Dr. Nick Riviera Reviews

The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

missed opportunity

[5 November 2003]

I expected so much from this movie and got so little. I may be in something of a minority here but I loved Reloaded, maybe even more than the original. The complex exploration of the nature of the Matrix in that film widened the scope of the story arc into new territory, seemingly opening up a plethora of possible revelations to be revealed in 'Revolutions'. Disappointingly, the makers completely abandoned this approach in favour of what boils down to an almighty scrap. Granted, the film does resolve the question of Neo's 'purpose' in the Matrix and beyond, but virtually all the other tantalizing plot threads from the previous two films have been left hanging. Instead we get a story which essentially focuses only on the 'battle for Zion', and some extremely heavy-handed religious symbolism. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy films to leave endings open, but there's a difference between leaving the audience guessing and blatantly abandoning or losing plot threads. To me that just smacks of either poor plotting or, more likely, a way to get more cash from us. The previous two films were intelligent and thought-provoking, but the Wachowskis seem to have missed the enormous potential this story had, and have ended up with little more than a big, dumb action movie with a ridiculously simple 'conclusion'.

The Matrix Reloaded (2003)

Do stop fighting!

[9/10 · 27 May 2003]

I'm probably in a very small minority here, but i thought this film was better when they weren't all scrapping or blowing stuff up! Obviously, these scenes were important to the story, but i couldn't help feeling they went on a bit too much. After all, watching a thousand identical characters get kicked all over the place for five minutes can wear a little thin! Don't get me wrong, the action scenes are outstanding, and i suppose it's like criticizing 'Airplane' for having too many jokes; but the complexity and intricacy of the plot was what really stood out as the film's strong-point as it explored the nature of the matrix itself.

Reloaded develops the Matrix story into far-reaching directions only hinted at in the first film, and most importantly credits the viewer with a great deal of intelligence, something that the majority of mainstream movies neglect to do. The development of the plot is both swift and measured, meaning you have to think hard when not having your eyes burned out by the bullet-fast action scenes. Oh, and Lambert Wilson is great in a scene-stealing role as the Merovingian!

All-in-all an incredible film.

Mission: Impossible (1996)

the plot was great

[8/10 · 25 June 2000]

Everyone seems to complain that the plot in this film is too confusing, but just because you don't 'get' it doesn't mean it's a bad movie. I thought that the plot was superb; it may be a little difficult to follow, but with a little thought it isn't at all hard to understand. It is refreshing to have a big budget thriller with a clever plot, not just masses of pyrotechnics and gunplay.