We saw the first movie and clamored back to the theater three,four and five times like children to the playground. We loved thekung fu, the action, and we even took the corny, over-the-topdramatic moments with a grain of salt because we bought into theprophecy.

People were asking each other whether they wanted the red pillor the blue one. When someone mentioned déjà vu,another person would comment on a glitch in the Matrix.

The first Matrix was groundbreaking, original and won theWarchowski brothers’ fame and notoriety when before they onlyhad the flick Bound to boast of.

Leaving the theater after that first Matrix experience, one felttransformed, more self-conscious, and ready to run up walls, dodgebullets and proclaim that there is no spoon.

Then the second movie came out.

With the promise of the final installment shortly to follow thesecond, we flocked like lemmings to the crowded theaters around TheMetroplex. Many came away disappointed. Neo’scomputer-generated cape was so obviously a digital contrivance, andwe lost all connection to the character and thus all concern forhow the fights ended. Was Neo in danger of losing himself over toan army of Agent Smiths? No, because we weren’t watching Neo,but instead, the computer enhanced movements of a big black cape onCGI steroids.

Don’t try this at home, boys and girls, unless youpurchase the game; then the experience will be EXACTLY like themovie.

How did the prodigal Oracle not warn the Warchowskis of thedangers associated with creating a CGI-riddled cinemaexperience?

The second movie should have been a warning when the only peopleexcited about it were philosophy majors — some of whichmaintained that “the Truth” would finally come with therelease of Revolutions.

But the movie ultimately left more questions than answers. Andunlike the first movie, we are not compelled to dig any deeper intothe rabbit hole. The ambiguities feel more like bad plot writingthan a way to engage the audience.

So if you’re looking to recapture the spark, fire andenthusiasm you felt years ago for the original Matrix, youcan’t.

But watching The Hours — and contemplating theimplications of Nicole Kidman’s prosthetic nose in portrayingVirginia Wolff — might give you more of a kick in the assthan Matrix: Revolutions.