The Matrix Revolutions delivers an epic and challenging close to the sci-fi trilogy that has helped to change the face of fandom and big-budgeted action filmmaking forever. Endlessly disputable in its ideals, execution, and most importantly, audiences' expectations, the final act in this tale of humanity's last stand dares to deliver what classic science fiction has delved into for years — human understanding. Praise should go to the Wachowskis simply for having the sheer audacity to paint their spiritual and philosophical leanings with such broad strokes, especially those most commonly found in pop culture's black sheep. While some may not be able to handle such a heavy-handed mixture, others will see it as an entertaining conduit for larger thoughts that popular cinema rarely embraces. Revolutions doesn't answer all of your questions, nor does it spoon-feed you the wrap-up you were expecting. Instead, it has the perfect amount of ambiguity for the audience to seek out their own conclusions. Scan through the unparalleled world that the Wachowski brothers have laid out for you (including the Enter the Matrix videogame and The Animatrix animated shorts) and you'll soon see how many of the puzzle pieces fit. That's not to say you can't enjoy the film without those clues, but if you're into delving deeper into the "looking glass," per se, then those are the paths through which you might find your answers.
That said, Revolutions is still an explosive action-fest, though this time, the stakes are higher and each set piece could prove fatal for all involved. In that way, the third film's palpable sense of dread fuels its breakneck pacing, making for a much more fluid and emotional roller-coaster ride than the critically lambasted The Matrix Reloaded. Still, one can't help but look differently at that middle installment after seeing its true second half with this one. For whatever awkwardness it had, Reloaded's grab bag of ideas now seems to serve a purpose for the various crucial character arcs, which after this, can be fully seen throughout the entire trilogy. In fact, characters are absolutely key here, with supporting players as well as the leads getting their time in the heroic sun. The jaw-dropping 14-minute, 40-million-dollar siege on Zion just wouldn't be the same without the dynamic between tough as nails General Mifune (Nathaniel Lees) and the Kid (Clayton Watson), just as much as the parings of Neo/Trinity and Morpheus/Niobe are key ingredients to the film's conclusion.
And just how does it end? With rousing action sequences sure to have audiences whooping and hollering? Hardly, though the two big set pieces in the film should, by all means, be that way. Instead, laced with layers of emotional connectivity, these powerhouse scenes of geeky joy hit you hard and rough, with each one transcending its money shots and living up to the inevitably spiritual end that this series has been promising. Of course, in no way will Revolutions please everyone — some have walked away completely disappointed, while others came in looking for flaws — but if you stand back and look at the entire trilogy, there's an undeniable theme that each film completely embraces and is the backbone of the series....The Matrix ends with love causing a miracle. Reloaded ends with love causing a miracle. Revolutions ends with love affecting everything and creating a new world. If that isn't grand science fiction, then what is?