DEBRIS.COMgood for a laugh, or possibly an aneurysm

I’ve become a fan of the Matrix movies. Today, the third and final episode of the trilogy opens in theaters.

From Google News I clicked through to two reviews of the new movie. I find it fascinating that these reviews, the first and second I read, mark the extreme ends of the spectrum. It seems appropriate that a series so grand in scope, so rich in metaphor, so outrageously expensive, inspires equally huge praise and condemnation. I suspect we’ll see no milquetoast reviews… just worship and loathing.

In the UMD Diamondback, reviewer Andrew Italia remarks, “Revolutions is one of the best films I’ve seen in my life.” He writes the new episode is “thematically and philosophically the strongest of the entire trilogy,” and concludes, “the third chapter is a true revolution in filmmaking and closes what will go down in history as one of the most deep, unprecedented and innovative stories in human history.”

Over the top? Let’s contrast this with a review from the Santa Cruz paper: “maddening”, “tiresome”, “humorless”, yadda yadda yadda. It concludes blandly, “Considering this is a film that prattles on about choice, you are entitled to exercise your own choice and see something else.” But what do you expect from a guy named — get this — Baine, writing for a paper called the Sentinel? Ooh, the irony is thick. Best step out for some popcorn.