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N is for Keanu Reeves' Neo, who begins ''Revolutions'' trapped in a realm between the Matrix and the real world (no, it's not called ''the movie theater lobby.''). After his escape, life only gets worse. Yes, those are bandages covering his eyes in the trailer -- he and Ben Affleck's Daredevil have something in common.

O is for the all-knowing Oracle, who now inhabits a new body (Mary Alice). Gloria Foster, who originally portrayed the Oracle, died after completing ''Reloaded.'' The Wachowskis regrouped by making the body switch a plot point -- between movies, the Merovingian destroyed the Oracle's ''shell,'' forcing her to find a new one.

P is for Monica Bellucci's Persephone, the Merovingian's voluptuous, Neo-smooching wife, who has but a single line in ''Revolutions.'' Still, some may consider the push-up bustier she wears in Club Hell the movie's best special effect.

Q is for the innumerable questions raised in ''Reloaded,'' such as: ''How can Neo use his powers in the real world?'' That one is answered in a single sentence from the Oracle (''The One's powers extend beyond [the Matrix]''). But mostly, the movie is more concerned with blistering action sequences than with tying up loose ends.

R is for Roland (David Roberts), a belligerent ship's captain who takes on a new prominence in ''Revolutions.'' A hard-bitten, drill sergeant type, Roland is prone to yelling things like: ''I should have beat [the truth] out of him!''

S is for Seraph (Collin Chou), the Oracle's protector, who briefly fought Neo in ''Reloaded.'' Though the scene seemed pointless at the time, it turns out it was meant to establish Seraph as a fighter with skills that match the One. Or something like that.

T is for the Trainman (Bruce Spence), a brand-new ''Revolutions'' character. The wild-eyed Trainman -- a Merovingian employee -- is in charge of ferrying programs from the real world to the Matrix via a subway train. To escape his coma, Neo has to reckon with the Trainman -- and he doesn't accept Metrocard.

U is for Armor Personal Units, the massive exoskeletons worn by Zion soldiers to combat the machines. Sigourney Weaver donned a similar gizmo in ''Aliens,'' which is undoubtedly in the Wachowskis' DVD collection.

V is for the Vigilant, a ship destroyed at the end of ''Reloaded.'' In ''Revolutions,'' it turns out Bane was to blame -- and he's not about to pay for repairs either.

W is for Hugo Weaving, whose Smith appears to have taken over every inhabitant of the Matrix as the film's end approaches (''Do you like what I've done with the place?'' he asks Neo). Meanwhile, he's also gained the ability to fly, which means he and Neo have a superhero-style confrontation that puts ''Superman II'' to shame. Sorry, General Zod.

X is for Xacto Knife, a tiny weapon that Bane puts to deadly use on board the humans' ship. In the real world, Neo and Trinity can't defy gravity -- and wounds can't miraculously heal.

Y is for Yuen Woo-ping, the trilogy's fight choreographer. His task was different in ''Revolutions,'' since some of the most intense hand-to-hand combat takes place in the real world, where it's more brutal than elegant. Still, the Club Hell sequence offers a taste of the gravity-defying combat that defined the first film.

Z is for Nona Gaye's Zee, who transforms from love interest to action hero in ''Revolutions.'' Though Marvin Gaye's daughter got the part only after the death of original choice Aaliyah, she gets it on just fine against the machines.

Posted Oct 31, 2003 | Order Article Reprints

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