Matrix Revolutions

Saw it this afternoon. Since last Wednesday I tried to not hear or read anything about it but of course everyone was talking about it so I caught some tidbits of comments and was under the impression that everyone hated it. I went anyway and liked it a lot, almost loved it actually. Came home, read a few reviews on various blogs and was surprised that all of them liked it, not as much as the first, but liked it.

First, the things I didn’t like. Wayyyyyy too much dramatic church music. It’s annoying in any movie, when added to the whole messiah thing it makes me want to retch. Some very cheesy dialogue, maybe you guys could bring in someone for those parts? You’re good with the tech and philosophy stuff but love? Eeeesshh.

Second, a couple of other reviews that cover a lot of what I think; Jeremy and Dale (fr.). I was especially pleased to read Dale’s comment about the next Superman movie, that’s all I was thinking for 6-7 minutes “god I hope the next Superman gets those effects, god I hope the next Superman gets those effects, god I hope the next Superman gets those effects” or any superhero film for that matter, X2 fights and fx sucked compared to this. Can you say Avengers or Ironman? Oh yeah. I also agree with Jeremy about the Imax experience, it’s unbelievable, see it on the huge screen if you can. It does justice to the fantastic visuals and may I say that Monica Bellucci in tight latex on a six story screen is… eye opening.

A lot of people seem to be disappointed because the last 2 movies didn’t bring anything new after the original. First, a lot of those same people say they don’t get Reloaded and the mythology and philosophy behind it, don’t say it didn’t bring anything if you don’t even understand what’s there. Second, the first movie had to stand on it’s own so of course they detailed the whole universe, don’t expect that world to be twisted around and new again just so the sequel is more interesting, those movies were the conclusion to a story already well established, if they hadn’t done that first you wouldn’t have liked The Matrix as much and Reloaded and Revolutions wouldn’t have happened. Content could have been better organized and more evenly spaced if all three were made at the same time as a whole but they weren’t. Live with it.

Also, I think just from the visual standpoint it’s enough to make it an above average movie, some seem to expect a visual feast + oscar level performances + pulitzer prize like scripting + transcendant life altering message. Gimme a break. The first one was a fantastic achievement in world creating, the second was a decent transition and took the plot forward, the third is a visual masterpiece that brings a great trilogy to a close.

Everyone has been copying the Matrix moves for the last few years, this one takes the whole thing way further, the fight scenes are seamless and even better than the second just 6 months ago, no video game cape swirling in this one. The complexity of the dock fight is staggering and superbly done, and the last fight scene with the slow motion, the way the water drips and reacts to the impacts? come on, it’s masterful. From beginning to end it’s perfectly shot and has a style all it’s own with sharpness and digital detailing previously unachieved.

The script is decent and closes the series properly, the action gets the job done and you don’t have time to be bored. But even regardless of those points, if you can’t say this movie is at least more than good just on the strength of it’s eye popping visuals, maybe you shouldn’t go see sci-fi flicks.

[Later] Michael also has a great rant about the trilogy and a comment thread still going strong 4 days after his original post.