Film Review: 'Matrix Revolutions' marred with empty moments

By Andrew Conway
On-line Forty-Niner

The ending of the "Matrix Revolutions" leaves you with more unanswered questions than you originally walked into the theater with; a trademark of the Wachowski brothers that is quickly proving tiresome.

In their third (and hopefully final) "Matrix" installment, the Wachowski brothers investigate a wide array of metaphysical questions, but fail to provide concrete answers to most of them.
The film opens just where its predecessor left off. However, Neo (Keanu Reeves) is now trapped between the two worlds -- the matrix and the real world. Trinity (Carrie-Ann Moss) and Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburne) race to rescue Neo before the machines destroy Zion, annihilating the human race.

Once liberated, Neo will return to the Oracle (Mary Alice replacing the late Gloria Foster) for further counsel. Although the Oracle has a new face, she still lends her characteristic advice, which preaches choice above all.

Meanwhile, Zion's inhabitants are working vigorously to fortify the city for the ensuing attack, while Neo is pondering what his role in the war is, which will eventually lead him to Machine City for the film's conclusion.

Whereas the first installment provides an open-ended, yet satisfying finish, the third film just leaves you frustrated. For the alleged final film of the series, the conclusion is quite unsatisfying and leaves you musing over further developments.

Luckily, as the plot lines have weakened, the special effects have improved. The Wachowski brothers dazzle the screen with a 20-minute battle sequence for the control of Zion. Although a bit drawn out, the seamless convergence of computer animation with live action maintains your visual attention.

Yet there is more to the movies than just Computer Graphic Images. Although religious allegories weren't as apparent in the second installment as the first, even the most casual observer would have no difficulty in spotting them in this film. The film is teeming with religious metaphor and allusions, primarily of Christian overtones. And as if it wasn't blatant enough, this film will leave no room for interpretation. Neo symbolizes Jesus Christ.

Despite all the hype, The Matrix Revolutions failed to cap off the trilogy. The first introduced you to a brilliant concept; the second flipped you around, changed your thinking, and left you wanting more; and the third couldn't produce.

The Wachowski brothers ran out of ideas, resulting in simplistic answers -- or in some case, negation -- to complicated plot scenarios. Perhaps, in retrospect, a few more months spent writing the third installment wouldn't have been a bad idea.