revolutions" did not leave the same sense of satisfaction that I got from "Reloaded." Sure, the effects were great. The Machine City was very impressive. Machines and Neo uniting against Agent Smith was cool. The sentinels going into Zion was great. Niobe was kick ass cool. The rest was pretty yawnish. Not enough of The Merovingian! >:0
This film was a simplistic follow up to a very intense filmic experience that left a bad taste. Some of the religious symbolism that stuck out:
Logos: Naiobe's ship. In Greek, among other things, this word means 'the word of God. The truth of the gospel, etc.'
Kid: From Revelations (can't remember the exact refernce, but I know its in Rev) "And the lion shall die with the lamb and a little child shall lead them," meaning that peace will be brought about by the innocence of a child as hope.
Neo turning into light at the end: God/Christ/Holy Trinity always described as being bathed in a bright, pure, light. (Peter, I think.)
Neo's death: Paralleled with Christ dying for the sins of mankind so that everyone can go forth and do stuff with the cheerful knowledge that they can just go repent and all will be hunky dory.
Overall - very disappointing. And the ending is left open enough that should the Wachowski Brothers get offered enough money, they can do another film. Everyone has their price. *shrug*