Review of The Matrix Revolutions (2003) by Kyle W — 27 Nov 2015

The Matrix and its subsequent franchise had already aged quite badly by the time this film was made. This clearly rushed and badly constructed sequel is essentially the Wachowski brothers' way of gilding the lily before it was too late to rub it in our faces.

The film attempts a more action-oriented approach, but is ultimately bogged down in a plodding two-hour plot that begs to be trimmed down to ninety minutes. On top of that, the writers introduced an array of new characters that not only did not need to be added, but also did nothing to enhance the film's narrative whatsoever.

By far the worst part of the story was that while trying to answer some of the questions left behind by the previous film, it ended up raising more questions than it answered thanks to an utterly nonsensical ending that doesn't really make it clear who won in the film's universe.

The characters don't do anything that keeps you paying attention to the film as it limps through a sea of special effects, and even the acting seems like it got worse, either that or the script was simply awful.

In any case, it was a terrible waste of reasonably good actors. The special effects are alright, and definitely on par with the previous film, but it's all just salad dressing, and the problem is that this film is too much CGI and not enough substance.

Suffice it to say, this was a poor way of ending what could have been a really good trilogy of films, and I think the main problem is that they rushed the film (which was being produced alongside its predecessor).

Had they put more time and effort into polishing the film, and waited another year to release it, there's a chance that it might have been better, but it still wouldn't have changed that it's impossible to take The Matrix seriously anymore, especially after they continue to wear out the damned bullet time effect to near death.