What would have been really revolutionary for the finale to the "Matrix" movies would be to make us forget all about the leaden second film in the trilogy, the disappointing "Matrix Reloaded."

Instead, "The Matrix Revolutions" is simply more of the same cyber-punk psycho-babble, thinly disguised by costly computer graphics-enhanced trappings . . . a gimmick that has worn more than just a little thin.

There's little real emotional investment here, despite the Wachowski Brothers' efforts to convince us otherwise. Never before have the "Matrix" movies looked and felt so much like a video game. And never before have they seemed so disappointing — especially in light of the tremendous potential promised by the first film.

"The Matrix Revolutions" picks up almost immediately where its predecessor left off, as Neo (Keanu Reeves) is trapped in a state of consciousness between reality and the dreaming world created by man's robotic oppressors. So it's up to Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) to rescue and revive him, so he can aid them in the final defense of Zion against swarms of lethal "sentinels" and other machines.

Nearly everyone in the city has been drafted to help in that defense, and with just hours to go before the machines reach the city, things aren't looking good. And even if mankind manages to survive that final battle, Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) is still lurking around. Worse, it appears that his powers may exceed those of Neo.

As expected, the final face-off between Neo and Agent Smith dominates the film's finale — but you have to get through the extremely ponderous first half.

The Wachowskis' dialogue is similarly banal, though the aloof performances certainly don't help. In fact, Reeves looks bored at times (though if anyone should be, it's the under-used Fishburne). Female leads Moss and Jada Pinkett-Smith fare better, as does veteran character actress Mary Alice, who replaces the late Gloria Foster as the Oracle.

"The Matrix Revolutions" is rated R for wall-to-wall action movie/sci-fi violence (martial-arts, fist-fights, gunplay, explosive mayhem, violence against women), graphic gore, occasional use of strong profanity, brief drugs (talk of drug use, use of a hypodermic) and brief sexual contact (during a dance club scene). Running time: 129 minutes.

---

E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com