(aka "The Matrix 3" )
directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski
USA 2003
The Matrix Reloaded was such
a huge disappointment that it was hard to imagine the
third film being as frustrating, maybe worse than the
second one. In the end, it turned out quite
differently : it seems that The Matrix Revolutions
divides the audiences much more than The Matrix
Reloaded. This gives a very particular aura to
this film, which is both very good and pretty bad.
The first 40 minutes or so are pretty much like
Reloaded : strange and not very interesting action
scenes, a lot of pointless slow-motion shots and long
dialogue scenes with people sitting very still around
tables. But from this point on, the last battle
between machines and humans begins, and for every
Japanese animation fan out there, seeing people inside
huge mechas fighting fiercy mechanical squids is a
pure pleasure. This one lasts maybe a bit too long,
but hey, it's Zion's last stand! Should it last 5
minutes top? We then arrive to what might be a huge
trailer for something that, again, every Japanese
animation fan is impatiently looking forward to :
Dragon Ball Z, the movie. The final fight between Neo
and Smith, although not very original in itself, is
such a powerful piece of action that, with the Zion
battle, it really takes the whole movie up and makes
you forget about the movie's flaws.
Nonetheless, these flaws are pretty big : the
dialogues are profoundly stupid ("Oh my God! You're
blind" "I'll be OK"), the design of the mechas is
kinda strange (why aren't the pilots more protected?
No helmet, no armor...) and one of the main
character's death (don't want to spoil anything to
those who haven't seen the film) is pretty much...
flat. The theme that is introduced by the story's
conclusion is also a bit frustrating, since it opens
more doors than it closes some. Could there be a
Matrix 4 in preparation ? Apparently (=according to
recent news) and logically (=according to the
trilogy's poor reputation today), it doesn't seem so.
The Matrix Revolutions is a strange film, since it is
a failure as a sequel (even though not as big a
failure as Reloaded) but a great film on its own.
Maybe the Wachowskis should have taken all their ideas
for this film and put it in another that doesn't have
any connection to The Matrix universe. Who knows what
kind of film it could have been ?... To be continued ?
Posters
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Theatrical Release: 5 November 2003
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison:
Warner Home Video (2-Disc Edition - Germany) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Warner Home Video (The Ultimate Matrix Collection Disc 5) - Region 1 - NTSC
(Warner Home Video (2-Disc Edition (Germany)) - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. Warner Home Video (The Ultimate Matrix Collection Disc 5) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)
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| Distribution |
Warner Home Video Region 2 - PAL |
Warner Home Video Region 1 - NTSC |
| Runtime | 123mn57 (4% PAL speedup) | 129mn08 |
| Video |
2.40 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced
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2.40 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate:
Warner Home Video (2-Disc Edition (Germany))
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Bitrate:
Warner Home Video (The Ultimate Matrix Collection Disc 5)
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| Audio | English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kpbs), German Dolby Digital 5.1 (448 kpbs) |
English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448kpbs), French Dolby Digital 5.1 (448kpbs) |
| Subtitles | English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Icelandic subtitles (+English and German for the hearing impaired), none | English, French and Spanish, none |
| Features |
Release
Information: Studio: Warner Home Video Aspect
Ratio:
Edition
Details: Chapters 33 |
Release
Information: Studio: Warner Home Video Aspect
Ratio:
Edition
Details:
DVD Release Date:
December 7, 2004 Chapters 33 |
| Comments |
Like
The Matrix Reloaded
DVDs, The Matrix Revolutions
DVDs, released only 8 months apart, are pretty
much identical visually : same top-notch
definition, contrasts and very slight cropping on
the UMC. On both releases, the compression is a
bit visible during the final fight, but this one
was such a tough job with its pouring rain, its
lightnings and its big camera moves, that it was
almost impossible to prevent some artifacts. We'll
see what HD-DVD can do with this one... Again, the UMC seems a little greener than the 2-disc set inside the Matrix, but outside it's the same thing. For instance, I personally can’t see any difference between the two captures in the “Blind Neo Vision” shots (comparison 2). As for the sound, Revolutions benefited from a full bitrate Dolby 5.1 track early on with the 2-disc version, but since this one has PAL speedup, I'd personally recommend the UMC track. Both mixes are pretty astonishing and spectacular. Again, like the Reloaded DVDs, the extras on the Revolutions 2-disc edition are quite good, but it's nothing compared with the UMC's discs 6 and 8, which are much more elaborate and thorough. In the end, it all comes down to your one tastes again : if you like Revolutions but not extras or the two other movies, the 2-disc version is made for you. But if you'd like to have the whole trilogy with dozens of hours of special features, get your big wallet and buy the UMC. |
DVD Menus
(Warner Home Video
(2-Disc Edition (Germany)) - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT
vs. Warner Home Video (The Ultimate Matrix Collection
Disc 5) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)
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Screen Captures
(Warner Home Video (2-Disc Edition (Germany)) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Warner Home Video (The Ultimate Matrix Collection Disc 5) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Warner Home Video (2-Disc Edition (Germany)) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Warner Home Video (The Ultimate Matrix Collection Disc 5) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Warner Home Video (2-Disc Edition (Germany)) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Warner Home Video (The Ultimate Matrix Collection Disc 5) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Warner Home Video (2-Disc Edition (Germany)) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Warner Home Video (The Ultimate Matrix Collection Disc 5) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Warner Home Video (2-Disc Edition (Germany)) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Warner Home Video (The Ultimate Matrix Collection Disc 5) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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Gary Tooze
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