‘Matrix’ franchise has lost its luster

Evan Marmol

“Matrix Revolutions” is no evolution in comparison to its

predecessors. In fact, this film is merely echoes and shadows of the

seminal film that awed audiences with its brilliance and innovation.

Concepts that were once groundbreaking and unique are reduced into

a trite flick. The reason for its banality is the supremacy of the

original. As Agent Smith so prophetically states in the film, the

luster is lost because it is “inevitable.”

All roles are reprised, save for the Oracle which died of

diabetes-related symptoms during the filming of the final film. Once

again, Neo (Keanu Reeves) is charged with the task of saving the

final human civilization. His powers now transcend the boundaries of

the flesh but he alone cannot rescue mankind. With robotic killing

machines burrowing through the city walls, every man woman and child

is called to save humanity. The key feature to this film is that the

Matrix takes a backseat to real life battles in what turns out to be

a flatfooted flick.

The acting falls short of all expectations, and this can easily be

attributed to the sequels being filmed concurrently. If the actors

did not have their hearts in it for “Reloaded,” did we expect a

miraculous turnaround for “Revolutions”? This film had all the

accoutrements of an indifferent cast, an overworked special effects

artists, and a tepid script that fails to capture the audience.

It isn’t a wholesale failure, despite my bilious commentary.

Without comparisons to the original, it could be considered a

success. Unfortunately, the film is predicated on, and must contend

with a film that questioned the very existence of man. This film, on

the other hand, is a just a popcorn pleaser, and nothing more.

* EVAN MARMOL is Laguna Beach resident. He graduated from UC

Irvine with a degree in psychology and social behavior.