It’s almost impossible to say whether “The Matrix Revolutions” is superior to “The Matrix Reloaded.” Both films take place in the same day, and for all practical purposes, they are two parts of the same film: a bad one.

Philosophically “The Matrix” franchise is all over the place, its most fatal sin being that it allows any sort of philosophy to coexist in the same movie as Keanu Reeves. Let’s be bold and assume that writer-directors Andy and Larry Wachowski’s self-important discourse regarding free will vs. determinism actually would make sense, if you took the time to think everything through. Even so, you shouldn’t have to think that hard about an action movie.

Regardless of genre, “The Matrix Revolutions” is a film; film is a visual medium. The first “Matrix” was lauded for its groundbreaking visuals. More important than the themes conveyed in the film’s cardboard expository dialogue was the way the special effects themselves commented on a technologically explosive society that resembled ours as much as that of the film’s universe.

Having been annoyed all the way through the pseudo-philosophic banter of “Reloaded,” I went into “Revolutions” prepared to ignore the themes. I focused instead on the story. After all, the franchise’s two main influences happen to be a couple of the greatest stories ever told: the New Testament and “Star Wars.” Unfortunately I was almost equally as dissatisfied with the story as with the themes.

You see, for all of “Revolutions'” advocacy of free choice the film’s narrative is as predictable as a universe guided completely by predestination. At every turn, the viewer never believes for a second that good will not prevail.

Traditionally, there has been nothing wrong with predictability. Hollywood has gotten away with it for what seems like eons. What tend to distract audiences from predictable outcomes are things like character dimensionality, story integration, or even clever dialogue. Do I even have to mention that “Revolutions” has none of these?

“Revolutions” begins just where “Reloaded” left off. Neo is trapped in a kind of purgatory between the Matrix and the Real World. In a way this opening sequence literalizes the essence of “Reloaded,” which I like to think of as a $280 million purgatory in which absolutely nothing happened.

To be fair, “Revolutions” has more of a plot going for it. Like in the first “Matrix,” Neo has a journey with all sorts of tests along the way. He is not simply an invincible badass for the entire film (