BETTER than the last one, not as good as the first. That, in a nutshell, is The Matrix Revolutions.

And while this trilogy has not ended with the whimper many people predicted after the second film in the series, it's hardly gone out with a bang either.

It's a film of two halves really - there are the superb action scenes ($40 million was spent on one battle sequence alone and it is an awesome sight); and then there are the talk bits, which bring the story grinding to a halt every time two people or more have a conversation.

Fans of the series are unlikely to be disappointed. Revolutions mixes science fiction hardware and imagination with plenty of bone-crunching kung fu action. What must be added to the mix - which could be a turn off for everyone else - is the pretentious, baffling script, which confuses rather than enlightens.

You're familiar with the story, aren't you? If you haven't seen parts one and two then watching part three could be a pointless experience.

If you do need to know what has gone on so far, I will be brief. Part one was nice and simple humans live a computer-generated existence, in ignorant bliss that their world has been taken over by machines and their bodies are used to generate power. A group of rebels are trying to fight back, and among them is a young man, Neo (Reeves) who has mysterious powers.

The Matrix was a great, groundbreaking sci-fi/special effects movie.

It's sequel, The Matrix Reloaded, released in May this year, is a load of tosh, salvaged by a brilliant chase scene on a freeway, but generally left its audience confused and disappointed.

So Revolutions has a lot to do to to get the series back on track. It only partially succeeds.

The rebels are now holed up in Zion, their underground stronghold, awaiting an invasion from the machines.

Meanwhile, Neo and girlfriend Trinity (Moss) take off on their own mission - hampered, of course, by the niggling presence of several hundred Agent Smiths (Weaving).

The final confrontation between Neo and Smith, in a rain-lashed city at night, is, after the battle of Zion, the other highlight of Revolutions.

But as entertaining as the film is, it does get bogged down by clumsy, clunky and cringe-making dialogue.

Another puzzle is Neo's absence for much of the film. He is nowhere to be seen for the big battle scene, and his famous punch-ups are few and far between. It's almost a cameo appearance until the final third of the movie.

So again, great to look at, but there is nothing of any real substance here. Too many questions are unanswered and a fourth instalment is not unthinkable. The Matrix Revealed? Please God, let it be so.

Rating: 6 out of 10

Film writer Stephen Webb reviews THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving, Jada Pinkett Smith

Director: The Wachowski Brothers

Certificate: 15

Running time: 128 mins