“Everything that has a beginning, has an end”

Once Neo is rescued from Mobil Ave he returns to the Matrix. However, as far as we know, his body is still laying unconscious on a table in the real world. This question of how he’s able to separate mind and body is even proposed in the coming conversation with the Oracle, and the answer is intriguing and important. However, once the sequence concludes, we see Trinity unplug Neo from a console with every crew member of the Hammer surrounding him. This edit is extremely misplaced. When did Neo awaken in the real world and willingly re-plug into the Matrix? While it’s safe to presume all of this happened between Neo’s reunion with Trinity in Mobil Ave to the following edit to the Matrix, the sequence is marred by another problem. Once in the Matrix, Morpheus contacts Link in the real world, who appropriately asks, “did you find Neo?”. This question leaves the viewer to surmise that Neo is indeed still unconscious on that table, and did not awaken once rescued. Yet once his conversation with the Oracle concludes, he unplugs from the Matrix at a console! Let’s deconstruct this sequence of events once again in a more organized manner.

-Neo lays unconscious in the real world, unplugged on a table.

-Neo’s mind awakens in Mobil Ave. A world between the Matrix and Zion (real world)

-Trinity rescues Neo from Mobil Ave by evidently using the train from Mobil back into the Matrix.

-Neo still hypothetically lays unconscious on the table, while his mind re-enters the Matrix. This would mean that Neo can connect to the Matrix without plugging in.

-Morpheus, Neo, Trinity and Seraph are reunited in the Matrix.

-Morpheus contacts Link in the real world, who asks, “did you find Neo?” Morpheus responds, “can’t you see him?” Link answers, “we were reading something, but we weren’t sure what it was”. This obviously means Neo is still unconscious in a different room, unplugged, yet connected to the Matrix. However...

-Neo visits the Oracle in which he asks, “how did I separate my mind from my body? How did I stop four sentinels by thinking it? Tell me just what the hell is happening to me” The Oracle reveals that the power of the one reaches to the source - its origin. Sensible, and a sufficient explanation for the situation at hand. Yet....

-The conversation concludes, and Neo is unplugged in the real world, sitting at a console with everyone watching him. Trinity unplugs him from the Matrix, which mean Neo absolutely did awaken in the real world and re-plug himself into the system.

So this sequence of edits can only mean one thing: Something is missing. The Wachowski Brothers are too smart and too efficient to originally create such a confusing segment of storytelling. This muddled structure is even further evidence of this film’s seemingly incomplete material. That being said, the material on display still happens to be fairly strong, especially the delightful and fascinating conversation between Neo and the Oracle.

The information revealed during Neo’s final visit to the Oracle is exceptionally important in understanding the fate of key characters and the actual revolution of the Matrix. The basis of the conversation is in comprehending the significance of stability and universal balance. There’s a wonderful and powerful sense of duality throughout the entire trilogy, and that Yin-Ying philosophy becomes imperative during the final section and ultimate resolution of the film. The Oracle explores that essential duality that exists between her and the Architect, Neo and Smith, and the Matrix and Zion. If the war is to end, Neo has to find a way to redeem all aspects of the equation, and why redemption is the answer over destruction. But as the Oracle states, a powerful agent of nihilistic chaos is bent on eradicating all that lives in both worlds. And if Smith can’t be defeated, then all life will perish. The only answer in overcoming this fatalistic threat rests within Neo, and only he can resolve the matter by understanding his own purpose. And quite frankly, if that’s not spectacular storytelling, then what is? This is one of the best sequences in the film, and firmly establishes an epic forthcoming confrontation of ideological values.

To underline the importance of duality, the Wachowskis follow-up Neo’s conversation with the Oracle with a similar moment for Smith. However, Smith is there for another reason. The opposite reason. Chaos and power. The exchange between these two mighty characters is delightfully wicked and darkly enjoyable, with excellent dialogue and hilarious wit. Hugo Weaving clearly enjoys his character, and his comfort and confidence is intensely striking no matter how awkward his maniacal laughter is delivered. Once Smith has copied himself on the Oracle, the Wachowskis shift the next portion of the story to the real world and Zion, and before things get outrageously intense, The Matrix Revolutions faces its worst moments.

It’s interesting how both Matrix sequels follow a pattern of uneven material during end of the first act and beginning of the second. Like Reloaded, Revolutions struggles with unnecessary sequences of stilted drama and heavy exposition that never builds emotion or excitement as smoothly as it should. This stretch of plotting in Revolutions is hardly as unbalanced as some of the material in Zion for its predecessor, but it does regrettably slow things down. What works for Revolutions during this section is that like the original, the story focuses on a single ship and its crew members, Bane/Smith among them. The Wachowskis focus more on Smith interacting and eventually killing the humans around him until he finally reaches his prime target: Neo. Before their inevitable confrontation, the few sequences with Bane/Smith just aren’t terribly intriguing. The actor does fine work with the given material, but the entire subplot itself is rather tame and bland. There’s not a great sense of danger for anyone on board the Hammer, and when something fatal finally does happen, it’s not shocking or suspenseful. In-between this conflict, the Hammer locates the missing ship from Reloaded, the Logos, and Morpheus and Niobe are reunited. Neo continues to have visions of a path leading to the machine city, and finally realizes his destiny will be determined by whatever lies in that unknown place. Everything with Neo is excellent, since the main character is easily the most engaging. After he reveals his seemingly suicidal plan of journeying to the machine city, he shares another soft and effective moment of tenderness with Trinity. Carrie-Ann Moss and Keanu Reeves are wonderful together, and their emotional quest becomes exceptionally strong and powerful as they face the darkness of their fate. Not so effective is what happens to Morpheus during this section. He’s basically non-existent. His character has absolutely nothing to do beyond reacting to situations around him and give a touching farewell to Neo. And while that farewell sequence happens to be an emotional highlight of Revolutions, the majority of his material is empty and dry. Morpheus should be in Zion, defending the city from the oncoming invasion instead of appearing sporadically throughout this section. Niobe, however, becomes a surprisingly effective and important character, and the Wachowskis give her a particularly entertaining task of piloting the Hammer back to Zion without getting eviscerated by thousands of sentinels. Niobe was useless in Reloaded, but thankfully becomes useful in Revolutions.

The Wachowskis sort of plow through this section, almost like they realized how uninspiring and pleasureless it was. Each sequence moves decidedly quick, without tension or suspense building towards a pay-off. The Zion battle is clearly on the horizon, and things move as quickly as possible to get there. Unfortunately back in Zion, preparation leads to more unnecessary and dry subplots with pointless characters Zee and the Kid, although each character is thankfully reduced to only one or two lackluster sequences. Everything here feels excessive, especially when something fascinating is happening within the Matrix itself. Instead of exposition leading up to the battle in Zion, following Smith’s rampage and destruction of the Matrix would have been far more engaging. How did the machines and programs react to Smith’s chaotic spree? How did the Agents respond to Smith? The events destabilizing the Matrix would’ve been vastly superior than the preparation in Zion, not to mention more sensible in connecting to Neo’s ultimate aim. The main problem with this entire section is that the lead characters are almost treated like supporting characters. They’re set aside while this epic war is brewing, and that makes the viewer disconnect with the core emotional conflict. That being said, once the Wachowskis get back on track, things start to take off.