The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Saw this billboard on my way through town today:
Monika in IMAX!!!
I mean, Monika on a 500 m² screen? Seriously?!
But nah, I still haven't managed to talk anyone into going to the movies with me...

So, I actually did a complete 180 and decided to skip out on the Revolutions event. But then it hit me—there’s a pretty good chance they’ll have mechs involved, right? And if they do, maybe it’s actually worth the trip after all! I mean, these guys have the tech to pull it off beautifully. Well, they *could* have... are they actually going to deliver? Honestly, I think I'll just sit tight, wait to see what everyone else says about it, and then make my final call based on the reviews.

Well, I'm heading over to catch it at 3:00 PM. It feels a bit strange to me, going to the movies in the middle of the day...

Well, there you have it... everything has finally wrapped up, and it all went down under a gorgeous sunset. : )

Here’s my first thought: I think Jessica Nguyen85 mentioned that the term revolution carries several different meanings, and one of them is actually "turning over" (which is exactly what the word revolution means etymologically). I feel like that’s precisely the point of the movie—the "wheel" turned and landed right back where it started. Sort of.

WATCH OUT!!! HUGE SPOILERS AHEAD

First off, here is what didn't quite land for me.
The pacing is just... off. The drama feels almost like a flat line. That’s always the struggle with these kinds of trilogies; every single film that follows a linear path needs its own three-act structure, yet they also have to function as one massive three-act epic. In other words, each sequel has to perfectly balance being the buildup, the climax, and the payoff. Trying to sync all those moving parts is incredibly difficult, so I don't hold the Wachowskis too much blame for that.

Now, for what I actually enjoyed.
There isn't a "Matrix within the Matrix," did I mention that? 😁
Okay, all jokes aside now…
Heh... the directors didn't really try to explicitly explain how things ended. Honestly, I was hoping they’d leave it vague so we could all come up with our own interpretations of what we saw. Though, looking back, a lot of my friends were totally lost by the ending—and that includes both the people who loved it and the ones who hated it... so now I'm feeling a little confused myself; is it really that hard to follow? I won't lay out my own theory just yet because I’m genuinely curious to hear what you guys make of it.

Unlike some other folks, I didn't necessarily see Neo as a Jesus figure (even if there are definitely elements that point toward that interpretation); maybe it's just because I'm an atheist 😁. The core philosophy of this trilogy is rooted in Gnosticism; it's sort of like a spiritual buffet of religious philosophies, so I suppose everyone finds the flavor that resonates most with them.
I don't think you can truly understand Neo without Agent Smith—because when the Oracle says, "He is you," it strikes me as one of those Eastern philosophical takes on good and evil. It feels very different from the more simplified American Judeo-Christian framework of God as absolute good versus the Devil as absolute evil. But hey, that's just my take, and like I said, we all see what we want to see.

Anyway, I won't keep bothering you all any longer—that's all from me for now. 😁

Yeah, I have to agree... honestly, a little more humor wouldn't have hurt the movie at all. 😉

Richard Hernandez13 said:Yeah... a little more humor wouldn't have hurt the film. 😉

Are we even talking about the same movie starring Carrie-Anne Moss?

The rules of the Matrix can be bent, not broken. 😁

SPOILER ALERT

It’s not just about him being against him; it’s that he’s a negative force in his life. One is fighting to survive, while the other is out to destroy everything living... It’s black and white. Good versus evil...
I have to admit, there are some funny parts to this... it probably isn't even intentional humor.

By the way, Monica was wearing a killer dress... Honestly, she would have looked even better naked, but she definitely got the job done.

rapidstag74 said:Are we actually talking about the same movie where Carrie-Anne Moss stars?

The rules of the Matrix can be bent, but they can't be broken. 😁

Oh man, we are definitely talking about the same flick. 😁

I feel like the previous movies had such well-placed bits of humor—like when the Oracle makes those little comments about Neo's intellectual prowess.

This one is just incredibly heavy; honestly, the only tiny spark of comedy I could find was that moment where someone says, "Honey, you actually *can* drive!" and I just had to laugh internally when they added, "But you scratched the paint job." 😁

Just to expand on what I said before: my main issue is that this third installment doesn't really offer anything fresh, since everything is basically just geared toward wrapping up the plot and tying up loose ends.

On its own, the movie doesn't quite hold up, but when you look at it as part of the whole trilogy, It's OK.

I wanted to share my thoughts on this film series with you all...

First off, I swallowed *Reloaded* pretty easily for a few reasons. The philosophy
felt like it had taken on a new shape. They brought in new characters and new concepts—fresh
ideas that could have easily been woven into a cohesive narrative. But since this was just the
middle chapter, I told myself it probably couldn't end any other way than it did.
I figured everything would eventually be explained and tied up with a bow.
Then comes *Revolutions*.... It picks up right where I left off. Suddenly, they throw in more new
characters and toss out new premises without even addressing the open questions left over from the second
part.
They have an idea, but it’s as if they simply don't know what to do with it.
Honestly, if you asked the Wachowskis what they were actually trying to say, I doubt even they
would have a clue.
The whole saga, not just *Revolutions* but *Reloaded* too, revolves around the struggle of humanity and
principles. So why, at the very end of the trilogy, do they pull a fast one on us? Why shove this
concept down our throats that sounds great in theory but doesn't connect to the actual plot at all?
Suddenly, Neo brokers peace between man and machine. Fine, great idea, but it feels like a total bait-and-switch
from the directors. Both films were telling us something entirely different. And what was the deal with
Neo tearing through those machines in the "real world"? I don't get it. What happened there?
They clearly had a vision, but they lacked the execution. Instead, they just churn out a movie and release it
simultaneously across the globe because they were chasing a Guinness World Record. They wanted half a billion
people to sit there at the exact same moment and think, "What a load of crap."

roughly speaking...

...and that whole dramatic death scene for Trinity? Seriously, what was that, some cheap Titanic rip-off? It was honestly gross.👎 ...Anyway, easily the worst sequel ever made. I mean, when they put those medical machines on Neo, it looked just like a news report about a civilian casualty in a Middle East airstrike... And then that tribute to Niobe (thanks, Nio, whatever, you know what I mean)... It felt like some over-the-top Hollywood epic from the 60s, like those old biblical movies with the dramatic lighting and everything.🤮

Hey, fadedsailor932, was it just my imagination, or did they actually list the conductor as an accountant on the first season? 😁

Richard Hernandez13 said:Hey fadedsailor932, was it just me, or did they subtitle the 'conductor' as an 'accountant' at the start? 😁

...could be.🤔 ...I know something felt off, but I can't remember which part of the whole mess it was.

Richard Hernandez13 said:fadedsailor932, was it just me, or did they credit the 'conductor' as an 'accountant' for the first time? 😁

They did. They translated conductor as accountant initially because the context shifted slightly... complete idiots. They clearly don't listen to what people are actually saying.
btw, The Matrix started for me just a few minutes after 15:00... I guess it's not much of a world premiere anymore!

Look, everything else is fine, and the ending hits exactly how it should (just like I mentioned in my previous post), but they completely glossed over one thing. It’s easily the weakest link in the entire trilogy:

- How does Neo actually end up in the Construct? The whole thing the Merovingian says feels totally undermined and confusing. In *Reloaded*, his presence there is vital, but then in *Revolutions*, they just brush his entire arc under the rug with three minutes of exposition where things just "happen" so the plot can move along. While I think the subplot involving the Indian guy and his family—especially the little girl, who I assume plays a huge role later—is incredibly poignant, I'll probably have to rewatch the whole series just to wrap my head around it. There's a logical way to connect the kid, the Oracle, and that Jet Li cameo, but Neo’s trip to the Construct—which is clearly the Merovingian's doing—has zero explanation, and honestly, that’s a massive letdown.

As for the rest—it’s basically the gold standard. If anyone thinks they can do better, step up to the plate; until then, everyone else can just keep struggling.

Yeah, I remember seeing "Trainman" translated once as "Conductor" and another time as "Accountant." Honestly? Neither hits the mark—this "Trainman" character is clearly just some grimy underground lowlife with yellow teeth who smells like a dumpster fire from a mile away.

AND NOW SPOILERS

Look, I’m not a religious guy, but the whole Neo-Jesus parallel is just staring us in the face. The sacrifice for humanity; the way they mention "Savior" a million times throughout the film; even when Neo and Smith start merging in the Matrix, he gets that cross appearing on his chest before it spreads—it's all there. Then he dies in "Jesus pose"... and when that robot carries him at the end? Man, it reminded me so much of a Pietà painting. Obviously, it’s not an exact match, but the vibes are definitely similar.

Did anyone catch what's written on the door above the Oracle's kitchen? I know it was shown in the first movie, but it totally slipped my mind.

In my opinion, the writers did a pretty lame job explaining why the actress playing the Oracle changed—and also, how on earth can they build a new Matrix if ALL their batteries are fried? I guess they have some massive generator in the basement keeping them going until they can grow a new batch of humans for power. Personally, I don't think this peace is going to last long—probably only until people multiply enough to want to start a new city, maybe somewhere out on the coast with a view of the ocean.😁.

Someone asked how Neo can manipulate squids in Resurrections, and the Oracle basically gave the answer: the One's power isn't strictly limited to the Matrix. In short, Neo could probably bend spoons in the real world too, if he ever actually tried.

Honestly, I’ve always been a sucker for the little things—stuff like those badass cargo-loaders from *Aliens*, Neo’s flying in *The Matrix*, or even that fight scene in *Doc Savage*...

🎉 🎉 🎉

I guess you could say I'm easily amused 😁

So, I'm actually planning to head out with my crew this Saturday to finally check out that whole thing....

The first part? Man, I was totally hooked from the jump...
The second one... kind of felt like playing a video game that just borrowed bits and pieces from the first one...

As for the third... well, I guess we'll see how that goes...

But honestly, after reading through all these comments, I'm feeling a little lost, I guess 😕

Can anyone tell me what I should really be looking out for so I don't miss the whole point of the story? 😕

Thanks a bunch! 😁

Donna Nelson23 said:Yeah, I remember seeing "Trainman" translated once as "Conductor" and another time as "Accountant." Honestly, I don't think either one hits the mark, because I’m pretty sure this "Trainman" is just some gritty underground bum with yellow teeth who smells like he hasn't seen a shower in a decade.

BUT NOW SPOILERS

...and seriously, how on earth is a new Matrix supposed to come into existence if they've blown out EVERY single one of their batteries? I guess they must have some massive backup generator tucked away in a basement somewhere to keep things running until they can manufacture a whole new batch of humans to serve as power sources.

The Architect mentioned back in Reloaded that they have these little survival modes—which, if you ask me, was probably just his way of talking about a backup generator 😁 (as long as someone remembers to pour oil in there instead of gasoline, which is a mistake I learned the hard way during my time in the Army 🙂 .

Richard Hernandez13 said:fadedsailor932, was it just me, or did they subtitle the 'conductor' as 'accountant' at first? 😁

And then later they translate "my wife" as "my whole life." Like, damn, life and wife aren't the same thing. These people seriously need hearing aids.

Luckily I went to see it yesterday and saved $6.00 on tickets. (Wednesday price = $6.75, other days it's 29 bucks! 😲 )

As for the movie... I wasn't feeling it. It’s less bad than the second one, but still pretty disappointing. The ending is just... inconclusive, I guess. Probably waiting for a sequel.

In which Neo will probably have some kind of high-tech visor for sure.