Matrix: Revolutions first impressions

One benefit to being unemployed. If, while bouncing around the ‘net, you happen to stumble across a reminder that today is the opening day for Matrix: Revolutions, the third and final chapter in the Matrix saga, you can immediately buy a ticket online for a show that starts in 20 minutes, walk to the theater, and see the film without having to think twice about it.

End result: While neither Matrix: Reloaded nor Matrix: Revolutions are the tour-de-force that The Matrix was, taken as a whole, I think they’re a very solid trilogy, and sure to be some of the most talked-about movies for quite a while as people work their way through all the various philosophical, religious, and symbolic threads throughout all three films. That in itself is something of a coup — love them or hate them, they’re sure to get people thinking.

The Wachowski brothers definitely took some chances in Matrix: Revolutions, making a few decisions that I was quite pleasantly surprised to see as they unfolded in the latter half of the film. Some of those choices might not sit too pleasantly with people used to the more “traditional” endings of most of today’s fare, but I was quite happy to see that the Wachowski’s recognize that even a happy ending doesn’t necessarily mean one without consequence or sacrifice.

I’m going to stop there for now, for a couple reasons. Firstly, I’d like to see the movie again when I have a chance, and let it percolate in my brain a bit longer before diving into more of the events and explanations behind the events. Secondly, though, as this is opening day, I’d like to give people who haven’t seen it yet some chance to go in spoiler free!

Licence plates in The Matrix

The discussion thread regarding Matrix: Revolutions on the Home Theater Forum is turning up all sorts of interesting tidbits, including the fact that all the licence plates seem to be biblical quotes!

The Twins’ truck on the freeway: DE2852. Deutronomy 28:52 — “They shall besiege you in all your towns, until your high and fortified walls, in which you trusted, come down throughout all your land. And they shall besiege you in all your towns throughout all your land, which the LORD your God has given you.”

Trinity and Morephus’ Cadillac on the freeway: DA203. Daniel 2:03 — “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.”

Agent Smith’s Audi at the beginning: IS5416. Isaiah 54:16 — “Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.”